Techie Careers: IT or Graphic Design & Web, whatcha think?

I don't know about IT, but graphic design isn't always the best choice. Do a real-world study on job availability in your area first. I am in Southern California, and the market is crap. I can't imagine it's much better elsewhere. Too many people offering their services, not enough work!

Yep, that is part of the problem...not enough jobs. I'm in the FL Keys, lots of small businesses but nothing really big enough to need an IT person, and Graphics looks more interesting and creative/artistic but....

See my delimma? Either way, or even neither, I'm probably going to have to relocate because there isn't much of anything down here in any field - unless you are an a/c refrigeration guy.

I think McDonald's Burger University is the best option for you dude!

I try to do both.

I do technical support on a few screens, and on a few others I try to make up something "fun" just in case anyone is watching.. so it's fun for them.

Otherwise it would be really dull.

That would be Duda :)

graphic design doesn't pay the bills...

Any programmer who is good at graphic design, seems to get more job opportunities though.


Programming #1; JAVA .NET SQL Ruby on Rails - avoid all the other shit

Can't you major in IT and minor in graphics?

Thanks, that's the kind of stuff I need to know :)

Tought choice. The web will play a more important role in the future due to web applications and cloud servers.

If it's graphic design & web (as in web programming) I think I'd choose this. Just look at the vacancy boards, big demands for .net or php programmers with enough understanding of SQL.

Eh... you forgot Javascript ;)

IT is best, better money and more available jobs in the market than for graphic designers.

Everyone wants to be a graphic designer because they can do artwork, but the field is full of people with not enough jobs to go around, so unless you have major art mojo you are not gonna get a good paying job in that field, they usually only hire the best.

I would, but it's sort of one or the other because of my location. Having said that, I am o.k. with the Adobe stuff and can get a website up with some Flash and a cart, but like I said I'm not formally trained. So, was wondering which way to go.

Well, I work in IT in a similar area to what you describe, and I can say with no question that while I'm eating well, there are very few graphic / web designers I know that are easily making ends meet. I only have one friend able to make a career of it, and only as an employee to a media firm.

Best description I've heard is this... when money is tight, people will either not do much with web marketing, or they will learn to do it themselves. However, if the systems break, they need them fixed, and NOW. That has always been where the money goes. If you are in an area whose average business size doesn't support an IT department, even a one-person department... see if you can contract to a number of them. Alternating days at different locations, some reasonable on-call terms... you're more likely to make a consistent salary doing that then trying to work in web and graphics. People WANT quality, but they'll do without if the price isn't right, when it comes to design. With tech? It is what it is, the rates are pretty much standard, and that's all there is to it.

Just my opinion, but I hope it helps.

Cheers!

WOW, you sure did hit the nail on the head...I learned what I know because I had a business and couldn't afford to pay to have what I needed done. Great point!

Well from my own experience, everyone can make a static HTML website. However, it takes some skills to make a dynamic, load balanced website having its own content manager system.

Not only do you have to know HTML, but also for instance Javascript, .net and one of its programming languages (C#, VB, or managed C++), or PHP, or Java, and you also must be sufficient in SQL (MS SQL, My SQL or Firebird etc.) and every year new technologies pop up (Ajax, Silverlight, Flash etc.).

Anyway, if you want to do deep coding (as in drivers) or games using C++, the big demand IMHO is really for web developers and application developers (often using .net with C# or VB).

At least that's in my region, which of course may be different than in your's.

I am an IT professional with a D.Sc that has been in the field for 24 years. Without question the IT path would be much more productive for you. Graphic designers are a dime a dozen and I have them beating down my door for work.

If you can get into something that can't be easily outsourced out of the country (like network design and maintenance) you will do best.

I can tell you the ONLY reason I am still getting to do graphic design work is that I have seriously diversified my skills...I also do 3D animation, web design, production, shooting, editing, motion graphics, interactive software, etc,etc,etc,etc...

Even with all of that, I have months go by without a lot of work.

Of course...you could always get into videography and editing. Seriously, while corporate gigs come and go, there are two sub-fields in production that are never going away: weddings and adult material. If you get into producing either of those, you will always be working. I know this works for wedding people, and I have heard it work in adult as well. The company I work for is strictly corporate/family clientele, so we don't actually have any work right now :(

To add, with web design I implicitly assume the above (.Net, PHP, Ajax, Javascript, SQL, Flash etc.), and not only as designing graphics for the web. At least that's what they are most of the time looking for over here with web designers.

Trust me, development is a commodity. Design will always be held close to the business / marketing unit.

Supposedly AI and Computer Gaming are supposed to be the hot carreers.

Forget IT....your not nerdy enough.
Please don't waste money on out of date "formal" training.
Self discipline is the KEY.
You are going to have to learn a language(s) start with HTML and CSS then the scripts PHP mainly and it's best database partner MySQL. Know these and work for yourself from home for a long time.

Spend money on software/hardware and paying the bills while your head is down.

I suggest learning a full open source path:

GIMP
Inkscape
Open Office
Unbuntu


I use
Corel 14
GIMP
Inkscape
Sketchup
Illistrator <hate
Photoshop <hate


I have done IT and graphics for 20 years. I now own a sign co. print big graphics daily....pretty cool.

Thanks, but I am nerdy enough in my old brain, lol.

It is apparent that the one with the languages is the way to go. There is always new, and more :) I've written them all down and will investigte further.

I'd like to be more creative and artistic which is why the Graphics appealed to me, but I am really too left brained.

I can always do some buffing up of local web sites on the side. Lots of crappy sites down here, I find it wierd since it is all touristy.

Last Edited by Vi on 08/05/2010 09:45 PM

You need a course which will hone your natural talent using the skills you've already developed programming or creating artwork. It helps to have some self-taught building blocks, aptitude, or The Knack. Let me say it as neutrally as possible: I've known people with no prior background, in college, who have become career programmers, but the depth stops there. It pays the bills, their skills are highly specialized.

I heard a radio host ask a caller who was preparing to make a major life change what she enjoyed doing most. I think that is a good starting point. If it's either or, which do you enjoy more at this very moment, and where are your foundational skills?

I've worked in IT software (web) and hardware for years and I've had to work productively with graphics people. It surely is two different worlds, with different skills and tools. I've always admired their creative talent, as I'm sure they've admired my ability to package it all together and make it work.

I'm not so good with creating artwork...I'm finishing an Illustration course that I had a lot of difficulty with until I was assigned a tutor who showed me what I needed to do in a more logical order. I guess that answers that question :)

Your name is Vi, so you should become a Unix programmer. And only use Emacs. That would be funny.

and yet you can't spell - how ironic

I would recommend learning Microsoft such as .Net. Apple is running out of steam with their video editing exclusivity since Windows Apps do the same thing and there can no longer be a claim of superior Apple hardware since they went the ‘Wintel’ route. Linux is for religious fanatics that live in their Mom’s basements. The people who have jobs in programming are more likely to be .Net/C# types. Natural given the number of Windows computers compared to others.

And marry a guy named Ed or Sam, lol.

Maybe you haven't heard about the huge numbers of Unix and Linux servers that power the internet?