Q&A: Can a person w/ a degree in Graphic Design get a job in Illustration and visa versa?

Question by forlornhope638: Can a person w/ a degree in Graphic Design get a job in Illustration and visa versa?

I know, I know, this is a stupid question. I’m just torn between whether I should get a degree in Graphic Design or Illustration as I’m equally passionate in both. Right now I’m majoring in graphic design and lovin’ it but what if I graduate and want to to do illustrating for a bit? Would I be screwed?

Best answer:

Answer by jplatt39
If you have a good portfolio you will not be screwed. If you are comfortable doing academic drawing I do recommend as many courses in it as you can, but cartoonists like Chip Wass and J. D. King do a lot of high-paying jobs which rely far more on design skills than they do academic drawing. I would definitely say try to show your drawings to your teachers and see what they think you do best. It is also time to work on your portfolio right now — go to Staples and get a good presentation portfolio to mount your samples in — and try to include both your best drawing and your best assignments (I am saying that even if you are in your first year — the time to start work on your portfolio was really fourteen but it’s not too late). Only take academic drawing if you want to. It is really important that the drawings you select for your portfolio are the drawings you want to do — with themes and images you are comfortable with, unless you have actually sold a drawing you are not as comfortable with as happens. Chances are, in either field, you will have to work 2 or more jobs to pay the bills at some point. You may as well try to arrange to get jobs you think are fun doing.

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