I have several friends who are web and graphics designers, and all they do is talk about how much they love their jobs. They work in a field where their skills are in demand, which means they can command a very good salary. Moreover, their hours are very flexible and they're mostly left to their own devices instead of having a boss hovering around watching every move. That sounds like the perfect career for me! But even though I'm a decent artist and have designed several websites and brochures in the past, I don't have a big enough portfolio or proper qualifications to get a salaried job in the field. That's why I'm planning to take a design course online in the near future.
I'm a self-taught designer, so naturally there are gaps in my knowledge. I can do a lot of things, but I don't necessarily know all the technical terms for the moves I'm executing. Plus, I have a bit of trouble articulating my ideas to others. This makes it hard for me to convince prospective clients that I'm the right person for the job. I think that by taking a design course online, I'll be able to plug the holes in my education and learn to "talk the talk" when meeting with potential clients or employers. And maybe after taking that first design course online, I'll be motivated to pursue additional courses leading to professional certification or a college degree!
There are other reasons for taking a design course online at this point. For one thing, the information I learn in a web-based class is likely to be the latest and most up-to-date. I'm getting into a field that is constantly changing and improving along with technology, so it's important that I be able to enroll in courses that offer fresh content. I could continue with my self-study through books or whatever, but consider how old the information in a traditional print publication is by the time it reaches the masses! It's easy to modify a design course online to reflect new industry standards and trends. In addition, taking a design course online instead of on campus or in a classroom will allow me to keep my regular job. This means I won't have to go into debt to pay for my classes, which is another very important consideration in the whole process.
I'm willing to do pretty much whatever it takes to ensure that I have the skills and qualifications necessary to land a secure, high-paying designing job. Taking a design course online is the right way to start, provided that it leads to a worthwhile end such as a certificate or Bachelor's degree. I already have a bit of experience, so the educational element will serve to beef up my resume and make me even more attractive when I enter the workforce as a job candidate. I know this is the right decision for me!