career change

[nykkieberry]

I want to change career and move into graphic design. I have a degree in Art and basic knowledge of InDesign and Photoshop - which qualification/course should I enrol on? I would like an element of web deign as well. It would need ot be part-time as I work and cannot afford to give up my job. Many thanks Nykkie

[rinkytink]

I don't know anything about graphic design in itself, but just about every job I see advertised in the graphic design / publishing field asks for Quark Express experience. Maybe that would be a starting point.
Check out their web site to learn a bit more about the software

target=_blank>http://www.quark.com

[nykkieberry]

Thanks RinkyTink - InDesign has superceded Quark now really - although it still remains Industry standard. It's a very similar package so it wouldn't be a problem learning it as I am quite familiar with InDesign. I currently produce publications as part of my role in self-taught InDesign but I am not qualified. It's not really individual applications that I am looking for training in as I can do that through work - it's more a bedrock qualification that will teach me design concepts, industry knowledge such as print and press etc. plus technical expertise in applications. It's hard to find a suitable level three course that I can do part-time!

[LeMarchand]

nykkieberry - without wanting to seem negative, I'm currently helping out at a friend's design & print firm. There were recently a couple of sales vacancies; nearly all the applicants were people with Graphic Design qualifications who couldn't find work in their chosen field, and were hoping to "get a foot in the door". That said, I wish you the best of luck in obtaining suitable qualifications and finding employment. Sorry I couldn't offer any positive help!

[nykkieberry]

Thanks LeMarchand. I'm lucky as I already have a foot in the door. I'm a qualified freelance copywriter, manage a corporate website as my 'day job' and I am seconded as a designer to a Marketing team. I just want a qualification as I have a degree in Fine Art but lack a recognise qualification in Graphic Design. It's more another string to my bow really rather than a complete career change - all my friends are trying to get out of GD not into it because the pay is pants!