Story: Value of graphic design

When I started my career, 2004 – 2005, I could focus on how to organize an information. I put on my effort into how I can graphics looks better, choose a font based on a client’s voice tone, size, color, margin, letter spacing, line-height and so on. All designer knows to manage above and how user’s eye moves on advertising.

Nowadays, people don’t feel much value on graphic design (not graphic art) anymore. I have more than enough experiences. People can find a free template online and many of them feel okay with it. A client and consumer (maybe) don’t recognize your effort on detail. Because a client doesn’t know about design.

In addition, Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, whatever client can find cheap online service even though I’m not sure how a client can do good experience with these services. A.I. service will start near future, no doubt. A graphic designer must expand skills (or has to focus one category deeply).

Imagine: If I were a client.

In daily life, I can see a cheesy design store successfully run a business. On the other side, good design store disappears within two years. I don’t say graphic design is less impact for business. Depends on business type, but at least a small business cannot spend much budget for branding. A design isn’t a top priority for business. Recently, I sometimes can find small business uses Facebook instead of an own website. Examples of fixed business costs (Depends on an industry or type of start-up): professional fees (accountant, lawyer, or other experts), insurance (liability, indemnity, or others), employment, equipment and supplies, sales and marketing, finance, technology expenses.

Priority (general expectation) costs:
1. Rent (included electricity)
2. Equipment and material costs (especially if it’s a food industry)
3. Employment
4. Sales Marketing
5. Advertising (graphic design)

If design agency (or designer) can increase sales, a client will be satisfied to pay a fee. A business person understands that spending a money for increase a profit. At least, surplus. Hence, I believe that comprehensive service, design, and marketing, is urgently necessary to me.

Search: How do I skill set?

We can learn whatever we want on the internet. However, I didn’t consider learning marketing by myself on the internet at this time. Because I don’t want to consider the information is true or not. Generally speaking, a free material may have some incorrect information, but no one complains it. It’s free.

I want to save a time more than money. I want to study digital marketing efficiently and effectively. Once I finished it (or simultaneously), I’m going to apply the study to client work as soon as possible. 

How do I choose where I learn? What is a priority?
– Term (Schedule): ☆☆☆☆☆
– Curriculum: ☆☆☆☆
– Convenience: ☆☆☆
– Tuition: ☆☆☆☆
– Social Proof (Evaluation): ☆☆☆
– Certificate or Diploma: ☆

Comparison: Offline class or online course

Once I searched, a digital marketing course, tons of results shown up. How can I choose honestly? I reminded what Chris Do said in a different situation. A client doesn’t always choose the best option, but a client doesn’t choose at least risky option. It is the truth. I don’t want to take a risk at least.

I don’t mind academic institute or not. So, I won’t choose UBC(University of British Columbia), SFU(Simon Fraser University), Emily Carr University of Art + Design and so on. I’ve been Vancouver for 6 years. I naturally have some impression to local college and school. 

– BCIT (Class)
Social Media and Digital Marketing
Schedule: Sep – Dec, Jan – Mar, Apr – Jun
*I cannot find time-table.
Domestic Tuition: $3,000 + something?

– Brainstation (Class)
Social Media Marketing
Schedule: Jan 17 – Feb 28
Thursdays 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuition: $975 (50%off for a previous student)

– Udemy.com (Online)
The Complete Digital Marketing Course – 12 Courses in 1
36.5 hours on-demand video
Tuition: $12.99 (Black Friday sale)

Digital Marketing Masterclass – 23 Courses in 1
32.5 hours on-demand video
Tuition: $12.99 (Black Friday sale)

Decision: Where do I learn?

Through my general research above, I am going to study with Udemy.com at this moment. I used Linda.com before for studying Javascript, but it did not make fruit to me. To be honest, it was board. I re-try online study!

1. I determined to use 69.5+ hours for online study in December
2. Total 744 hour/m = Full-time 150/20 days, Freelance work 170.5 hour/m, Sleep 186 hour/m, Other 168 hour/m, 69.5+ hour/study
3. Immediately apply the study after finish courses.

Reference:

Udemy.com: An online learning and teaching marketplace with over 80000 courses and 24 million students.