Making a Life decison: Graphic Design or Advertisement/Marketing

[Chris Sanders MSX]

On some of my college applications I lised Graphic Design as my Major and on others I listed Advertisement/Marketing. As you know I got into Western Michigan University and on that application I had graphic Design as my major. And now I'm starting to have regrets.

I know that once I get to college I can switch majors again, But i've been doing this for literally two years. I can not decide between Graphic Designer or Marketing/Advertisement.

I know TZ has a few college students and I know Singin' Stray Cat is a Graphic Design major so I just really want to ask what are your thouhts on the two feilds and which should I do ?

I have my reasons for picking these two. I'm creative, I love to draw, I always have great ideas popping into my head, I want a job where I will a little bit of structure and a little bit of creative freedom. I also want to make a lot of money. In addition I want job security.

For a long time all I wanted was to go into advertisement but I'm not sure how secure that job is. Isn't it easy to get tossed from that job if your campaign fails ? And with Graphic Design, yeah I have security but I don't think I'll get to be as creative, plus how many job opportunities are there ?

This seems like a lot but I've been stressing about this since I got my packet for admissions into the art school at WMU. I'm thinking of calling them and telling them I want a change but I'm really not entirely sure.

To keep things open, anyone else picking or who has picked majors feel free to list your major and why you picked it.

[ZorBrak]

Hmm interesting, I am looking at those same two paths.....but I'm leaning towards marketing....but I really don't know what to tell ya as I'm still not sure either.

[Psycho Fox]

I'd go with Graphic Design. You can enter the ad work as a grunt art worker. Basicly you draw what they want you to draw. Yes it may be possible to work your way up the ladder. As the general staff of an ad company you wouldn't be let go as easily as the directors and such

[Outlander00]

Graphic Design... Because you can get away with doing both. Advertising/Marketing will pigeon-hole you.

[Singin' Stray Cat]

Chris, this is an excellent question. And quite frankly, it's got me stumped. That's because I'm also wondering now if I picked the right major. I chose it in the first place because, well, I liked drawing and playing with the computer, and graphic design seemed to be a nice union of the two. I suppose I'd have to get back to you when I actually graduate and get a job. =\

As for which you should choose, I'm afraid I don't know you well enough to say, "Oh, THIS is definitely the major for you!" But maybe I can help a little bit by telling you what my experience has been like as a graphic design major... well, I guess I should say a really mediocre graphic designer, 'coz even after one and a half years of concentrated courses in college, that's what I feel like. (And I guess that's how the instructors feel too, since the best I've ever done in any of their classes is a B+.)

If you enter the graphic design field, be prepared to show and talk about your work...a lot. Also be prepared to have instructors say to you, essentially, "Yeah, that's good, but if you did this and this and this, then it would be great." (And they still might tell you this up until the due date. -.-'') I also don't get to draw as much as I used to. I like drawing cartoons, mostly. If I sketch anything out, I'd rather it be a web page design or a comic strip rather than a poster or book cover. (Speaking of which, I have only designed ONE web page for a class the ENTIRE three and a half years I've been going to college.)

However, if you like coming up with creative solutions to problems, you'd get to do a lot of that in this field, I imagine. If you're really good, you can please everyone you work with which may include advertisers, depending on who your employer winds up being.

Can't say much about advertising, since I've had next to no experience with it. I may come back and edit this post later with some more useful advice, if I can find it or think of it. =X

[Taiso]

Be aware that there are two sides to advertising, the business side and the creative. While these do have things in common, it does not require any creativity to run the business side of accouting. The creative team have to come up with the ideas or make ideas happen, whereas the business team acts as a middle man between the client and the creative department. There is no reason why you can't be a graphic designer and still not be able to get into advertising. I would recommend trying graphic design first, since if you focus on advertising it would be hard to go back, whereas as a trained graphic designer you would be able to approach both sides of advertising whichever way you decide to go.

Just my humble opinion. I hope it helps