choosing a major: animation or graphic design?
Question by chocolatesyrup13: choosing a major: animation or graphic design?
So, I’m attending an arts school in Southern California, and I need help on deciding on a major.
I’ve narrowed it down to two: Animation or Graphic Design
I’m taking fundamentals classes in both and I like them. Graphic Design is easier for me right now, but hopefully Animation will get easier after I’ve practiced the basics enough. Right now animation’s a drag, though, because everything has to be done by hand and I have to force myself to do the homework (which takes forever!)
I understand both of these careers take up a lot of time, but I am willing to work in either field. I have a tough time putting up with critiques, but in the end I make the changes anyway. The problem with an Animation major is that I’ll have to take Figure Drawing/ Life Drawing classes…which I suck at. The bad thing about Graphic Design is that I’ll be always on the hunt for a job and I’ll be working by myself.
I want to do Animation to make movies and be in the entertainment field. I want to do Graphic Design because I can do it with ease (my sketchbook is filled with text designs and line designs), so my brain is wired to design.
The job titles that interest me are: Production Designer, Animator, Graphic Designer, Art Development, Visual Development, Director of Photography, Sound Design…and I’m sure there’s others that I haven’t found out about.
My goal is to have my name in the closing credits of a movie. I could do that with either major if I try hard enough, though.
Please….give me some input!
Thanks so much 🙂 I appreciate it.
Best answer:
Answer by alynst
Let me tell you a little bit about both. First, my credentials, I have worked as an Art Director, Creative Director, Photo Director for agencies and a few magazines. I now teach the stuff, In SoCal. Here’s my take on it. Animation is tough at first, but like anything, it gets easier with practice. Yes, you will need to spend considerable time on both, but more on animation.
Next, while graphic design is still a good field, the area of print has stagnated and slowed in career growth. Multimedia and Animation is a growing industry and in demand. You want to look to the future and see where the growth is and that’s where you want to be.
My take on this is that you should do both. You will need design as it will help you with your multimedia and gives you something to fall back on.
As for drawing, don’t worry, you can learn this and really, the software you use will be sufficient. I have lots of students who can not draw well, but can animate and use Adobe After Effects, Flash, 3ds Max, etc.
And as for critique, you’ll have to get use to it as everyone has an opinion. Art is subjective and often time there is no right or wrong to it, but just someones opinion. Just smile and say thanks if you don’t like their opinion. Also, I teach my student to “divorce” themselves from the design in that don’t get too attached is you are working for a client. As they are paying, give them what they want. You can always create for your self later.
I have given you a source to the labor statistics for the arts below. You can click on graphic designer and multimedia/animation designers once on the site and see the salary and other info!
Good luck and have fun with it!
What do you think? Answer below!
