Leaving exhausting corporate print job to learn web. Need reassurance.

[shumz]

I'm relatively young and only graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design five years ago. Since then, I've been a print designer for several companies, both onsite and freelance. At the moment I'm stuck in a dead-end corporate Production job that I am bored with, and there is no hope for web training. This makes me nervous because, as most are aware,

Comments

[sjazzmreow]

Do it, do it, do it. There's nothing to be gained in being bored and exhausted, which it sounds like is all you're getting right now. You're in a good position and you've put together a very sensible plan.

If it's any help, I made a similar decision (cut down my stressful, unstimulating, exhausting full time job as head designer at a commercial printer to one day a week in order to return to study) earlier in the year and haven't regretted it once. In my experience, if you're having thoughts about making a change, then you should make a change. And web is definitely a solid direction to turn to.

[queenmab88]

Considering that you seem covered financially, I'd say go for it. I left school expecting to do print design, but my minimal formal training in web design ended up turning my part-time, subcontractor gig into a full-time job that I've held for three years. Just be prepared to keep learning, since web development standards are ever-changing!!!

And yes...I said development...don't just stick to design. If you learn front-end web development skills (HTML, CSS, etc.) you will be so much more marketable.

[samuraiartguy]

I think you should absolutely take on web skills, and do pick up on CMS Applications such as WordPress, Joomla, Squarespace, etc. ... and absolutely learn the intricacies of HTML and CSS, which gives you huge control over your ability to customize web sites in any system. If you've the head for it, learning some javascript, JQuery, PHP and MySQL will give you a serious edge.

You kind of have to go there. Since I work with mostly small businesses, my studio does about 60% web design over print projects. The bottom 1/3 of the print market is GONE for pros, forever. You can do a lot of basic print work in MS Word, and more over the counter at Office Depot or Staples, then there's "fill-in-the-blank design/print services like Vistaprint...

Our professional market doesn't start till clients want to look better than that. But for many, web design is still "heap big medicine" so they are more willing to call the Shaman...