Thinking of a Career in Design?
If you're thinking of a career in design, then you've got an exciting road ahead. Design training schools can help turn your creativity into a rewarding career as a design professional. read more [+]
The opportunities are vast as designers are involved, to some degree, in just about every industry. Designers play a significant role in the clothes you wear, the appliances in your kitchen, the furniture in your home, the floor plan of your work place, the packaging of the products you purchase, the electronics you use, and even the car you drive. Needless to say, the options for a career in design are endless!
Design professionals can have careers in web design, interior design, fashion design, architectural design, and computer animation, just to name a few. You can easily find design schools to prepare you for every type of design career there is.
Design training schools offer hands-on learning that focus on the skills required for the specific design profession you choose. A career in design is an excellent choice if you enjoy problem-solving, have an aesthetic flair, communicate well, and are highly creative.
Choosing the right design school is a very important decision. Most design jobs require formal training and a minimum Bachelor's degree. There are several hundred design schools across the country that offer both campus-based and online programs.
KA Design Schools is organized to help you find design schools that are reputable and accredited, making it easier for you to decide on which school to attend and what degree to pursue, based upon your individual needs and circumstances.
KADesignSchools.com not only helps you choose the right school, but also serves as a career resource, full of detailed information on the exciting design careers available. Designers can find themselves working in a large firm, opening their own business, or offering their services on a freelance basis. You'll find in-depth articles about the fastest-growing design fields, salary trends, and what it takes to succeed in the design industry. You'll also be able to read guides written by real design professionals, as they share information on their careers and what it took for them to succeed.
A popular career choice, the design industry is very competitive. But the right design degree, combined with creativity, hard work and a passion for the design industry, is a recipe for success. Our goal is to help you define your educational and career goals by providing a site with all the resources you'll need to make your decision. So whether you want to pursue a design career or just learn some new skills for fun, we're confident you'll find the right design school for you.
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Architecture
Architects design buildings, structures such as bridges, landscapes, and entire areas, such as a city or residential development. Their designs must be functional, aesthetically appealing, safe, and within budget. Architecture school coursework covers history, theory, building structures, design, materials, planning, ecology, and professional aspects of the architectural field. Architects must be creative, analytical, problem solvers, and strong communicators, with sound drawing skills, who are socially and environmentally aware. The job field is highly competitive, but work is commonly found in architectural firms and construction companies, through teaching and consulting, or opening your own practice. Architectural design degree holders may work as a project managers, supervisors, instructors, or partners in a firm. At top architecture schools, students can specialize in landscaping, green design, urban planning, and historic preservation.
Computer Animation
Computer animators work for movies, television, advertising companies, video games, web design firms, companies, architecture practices, and interior design studios. They may create cartoons, special effects, and visual presentations for company clients. Coursework in computer animation programs may include programming, digital design, graphic design, web design, game design, special effects, color theory, and illustration. Computer animators must be artistic, creative, good storytellers, knowledgeable in current computer animation technology, with an eye for detail, and the ability to work in a team. The computer animation industry is extremely competitive but exponentially growing. You can work for television and film production companies, advertising agencies, as well as video game and web design companies, or be your own boss and branch out as a freelancer. Students with computer animation training can specialize in video game design, web animation, multimedia art, and film editing.
Fashion
Fashion designers conceive and produce clothing and accessories. They choose the materials and colors, oversee design production, and understand and keep up with fashion trends. Coursework at top fashion schools typically covers fashion history, design, textiles, color, making patterns, sewing, tailoring, marketing, business, merchandising, and human anatomy. To become a fashion designer requires creativity, the ability to visualize, pattern making, sewing, good communication skills, strong drawing expertise, and the ability to work well with others. Fashion school graduates will enjoy a steadily growing, but highly competitive industry. You can work for clothing or accessory manufacturers, design firms, wholesale companies, and retail stores. Fashion designers may also do freelance work or start their own design company. Fashion schools usually offer such specialty areas as costume design for movies, television, and the performing arts, children's clothing, footwear design, sports apparel design, and lingerie design.
