I can certainly see someone having an easier time making jewelry
than trying to support themselves as a fashion designer - unless you
have connections with some prestigious people in the business, that
is…
If I really wanted to make some big bucks, I’d learn plumbing, LOL!
Continue from:
Ok, I have to ask.. what IS a major that would allow someone to support themselves decently these days?
Well…speaking from experience: I got a BA, then got a full-time
job answering phones. Eventually they promoted me, once I’d proven
myself, but I still make less than half what my friends who went to
law school are now making. Of course, they have loans to pay back
and they work until midnight most nights, while I have time to
pursue building a jewelry business and learning all the necessary
skills, since my lower-paying job doesn’t generally require more
than 40 hours of my time each week.
The only people I know who got good paying jobs right out of college
as a direct result of their major are engineers. Even then, these
are people who managed to get really good grades in enginnering,
which is not an easy thing to do. A few friends managed to do well
in business right away and have cushy non-engineering jobs without
going to grad school, but it had nothing to do with what they
majored in.
A few options for non-technical people:
tourism-related jobs, if you live in a tourist area entry level
office work, with hopes of moving up eventually
communications/sales/marketing editorial assitant, research
assistant, personal assistant, etc for someone working in a field
related to your major childcare, if you have good references and live
in an affluent area, with or without college degree teaching -
doesn’t pay that well, but you get summers off
These are things that have worked for people I know, who all
graduated within the past five years.
The only 2 youngish people I know who make a decent living have a
buisness degree. They both got jobs making $70,000 right out of
college
I meant to add in my last post that all of you who said that an art
education should provide its students with some idea of how to
market themselves and make a living with their work are absolutely
right. I guess I got lucky in the sense that this was part of
senior seminar in the art program I enrolled in - students were
taught how to photograph their work, how to assemble a good
portfolio, how to write a resume and behave in a job interview, and
how to find and contact potential employers. Granted, we still
could have learned a lot more about things like getting into
galleries or selling at art shows, but at least it was a start.
One of the trendiest notions is academia at present is the concept
of “interdisciplinary studies” - synergizing skills and learning
from various fields to interpret a single subject or problem, in the
classroom sense; in the real-life sense, using your education - all
of it - to help you navigate through your life. I think the “IDS”
label is just a new descriptor for an old concept, but the fact that
it’s catching on means that academic programs (i.e. art) will be
much more receptive to broadening their students’ experience, and it
may soon not be uncommon to find art students taking business
classes (and science classes, and political history, etc. etc.) to
supplement their major.
Art students interested in this sort of thing really should make the
effort to bring it to the attention of your advisors, professors,
and department chairs - you might find that the topic is already on
the table. And if you’re being repressed by an evil or incompetent
administration, keep in mind that good professors often outlast bad
deans!
All the best,
Jessee Smith
www.silverspotstudio.com
Cincinnati, Ohio
At the college I attended, interior design was a four- to five-year
program, just like graphic design and other art-based majors. All
the students in t he major were expected to synthesize all their
skills in a final thesis project that required literally hundreds of
hours of work. Drawing classes, color theory, marker rendering, 3D
design, and even figure drawing were required f or the major.
Granted, some designers may make it look easy, but it seemed li ke a
great deal of work to me.
I don’t know much about fashion design, but I suspect that a
background and degree in art would be necessary to begin a career in
that field as well. As for landscaping, it may be an easier and less
expensive field to get into, b ut a certain number of hours in
horticulture classes are required for some certifications, such as
“master gardener.”
It seems that there are increasingly few careers that don’t require a
pricey degree, and it’s ironic that, once you have that degree, you
may use it to enter a field that has little to do with your area of
study. My husband, a professor, often says that an employer sees a
degree as proof that for four or five years, you managed to show up
on time (more or less), accomplish set ta sks, and please twenty or
thirty rather demanding supervisors - your professors - over the
course of your academic career. If you can continue to apply thos e
skills in the workplace, reasoning follows, you’ll be a good
employee. So, in that sense, every degree is a vocational degree.
Just a musing…interesting thread here!
Cheers,
Jessee Smith (who is finally, finally caught up with old Orchid digests after
many travels. Who knew you could get a sunburn in Surrey?)
www.silverspotstudio.com
Cincinnati, Ohio
When I started my teaching at George Brown College here in Toronto
some 5 years ago the course was so antiquated I resolved to bring it
into the modern era…the Head-Chair and Fashion Director had the
knowledge and foresight to let me completely change the whole darn
(sp) curriculum…so from a measly 4 students in the first-semester
year, then we had a class of over 22 in three short years…the best
part is that they now “listen” to me and my jewellery/setting ideas.
Many of my past students are now full fledged Craftsperson’s, Retail
owners and some are Artistic-Designers…(M&F).
Deans and Teachers must talk to each other on all aspects of
their curriculum and lessons.
When I have a class I don’t just talk words and be gone! I am their
"mentor" and guide them through almost every aspect of this craft
from marketing, sales, gemmology, repairs, costing, communication,
purchasing…My Head Dean leaves everything to my skills…how many
teachers actually bring gold and diamonds with them to each class? I
show them setting problems and how to correct them while at the
bench…Yes, I do “pass” many and also “fail” a few students. Such is school life…Gerry!