Saturday, 23 April 2011

Why it is important to be a Fine Artist before becoming a Graphic Designer

By Debora Novarini


The majority of Universities try to get graphic design students in and out the door as quickly as possible many don't even bother with the basics. As an Alumni of Mississippi State University I can say that I am greatly appreciate the education in graphic design and fine arts that I was instructed.

Before starting the graphics program a student at MSU must pass a fine arts portfolio review. It is a difficult process and it requires students to be the best artist they can be in every way possible, you have to prove that you have skills to be a great designer. It takes a year and a half of preparation and work. Many universities offer painting and drawing for their graphic artist, but it is normally just one class or two at most then you get put in front of a computer and are expected to create works of art in graphic design.

One of the motto's at MSU is that to be a designer you need to be a fine artist first, and so the student is required to take multiple drawing, painting, printmaking, photography (not the digital kind the old school kind), sculpture, ceramics, design (non computer based) with multiple classes available at different levels for each of these areas.

Fine art is a great way to understand the world around you, to understand the history in art which created digital graphic design. Knowing your roots is the best way to fully be rounded in your area. An artist that learned drawing and learned proportions and dimensions and perspectives; An artist who learned about color and blending, and tones and hues; An artist who can understand three dimensionality through sculpture and ceramics and can understand the materials and composition. Those are the artist that become amazing graphic designers, designers who have every tool to make designs as creative and unique as possible.

When choosing a university for graphic design make sure you check out the universities curriculum. Make sure it is required to have a fine arts background, not just one or two classes but several of different subject matter. Research the professors, and the art coming out of the university. The more information you have about your university choices the better prepared and happier with your decision you will be.




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