Game Design
Game designers help outline the layout of video and computer games including the story, characters, dialogue, and scoring, and often work with video game developers. Coursework at video game design schools consists of the history of game design, computer animation, writing, color theory, design fundamentals, game theory, level design, storyboarding, and game scripting. Video game design jobs demand strong problem solving skills, advanced computer expertise including programming and coding, creativity, artistry, the ability to work under pressure, and good time management. Game design majors enjoy excellent career prospects in this booming industry. Video game design jobs generally involve working for video game manufacturers as a programmer, game designer, quality assurance tester, level designer, interface designer, production manager, or animator. Game designers can also find work in the mobile communication industry and have the option to concentrate on game programming, game testing, interface design, game reviewing, and gambling game design.
Graphic Design
Graphic designers use a combination of graphics and text to create such things as logos, brochures, posters, magazine covers and layout, book covers, CD and DVD covers, T-shirts, and other items for businesses, advertisers, websites, and publications. Programs at graphic design schools cover design principles, printing techniques, studio art, web design, commercial graphics, art history, computer aided design (CAD) and marketing. Graphic designers need creativity, artistry, an eye for detail, strong drawing ability, sound verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work well under pressure and manage time. This market is very competitive but growing. Graduates of graphic design schools can work as an in-house designer for any number of different businesses, or do graphic design for magazines, advertising agencies, and design and publishing firms. Concentrations within graphic arts degrees include web design, animation, corporate branding, advertising, package design, and desktop publishing.
Interior Design
Interior designers create and plan new, upgraded, or revamped interiors for homes and businesses. The focus is usually on décor, but may include improving the use of space and function, as well as energy. Interior design degree coursework includes studying design trends, drafting, lighting, space planning, color theory, textiles, safety policies, and building codes and regulations. To become an interior designer, individuals must be artistic, creative, and strong communicators, with an eye for color and good drawing skills. This industry is very competitive, but growing faster than most. Interior design graduates can work for design firms or be self-employed. Many aspects of the job involve hands-on design or supervising others. Specialty areas within interior design programs often include industrial design, residential design, specific types of interiors, such as bathrooms, restaurants, automobiles, airplanes, lighting design, and set design.
Multimedia
Multimedia designers use various forms of media, such as video, audio, animation, digital information, and photos, to convey ideas or information. Work may also involve script writing, web design, and production. Coursework at an accredited multimedia design school will typically include motion graphics, layout design, computer aided design (CAD), visual effects, digital media, animation, related technology, video and sound editing, story boarding, flash animation, web design, and motion graphics production. Multimedia designers are required to be detail-oriented, good communicators, creative, and able to work independently as well as with a team, with strong computer, technical, and problem solving skills. In this growing but highly competitive industry, there are many multimedia design jobs in the entertainment field, as well as with advertising agencies, educational institutions, video manufacturers, web design firms, mobile phone companies, and in government. Multimedia designers can focus in such areas as interactive animation, multimedia development, motion graphics design, and interactive web design.
Photography
Photographers take photos to tell a story and immortalize people, things, or events. They may also take photos to advertise products and services, or to be used as instructional aids. Photography school programs usually cover photo composition, photo processing, lighting, history of photography, camera use, flash use, and exposure controls. Photographers must be creative and artistic, with a strong technical capacity, digital imaging expertise, an aptitude for composition and lighting, computer proficiency, good people communication skills, as well as the ability to work independently. Photography is a highly competitive industry, with many photographers working freelance or self-employed with their own studio. Photographers also have the opportunity to work with the fashion industry, advertising agencies, manufacturers, or media such as newspapers and magazines. Photographers can specialize in portrait photography, biomedical photography, industrial or commercial photography, fashion photography, forensic photography, sports photography, wedding photography, architectural photography, travel photography, and photojournalism.
Web Design
Web designers devise and build websites and web pages for businesses, organizations, and individuals. The job of a web designer is to create sites that are functional, effective, aesthetically appealing, and easy to navigate, while perhaps also carrying out other services such as the search engine optimization (SEO). Web design courses often cover web design, HTML, JavaScript, commercial graphic design, web graphics, utilizing various graphic design software, PHP design, information technology, and web illustration. Being a web designer takes creativity, problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills, graphic design expertise, and such technical knowhow as HTML and coding. This field is increasingly competitive but rapidly growing. Web designers have the option to work freelance or in-house, as well as for Internet consulting firms, web design studios, Internet service providers, graphic design houses, and advertising or marketing agencies. Students at top web design schools can choose to concentrate in user interface (UI) design and multimedia web design.
