Looking towards my future

[duong99]

Hi there, its matthew nguyen.

I'm currently a senior in high school and being that graduation is around the corner, that also means college is following closely. Now that reality has finally come to settle, I've been thinking, what kind of professional jobs are out there for a creative/artistic mind?

I know that there is the typical answer like graphic design but based on research I'm not sure if it is enough to live off of.

I really want to find a job that won't feel like a job yet still realistic and reliable. something that I would love to go to every morning.

What are you guys doing for a job? I'm just looking for some inspiration

(my planned majors are computer science and graphic design)

[hannahvbel]

I worked as a concept artist, illustrator, and designer.
Basically, whatever I like doing at that phrase of life.
Now I'm in college, studying graphic design, will major in " Multi-media Graphic Design"
What I want to do in 2015: own a stationeries store and sit in it.
What I want to do in the far future: make awesome shiets happen.
...
Have a good day!
.////////////////////. //runs away

[keii4ii]

It's very possible to turn graphic design into your living. Not unrealistic at all! However, not all artists are meant for graphic design. I COULD get into it if I tried, but it would never be my favorite type of art. It would definitely "feel like a job" to me.

The thing is, the only way for me to get a job that wouldn't feel like a job is if I were to get paid for things I'm already doing right now: working on my own comic, and painting the things I feel like painting. It's not realistic for me to expect to get paid for those. Sure, there are people who live off their Patreon support, but they're extremely few and far between when you think about how many artists are on the internet.

I could find a job that's similar to what I'm doing: drawing someone else's story into a comic, turning someone else's ideas into paintings. But that would still very much feel like a job to me.

Let me tell you something, though. I didn't even know what I was going to major in until the end of the second year at college, at which point I decided to go with linguistics. Loved learning linguistics, but didn't know how to get a job out of it. Now the things I learned as a linguistics student are helping me teach English as a second language, to kids in Asia (Korea to be specific). I'd never imagined I'd ever become a teacher, much less enjoy it. Years ago, when one of my friends said she wanted to become a teacher, I was like... but why would you do that to yourself!? But now I teach, and find it a very rewarding experience.

It's a great idea to start thinking about these things early, but don't limit yourself into your current interests. You might discover new interests, and some of them could turn out to be profitable!

[MylCreates]

Well i'm in college now, in architecture, so probably working for a firm... but if you're looking for stable jobs with benefits then going with a company as a graphic designer is the safest bet. I know some restaurants like McD is constantly designing custom wall prints for their many restaurants so they have a graphic design team to design all their interior and graphic decor. I'm sure other companies do the same.
If not you can take your chances with doing custom work, as in commissions, but that's a bit more risky.

[Gagovi]

It depends a lot on the country where you live too, i guess.
I'm 2d animator, and is hard to get a permanent job. You must be moving a lot to find a job, knocking doors every month of the year. Is a war. Haha.
I guess that is the panorama for almost every "art" related job. So, try to find what you like the most, because you will always have to fight to earn money, but when you are working on it, is a pleasure.

[kurisquare]

If you find an art-related career that suits you and makes you happy, then by all means go for it!

Now, if you want to go for a major that isn't exactly art-related, it doesn't mean you can't continue doing art and comics. I just got my Bachelor's degree in Astronomy, starting grad school in March, working on astrophysical simulations, and still doing comics! One of my life goals is doing educational science comics, so I'm trying my best to work in science while doing comics on the side. It's kind of hectic, but on the bright side I can focus all of my comic-making energy into my personal projects (though I've drawn for other things every now and then).

Good luck with your future projects, whatever you choose to do! (:

[hierogriff]

@kurisquare I was worried about starting Outside the Box on my first year of University (Zoology) but the posts you've made about how you've managed to keep doing both are an inspiration! Good luck at grad school!

[byJDarby]

Coming from a Senior in graphic design, I have yet to be disappointed with the outcomes of this major.

