Education Continued Part 2... :D
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the advice/suggestions/etc. that I've received here, in email, and IM. I've already started looking into a Masters of Liberal Studies here at UMD. That being said, I am still going to pursue the graphics art thing by taking a class here or there either after I'm finished with the Masters or as I go (depending on how hard the workload is for said Masters.)
Part of the reason I want to do the graphics art/website design thing is that I'm currently doing it right now. I've pretty much taught myself how to do a hack job using various programs (and I'm quite happy to have adobe professional pack at home) and I KNOW there are likely easier ways of doing these sites then I'm doing right now. I enjoy doing website much more then I thought I would as it is both creative and challenging. I've done about 10 different medical school sites for teaching/public/private, etc. and just recently I've completed about 12 banner ads for a private company as well as a freeze frame TV commercial. (One of those "Brought to you by..." type TV ads.) Additionally, my current job is thinking they would like me to take over the financial aid website for the University and redesign it. I told them that I was absolutely willing to do this but that I'm a little slower then a 'professional' because I'm self taught. They said they don't mind.
Now while I do enjoy designing websites, part of me is frustrated that I can't do it more efficiently. This is also driving my desire to take graphic design classes. But, I think at this point I'll plod along, doing what I can with sites until I'm finished with the Masters. I knew, deep down, that it is the route that I should go but a part of me doesn't want to. I don't know that the Masters will be 'fun work' like I believe the graphic design degree would be. :)
Hopefully the Masters of Liberal Arts program will return my call today and I can get the ball rolling on that! I am also going to contact the College of Liberal Arts to see how feasible it is to take a few of those art classes now.
Part of the reason I want to do the graphics art/website design thing is that I'm currently doing it right now. I've pretty much taught myself how to do a hack job using various programs (and I'm quite happy to have adobe professional pack at home) and I KNOW there are likely easier ways of doing these sites then I'm doing right now. I enjoy doing website much more then I thought I would as it is both creative and challenging. I've done about 10 different medical school sites for teaching/public/private, etc. and just recently I've completed about 12 banner ads for a private company as well as a freeze frame TV commercial. (One of those "Brought to you by..." type TV ads.) Additionally, my current job is thinking they would like me to take over the financial aid website for the University and redesign it. I told them that I was absolutely willing to do this but that I'm a little slower then a 'professional' because I'm self taught. They said they don't mind.
Now while I do enjoy designing websites, part of me is frustrated that I can't do it more efficiently. This is also driving my desire to take graphic design classes. But, I think at this point I'll plod along, doing what I can with sites until I'm finished with the Masters. I knew, deep down, that it is the route that I should go but a part of me doesn't want to. I don't know that the Masters will be 'fun work' like I believe the graphic design degree would be. :)
Hopefully the Masters of Liberal Arts program will return my call today and I can get the ball rolling on that! I am also going to contact the College of Liberal Arts to see how feasible it is to take a few of those art classes now.