Design School vs. Self Taught (interview with David Airey)

I met a young man who was being considered for a position at a company as a graphic designer. When the potential employer saw that the young man had received his degree online, he was immediately dismissed and the company hired someone else. The sad reality is, this happens  more often than not. A designer’s portfolio is supposed to speak for itself, but sometimes,that just isn’t good enough.

Throughout the years, there has been a great controversy; design school or self taught. Which is better? I’ve met several frustrated, yet talented designers, whom have been turned away because of their lack of a degree in design. I am all for education. I think there are some things that are taught in a class that’s overlooked in the world of the self taught; like client relations and studio maintenance and the laws of copyright and work ethics. I feel like a degree is evidence of what I’ve gone to school for; to improve my skills as a designer. But at the end of the day, my portfolio is going to prove to potential clients that I can do what I say I can, and that’s design.

I’m in no way insinuating that you must have a degree, whether online or not, to be a successful graphic designer. Paul Rand, one of the most successful designers in his time, was largely self taught. Although he did attend design school, his ability to design did not stem from them. He, among thousands of others, have proven to each of us in the design community that you can achieve success on raw talent and gifts. Even though I am currently enrolled at Full Sail University, I am not partial to degrees or being self-taught. I think the end result is what matters. Some people need improvements and that’s where schooling is beneficial and some people are blessed to have the know-how already.

I was fortunate enough to catch up with one of the world’s top designers today, David Airey. His work as a brand identity designer has catapulted him above the competition. He is one of the most sought after designers in the world and one of his books, Logo Design Love, is a mandatory read in the Logos and Symbols course at Full Sail University. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for me and offer some great advice.

Me: I read that you studied art and design in college starting at the age of 15. Did your degree help you in landing good design jobs at such a young age or did your portfolio speak for itself?

 David: My degree helped, but not in the way you’d expect. After graduation I was working in advertising sales for a newspaper. One of my university friends, Barbara, also happen to be working there. We got chatting, and a friend of hers had let her know about a graphic design job in a nearby company. Barbara put the two of us in touch, and that led to my first design position.

Me: You are a very talented and successful designer and a lot of designers look to you for inspiration. What or whom do you attribute your success to?

 David: I’m passionate about design. I think most people who make an impact in any field can attribute their success to a passion for what they do. I’ve a long way to go, but because I enjoy the profession, I plan to stick with it, to learn more, to help others in any way I can.

Me: Do you feel that blogging is a good way to obtain potential clients and if so, how often should a designer blog?

 David: Starting my blog at davidairey.com was perhaps the best move I made in my short career. Regularly updated websites help boost search engine rankings, and blog posts are a great way to keep sites fresh. How often? What’s more important is the content published. If you think it’s good enough to help attract new readers or potential clients, publish it. What you don’t want is to set some strict schedule you feel pressured into keeping. You’ll end up sacrificing quality for quantity. Aim for the opposite.

Me: What advice would you give to students and self-taught designers alike that are facing difficulties in landing jobs at an early stage in their careers?

 David: If you don’t already, author a design blog. Make it personal. Share your stories about working with clients. Get involved in the comment threads on other design blogs. Also, there’s a lot to be said for  pro bono design.

And to the young man that was turned away, David adds:

Sorry to learn of the employment issues your friend experienced. Don’t let it get you down. There are thousands of opportunities out there for passionate, patient, dedicated designers like you. If a company rules-out everyone with an online degree, put it behind you and move onto a company that won’t.

That’s great advice! The purpose of this piece is to encourage as all my blogs are intended to do. I hope this helps someone, as it has helped me already.