I'm currently a freelance graphic designer and have received so many projects from all kinds of people who need posters or logos and stuff. The demand for the freelance GD field is somewhat high if you know a lot of people, in my opinion. Even if it probably won't be enough to live off of, you can still find a job that's hiring designers, as @MylCreates said. As long as you have the skill and the degree you're good. I'm actually currently making a comic about college Edumacation if you ever need a glimpse of possible expectancies.

I really want to find a job that won't feel like a job yet still realistic and reliable. something that I would love to go to every morning.

In terms of happiness and love, well ... that's up to you.

[kurisquare]

@kurisquare I was worried about starting Outside the Box on my first year of University (Zoology) but the posts you've made about how you've managed to keep doing both are an inspiration! Good luck at grad school!

Wow, I'm really glad! ;u; and thank you! I can't wait to see how grad school goes so I can adapt my comic-making schedules, hopefully I'll have enough time. Zoology sounds pretty cool, good luck with your studies! c:

PS: Don't be like me and get some sleep, sleep is important and I learned this really late

[AlkseeyaKC]

I kind of wish I took some Graphic Design. lol But I'm not the best at it.

I'm out of art collage. I studied Illustration and animation. I was not willing to move, due to my husband has a job... in graphic design. lol I did get a job in what I wanted. I was a artist for a flash game company for three years, then the company went under. I haven't really had a job sense. But I'm making by with comics and commissions. I don't recommend this though. lol

I have some tips though on how to find what you want to do:
- What do you love researching or enjoy a lot.
- Are you good at it or have potential.
- Can you make money at it or get a job.
- be willing to move to the jobs.

[Drezz]

The key is to find that delicate balance between work that earns you steady pay, and fulfilling your creative desires. I hate to break it to you, but the ideal of doing what you love doesn't always translate into a sustainable income. BUT.... you can compromise to some degree.

Using my own example - I went to college for a 4-year program in visual art and graphic design. This was during the tech explosion in the late 90s - early 2000s. I always wanted to be a comic book artist, but I saw the harsh reality of the industry when a mutual friend introduced me to an independent creator who had done fill-in work for DC and Image comics (inking, storyboards, odds and ends, etc.)

He was miserable. And he had been working at it for almost 10 years at that point. He also had produced his own indie comic, did illustration work on the side, but he barely made enough to pay the rent on his studio. I didn't want to live like that - so I looked into a profession where I could do something I was decent at and earned enough money to give me what I needed. That was graphic design.

With my background in illustration and graphic design, I started off in an entry-level position for a small boutique agency. Now, 15 years later I'm the creative director and second-in-command. I earn a good salary and I enjoy working, but I don't LOVE it. That's why comics/illustration (which I LOVE) is a hobby that provides me with enough freedom to do as I please and earn a bit of extra money on the side.

Some day, that may change. I may make more doing the side stuff than I do at my day job - which could lead to me leaving my day job and continuing on with my illustration and comics work. But then you have all the extra headaches that come with running your own business.

So there's never really an ideal job where you wake up one day to work from home (or your cool studio) on your own projects all day, and not have to deal with the daily headaches of accounting and clients, etc until you've hit the top level. Which means, you have to tough it out through all of it to get there.

If you're motivated enough to do it - that is fantastic. I wish you the best. But realize that there's a long, hard road to success that every successful person has to travel. Do what you love, but be realistic!

[Gabbi]

IMO I think that graphic design is the branch with highest potential to live off.
If your good at it, there's a lot of work out there, and it pays pretty good.

I majored in comics and illustrations though and it's what I prefer to work with, but I often end up taking other art related work as well, like graphic design, game graphics, and drawing classes.

Some artistic fields will always demand very specific knowledge, but I think most creative work has blurry lines between them, so you might end up jumping between very different kinds of art jobs.

[IgnightedHell]

I have not gone to college, but I wish I did, and who knows I may someday. High school has some of my fondest memories since it was the easiest time of my life. Enjoy the rest of your high school education, and at graduation look for your parents they will of course want pictures of the occasion. Look for grants ("free money") that will help you. If you find time and extra cash you can sign up for classes to learn some extra skills (after H.S. graduation I found a week long course 9 till 5 on comics for $300).

