Opinie
Description
Our graphic design portfolio course teaches you the skills you need to succeed as the owner of your own graphic design studio or as a freelancer in this exciting and rewarding field.
You've spent years building a portfolio brimming with beautiful work. But all the talent in the world is for naught (or, worse, low paid) unless you know how to position yourself for successful career.
In Design Business, you'll learn the essentials of finding work as a designer, whether in a design firm, in-house design department, or freelance. You'll learn everything from how to present your portfolio and resume, find work opportunities, and market yourself, to the more daunting tasks of building a professional persona and networking with your peers.
The grahpic design portfolio course will set your career on the right track. Course projects are hands-on: you'll create a professional identity, resume, and cover letter, launch your portfolio pieces online, research job opportunities, and develop a self-promotion plan. When your first client walks through the door, you'll be ready!
Learn the skills you need to succeed with the graphic design portfolio course from Gatlin International.
Outline
LESSON 1 Defining Your Goals and Brand
At outset of your design career, questions arise: Where should I look for work? How much money can I expect? How can I stand out? Lesson One helps you navigate choppy economic waters and helps you address the eternal choice between freelance and full-time employment. You'll focus on determining which environment is right for your personality and your long-term career prospects, and you'll start to develop your persona as a professional designer. In the first exercise, you'll carefully outline your goals and beef up your persona with an icon, headshots, and biography.
LESSON 2 Resume and Portfolio Building
When the right job comes along, are you ready to apply? You'll need to develop a sharp resume and portfolio to prove you've got the chops. Lecture Two starts with a look at the ingredients necessary for an effective and good-looking resume. You'll also learn tips for cover letter writing to make a great first impression. And you know that your portfolio is key to getting hired, so you'll learn how to present your work effectively in-person and online. The exercise will give you the chance to polish your resume and create a hosted online portfolio.
LESSON 3 Self-Promotion and Finding Your Clients
Clients don't call you out of nowhere. To get jobs, you'll need to develop a marketing strategy. Lesson Three covers different ways of reaching clients and employers, including researching leads and networking at events. You'll look at the benefits of creating a marketing plan and self-promotional design pieces, and you'll learn tips for conducting great interviews and presentations. In the final exercise, you'll be challenged to set your self-promotion goals, create a piece of self-promotion collateral, and do client research.
Additional Info
- Languages
- English
- Course Length
- 30.00 hours
- Duration of Access
Enrolled students have access to the class for six months. During this period, questions or assignments may be submitted at any time to the instructor. Each course lesson requires an average of 10 hours of study time.
- Instructor
Daniel Schutzsmith is a rare breed--a hybrid of equal parts business, design, programming, and strategy--ready to change the world. He's a professor at the School of Visual Arts, a writer on digital strategy with a book scheduled to launch in late 2010, and all-around Web design nerd.
Over the past decade he has worked with clients such as: 1% For The Planet, Adobe, BBDO, CosmoGIRL!, Dave Matthews Band, Google, Greenpeace, Live Earth, MTV, PBS, Phish, Rachael Ray, Sony Picture Classics, TBS, The Pixies, VH1, and XM Radio.
In his free time he enjoys time with his wife and kids, wandering the streets of NYC for inspiration, trying obscure fu-fu beers, single malt scotches, and evenings at the drive-in around the corner from his house in rural upstate NY.- Prerequisites/Audience
The graphic design portfolio course is designed for adult learners interested in building skills and portfolio for a design career. To take the course, students simply require a computer (PC or Mac), an Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster), and any required software. For courses with software requirements, computers must meet software manufacturers' system requirements.
- Requirements/Materials Included
To take this course you'll need Adobe Photoshop or equivalent digital imaging program, Adobe Illustrator or equivalent vector drawing program, basic experience in design and the software packages needed for this course, and a digital camera.
- Certification
1.5 CEU’s
Sessions College is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Certificate programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.