Does anyone have any advice for a junior designer trying to get freelance work without a degree? Thank you!
I've seen a lot of full-time, part-time and freelance junior design jobs say that a Bachelor's degree in design or the creative arts is a must for the job.
I love graphic design (especially advertising, editorials and packaging) and studied it at college too. I would really appreciate any advice as to why employers look for a design degree, so I can improve and add to the design skills I currently have and maybe update my portfolio too!
Thank you so much and have a great day!
Replies22
- Hey Hannah,It's absolutely not the care that you need a design degree. I'm a multidisciplinary designer with over 3 years freelance experience now, but actually studied Mathematics at university. All you need is a good portfolio, a willingness to learn and positive attitude to work. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all.
- ...
- Hey Hannah, Lots of amazing responses on here.I'd say have a think about the brands you want to work with and then make a personal project around that. Personally I think that you can always train someone for the job but if you have enthusiasm, drive and a willingness/openness to learn then you are always off to a great start. Better for the company to mould you to their ways of working rather than come in with bad habits!Good luck and don't give up!
- @Peter Jackson Thank you so much Peter and I'll try to study more design theory too!
- @Abigail Baldwin That's great to know, thank you Abigail!
- @Katja Alissa Mueller That's really great advice, thank you so much Katja!
- There's no reason why you can't get freelance design work at junior level without a degree.However, if you're looking to climb the ladder, senior level roles at creative agencies may require a relevant degree.They’ll be looking for thinking beyond the aesthetic - a degree will encompass design theory and principles, history of art and complimentary studies etc.This is something you can study in your own time.It will really help if you are more interested in visual problem solving.It may also help you avoid the on screen trap:Those who know how to use design software usually end up being instructed by those who do not.
- There are a lot of brilliant responses here!I would reiterate: don't worry about a degree. Nobody has ever asked me about my degree as the focus is on the portfolio.When applying for roles or opportunities, be personal and persistent. One email won't cut it, so keep following up in the most courteous way. ;-)It can be hard work, but so worthwhile when you're doing something you love.
- Hi Hannah,The responses below have it pretty much covered.Completely agree that a degree is not necessarily needed for a creative role.Coming from a non-traditional background could actually be your stand out point. Have a think about how you can spin this positively for your own ‘branding’. Highly likely employers or recruiters will ask you about it.University can be great for skill improvements and your own project development, but it often teaches few lessons about how graphic design works in a business environment. I think you might be a step ahead here…From experience myself and other creatives look through portfolios before looking at a CV: Understanding how someone thinks creatively, conceptually and how much attention to detail they bring to their own portfolio is the best indicator of how someone is suited to a specific project.Good luck with everything. And always apply for things anyway if you really like it – even if they say a degree is required. You can always follow up personally after and make more individual connections to network further.
- Great question that I was about sharing on this platform. Here for the reply
- Hi Hannah,Totally agree with Brian's comments.Most of the time it's about if the company likes you and your the right fit for their client work and team. Don't try and please every comapny you try and get a job with. Wait for the right design role that is right for you and work on your portfolio and skills. Hope that helps and stay positive.Best Andy
- @Hannah Adams Your welcome Hannah. You will get there just keep going. Best Andy
- @Brian Grant Those points are amazingly helpful, thank you Brian!
- @Andrew Stanford That's great advice, thank you so much Andy!
- Hello Hannah,It is definitely possible to have a successful career without a degree.Sometimes design adverts are created by HR departments who do not have an insight into design or creativity, they judge things based on things such as CV’s and qualifications.Companies will always make exceptions for exceptional designers, as long as you can get your work seen by the right people in the company.Firstly, you should start with your portfolio. It should be show two things.
- That you can create outstanding work.
- That your work and approach can be applied to projects for any prospective company or client.
So your next step should be to ‘brand yourself’ and that will leave a memorable impression on a prospective client or employer.I’ll leave a few bullets here and if you need any more help then let me know.• Create an amazing first impression, companies may see hundreds of CVs and cover letters every day. So this is a chance to demonstrate creating thinking that a forward thinking company will value. Sending the same emails to employers does not require much create thought, so think of ways to stand out from the crowd.When I graduated from Ravensbourne and wanted to get a job, I researched the names of leading creative directors and created an origami CV and envelope that I would post to them, then when they opened the envelope my CV folded out and they had another CD which had my portfolio inside. That really stood out I got a job very quickly because I was demonstrating creativity and created something memorable that no one else was doing.• Utilise social media (Behance, Instagram, Pintrest, LinkedIn, etc.) - upload projects and get feedback on them, and constantly improve and you will begin to get a feel for what is popular. Respond to positive comments because you never know who a potential client could be, even if you only have a small number of followers or connections.• Get your work featured in magazines, blogs, websites, etc. If you are seen in the right places then work will come to you.• Research the most popular freelance designers in your field and learn how they present their work, reach out to them, follow them and ask advice on how they get work and you will build a library of useful information from those who are succeeding.• Follow companies that you like on social media, interact with their posts and when they post opportunities you will already be known to them.Sometimes getting a job has more to do with being ‘liked’ by the company than being the best… maybe it shouldn’t be that way but that is how many companies work.I hope that helps and if you have any more questions then let me know.Have a great day.Bri. - @Hannah Adams That's alright, https://www.skillshare.com is also great platform to follow briefs in a course format. I think you can usually get a 2 week trial, if you have down time you could try to follow some of these courses. :)
- @Christopher Hunt Thank you so much Christopher! That's good to know and I'll have a look at the links you attached too.
- @Martyna Makes Thank you Martyna! I've set myself a couple of design briefs, but I'll have a look online to get some ideas for other ones too.
- @Victoria Geary Thank you so much for your help Victoria!
- Dear Hannah,I think companies assume that you would have spent a number of years qualifying yourself in-depth on the subject and finally be approved by a university with a degree in your chosen field. However, it may be hard to learn on the job, but the place you may have more creative freedom is through a degree and learning from mistakes. This is a recent link I found for work and study. https://www.springpod.co.uk/Creativelive, https://www.creativelive.com/ does online training courses.Also, link up with Fiveer.com, and select jobs you can do.Widen the net to catch more fish.I hope this helps you.
- Hello Hannah,In my opinion especially in the creative industry, portfolio can be as equally as important as a degree. If you think you are a good fit for a job still apply to it, many times a degree is preferred but a strong portfolio can still win you a job. Do not be deterred, try to work on your own projects, reach out to mentors, practice briefs and don't be too hard on yourself.To answer as to why a design degree may be more desirable to employers, I suppose it is may be a degree can give creatives 3+ years to build creative skills on projects, study master creatives, expand technical skills, take critque. But this is still something you can do without a degree.
- There's nothing stopping you from applying anyways! A strong portfolio, knowledge and experience can all be skills you can gain outside of a classroom. If you're struggling with briefs you can always self-brief or look at briefs online to get more of a well rounded portfolio :)
You must sign up or log in before you
add a comment.