Question was mainly about 'what should I learn', so I answered to that one.
I presume most people understand they also have to be able to make beautiful
things (and not just to their own eyes).

As a matter of fact, yesterday we had someone applicate for a job.  One year
wirking experience at a very large company.  One year... hmmm... but he
showed us some flash things he made, logo's he designed and some drawings.
Needless to say we were quite impressed by style, colour use and general
looks.

It all comes down to whether you're talented or not.  But that's quite
obvious I thought.


Kayjey



-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: owner-hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org
[mailto:owner-hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org]Namens Michael Heliker
Verzonden: woensdag 25 april 2001 14:53
Aan: 'Hwg-Techniques'; 'Kimiko Drew'
Onderwerp: RE: Web designing (was HTML - why bother?)





> The main thing about webdesigning is being able to impress both users and
> collegue-developers.
> 
That's not the "main" thing. That's what you can achieve if you HAVE the
"main" thing, which, I think, is simply good design sense, and the knowledge
of how to implement it. 

> For that, you need graphics knowledge, theorethical and practical
> (PhotoShop, some vector program, theary about gif ad jpeg,...), and coding
> knowledge for all languages that are quite often used on the platform of
> your choice (HTML, Javascript, CSS, ASP/PHP, maybe cgi/perl and of course
> Lingo if you're using Flash).
> 
Knowing what makes a page flow to the eye is most important. What elements
(graphical or text-besed) to use when and where.
Photoshop/Illustrator/HTML/etc., can  all be learned. I believe the majority
of time for a designer/Graphic artist, is working with the visual layout.
That can be achieved on paper with pens/pencils/markers/etc.

(As a side note, isn't Lingo used in Director, and ActionScripting used in
Flash?)

> On the part of experience, it depends.  If you've been a truely great
> learner, are very interested and are willing to learn and read every
> single
> day, some day throwing it all overboard and start anew with different
> language, I wouldn't say you got to have 5 years of experience.  I think
> if
> you're very much into this, a single year is enough to build up a
> considerable amount of knowledge.
> 
I think for a 'designer' the experience many employers look for is 2-3 years
minimally. But, that's not the most important part, I don't think. if you go
to a potential employer with no degree in art/design and almost no work
experience, but you can show them a portfolio of self-promotional work that
blows them away...you've got a better shot than someone with 3 years
experience, a degree in design, and only average work to show for it.  The
Design sense you have to work at, either on the job or on your own
time...the technical programs you can learn as you go. 

There was a story from one of my old professors of a company that hired a
whole design team because they knew Photoshop and ton of other graphical
programs like nobody else. But they were terrible deisgners. 6 months later,
they fired them, and hired a new team of artists and taught them how to use
the programs. 

that's the way I see things. If you want to break into graphic design or web
design (I'm talking the visual stuff, here), a strong portfolio and good
work ethic will take you far. 

HTH,

Michael Heliker
Web Designer

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