Some would say that college in itself won’t necessarily guarantee you a successful future in your career. Yes it will grant you with a diploma that will legitimatize the dedication and hard work that you’ve put in but most of what is needed to solidify your future comes more from what you do after you graduate. As a designer, a had my share of falls working in several small firms where it was more on me to be inquisitive and learn trades that weren’t presented to me while in school.
With that said, Andy Rutledge has written a brilliant article for aspiring Web Designers on what he considers to be crucial elements needed to be successful in the business.
“Now more than ever, it is a student’s responsibility to craft his or her own career preparedness in addition to, even in spite of, the plans and curricula defined by schools.”
What captivated me the most about the article was that towards the end, he is quick to point out that nowhere does he mentioned “the words Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, or Fireworks. Tools do not make a designer. Anyone can learn to use Fireworks or Dreamweaver in an hour or less, but nobody can be a competent Web designer unless they possess a foundation in the things listed above.” (via dannygarcia)
