During my time (about 5 years ago), it was TOUGH. But I loved it! I didn't regret the choice one bit. In terms of jobs, yeah it definetely helped. I don't know how it is now, but I heard it wasn't as competetive as it used to be.

 

Yeah, what they said.



I studied product design while I was at ACCD, and received my 2nd bachelors. I decided against the masters program because I thought the more hands-on approach taken in the bachelor's program would better suit me, and also if I chose to take a more theoretical bent towards my project (as they do in the master's program), I could do so if I wanted.

I would have liked to have gone into transportation design like saint_spinner (and a couple others on the board), but that major is a little bit more heavily weighted towards raw sketching ability, which I lack a little bit. In hindsight however, if I had known then what I do now, I should have gone into transportation design anyway and let other skills grow to help shape my voice as a designer.

 

would transportation design also include some urban Planning and or urban development as well?

Are you interested in designing the actual modes of transportation or the aspect of planning its deployment?

ID encompasses many fields. I dont even know if it considered industrial design anymore, hell when i went to school my major was called Commercial Art. Graphic Design, Multimedia design, New media etc etc all came during my college career so the field I am describing may be broken into several more acute studies by now.

 

I am in the military and if you had to give an outline - starting from scratch - what would you do?

So far:
Core classes

Ive read up on Cardesignnews.com and it says most schools heavily lean towards sketching and ideas over technique and photoshop/draw skills as those can be taught. This is something that consumes a large part of my day...


Here is my cubicle at work:




So for those in the career field, if you were starting out or could it over again - what would you do? My dream career includes working at a large firm designing cars/interiors/whatever.

 

Not as far as I know. "Transportation design" refers to designing the vehicles of transportation, and 92% of the time, that means cars. Designers are technically able to apply their skills to other modes of trans: Motorcycles, watercraft, bullet trains, ATV's, etc. etc.... but for all intensive purpose, "trans" = automotive design.

At ACCD, the industrial design label encompasses: Product design, Trans, and Environmental (although... nobody's really sure about those eviro kids...)

 

Some of the trans guys can chime in I'm sure, but here's my take:

Ideas are great.

Sketching is very important, and while you can get better at it in school, there is kind of a minimum acceptable level which must be met if you genuinely want to succeed as a true designer. If you can't adequately communicate your design visually, you could have the best idea in the world and nobody will know.

If I was looking at an entry portfolio, I wouldn't look at the "designs" of the person coming in necessarily. I would look at their sketches. It's not too difficult to see how practiced someone's sketching is, and it only gets better with time. MDY (above) can sketch circles around me, and it's quite apparent by looking at even a 30 second drawing.

It's a combination of raw talent + experience. If you have either of the two, a school can help you. If you lack them both, you'll be hard pressed for a good time.

 

cool, lots of hard work. I better start my sketching
thanks guys for the info!

 

Yup. Pretty much what I heart my DB8 said.
In terms of skills that are taught, they (atleast at Art Center), they'll teach you everything from rough sketching to full on Photoshop rendering.

But, I highly suggest getting good at sketching/drawing before applying. When I went (atleast for trans) the majority of students had some sketching/drawing talent before hand.

 

No matter where you go, one of the first steps should be to learn how to draw ellipses freehand.

 

I could draw good circles~~ does that count?