Saturday, April 17, 2010

Can you go from graphic design/advertising to the business side of it?

I am a junior/senior majoring in graphic design/ advertising. I have found that I am not much interested in the handson computer designing aspect. I am interested in the big picture, coming up with the concept not actually making it. If I minor in marketing do you think I could get a job in advertising/marketing on the business side rather than the art side? Thanks to people with experience or knowledge

Can you go from graphic design/advertising to the business side of it?
Worked in marketing/finance/HR since 2002.





The only thing you truly need is a degree. Any degree.





A basic knowledge of accounting/marketing is helpful if you want to get on the business end. So take accounting 101, intro to macro, and intro to micro at least would help.





Finance/econ/management majors + MBAs do get their foot in the door easier on the business end, but they aren't the only ones.





As long as you have a degree you can get into any job really. You could graduate as an Asian Studies major and have gotten an entry level job with me as long as you had some specific knowledge of the business or how a business runs in general or have specific computer skills or just the fact that we were hiring and you interviewed well.





I'd suggest checking your school's resources for an internship for at least in-between semesters or summer to see what you might need to do in the specific field you want to be in. If that's not possible, just get your degree and pound the pavement from there. And if you aren't qualified to get the job you want, go back to school and get qualified.





But for the most part, I've found any degree can get your foot in the door, at least entry level. What you do after that is your problem.
Reply:Well, why not ask someone already in advertising/marketing on the business side !
Reply:uhh, i dunno but just for quiriosity, what software do u use for graphiuc design. Adobe illustrator?
Reply:You can, although you may find you really need an MBA. I would recommend against majoring or minoring in marketing or advertising (your graphic design program is good just concentrate on the art part); you'll learn all they would teach in the first six months on the job. You do need some marketing, economics and math in preparation for B-school. Be sure to be making presentations in your classes, or take a speech class. A marketing career without an MBA is not promising. However, an MBA combined with a art background would be very interesting to ad agencies.
Reply:Definitely minor in Advertising or Communications. It will certainly help you! Also, if your school requires internships (or even if not) try to focus on either of those. It would be very beneficial for you to understand the design part of the process so you'll be very attractive to employers...good luck!





FYI to one of your posters...I took plenty of marketing/advertising classes in order to get a BFA in Graphic Design. We know about the "big picture."
Reply:Yes, absolutely. I went from selling advertising, to writing copy and coming up with ideas for promos to now starting my own marketing firm.
Reply:YES! Unfortunately, creative designer types are usually horrible at looking at the "big picture". If you have skills in both, you can be very successful, just make sure to take enough classes to support the business aspect of marketing also. Marketing, communications, econ etc.


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