Also your health should be top priority. Sleep is impotent, and when you are sick rest-- you don't want unwanted complications.

Good luck out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^__^

[LTyler]

I work, essentially, two full-time jobs - one as a special needs babysitter/nanny of two years, and one working on my art. 80+ hour work weeks, FTW!
My current battle plan is, knowing that I'm probably never really going to be earning all that much income (high school drop out due to severe mathematics learning disability, combined with mild/moderate physical disability, it's really difficult to find paying work that doesn't involve degrees, numbers, or muscles... lol!).
I've thus set out to design my life around the expectation that I'm going to be living very, very, very lean. At best, around 500-or-so, give or take, dollars a month... I don't know how much graphic design pays, but where there's a will, there's a way. (Of course, the cost of college must be taken into account... I've seen my fair share of artists get completely screwed over by big college debt, which left them unable to support themselves on an artists salary - so be careful not to dig yourself into a hole. If you can, get a part time job and get through school debt-free).
Options are open to you - and you have to figure out how much doing what you love is really worth, when compared to pursuing a job that has a fatter, steadier, more reliable salary.
Realistically speaking, I don't think there is a job out there that will ever -not- feel like a job... Even doing art - something I love doing more than anything else - it's only really enjoyable 30-50% of the time... The rest of the time it's either tear-my-hair-out stress and panic, or slam-my-face-against-a-wall boredom/exhaustion.
And that's okay, I think - to not enjoy what you do 100% of the time... so long as there are times where you do enjoy it, I think that's the most one can really ask for. ^_^

[IgnightedHell]

Before you read just know that people have had worse lives and this is not a competition just my reasoning with taking care of yourselves thus having a happier life. Take it easy sometimes!!

I was active 15 hours a day when I had a job (loved it). Had to pay rent, medical, and get food. The week I was going to break even and have a growing savings I got sick went to work and that night was in a coma (wish I called in sick). I lost the job that I liked and had a decent pay due to brain damage and paralysis that I woke up with. Doctors are still relatively keeping me from getting a job for now (hoping they stop the red tape). Even though I'v recovered to the point where I can socialize (instead of being trapped inside my own head) and able to walk (without a leg brace or cane) for months.

My point is all in all just take care of your selves everyone!!

[nikacomics]

!!
That really is awful, and I'm so sorry to hear that! At least you're recovering, and I hope you can continue to recover to the point that there's no more red tape and you can do what you want! And to your point, yes, taking care of yourself is extremely important... It's so easy to forget that we have physical needs and must eat and sleep in order to fuel our work.

[nikacomics]

To address your original question, @duong99, I'm working in marketing. Basically, you'll find that either you can make a living creating your own work, or doing other people's work. And whether you are a hired graphic designer working for others or an accountant, you'll find the lines start to blur—it all just becomes a means to an end, a way to support yourself for the things you care about.

That said, different industries have different experiences, and you'll find yourself warming to some over others. What matters is not the job title, but things like: do you like the people you work with? What are your hours? Are you proud of the work you are doing? Do you feel there's room to grow your skills? You might surprise yourself by being perfectly happy in a non-art-related job, because creativity is relevant for EVERYTHING. The only reason why I sometimes get envious of freelance artists is that they get more practice doing art.

One thing I strongly believe in: don't be so worried about finding a job that you don't allow yourself to explore new experiences. Just sayin'!

[jjfresh]

I am a first-year in college. I am studying Mathematics with aims to becoming an actuary.

My information will not help because actuary is the nerdiest business job and also one of the hardest.
Graphic design is not a lot so unless you plan on being alone, or maybe one other person, you are not going to get rich off of it. What hope to do is try art out while having my degree as back up in case it doesn't work out.

You mentioned Computer Science. I love programming and you could aim to work for a big company such as Microsoft, Google, or, on the art topic, Adobe. Not easy but an idea. If you aren't looking for a job with an enormous salary like actuary, then hrmm...

I'm not too sure. One thing you can do is go on college board and look at the majors section. You can search a major, like Computer Science, and on the side, they give you a list of possible professions for that degree.