I have a degree in philosophy and diploma in print & web publishing but all I want to do is design. I am constantly debating with myself whether I should go back to “design” school for 3 more years or whether I can do it with the education I have.

If anyone has a blogpost or article about this they could share, please pass it along.

There are things that you can learn in a strong design school that you can never learn in the profession

and vice versa.

maybe the designer have to take the exactly language to perform it, with numbers, graphs… or anything to help him to say to client that he knows what he is doing. I think a big problem is that design and art is a very close idea for almost people, and because of it, the design is very subective.

I agree the idea of the schools. Don´t think about the institutions with bricks. Think about to learn.

WHAT YOU LEARN IN A GOOD DESIGN SCHOOL:

• Ideas and how to brainstorm.
• Typography and kerning (the basics).
• Guest lectures form industry professionals (at my college these included John Mconnell (Pentagram), Sean Dew (The Partners.Dew Gibbons), Phil Wong and Phil Carter f(Carter Wong), Garrick Hamm (Michael Peters, Tuttsells, Williams Murray Hamm).
•Set projects, discipline, illustration, business studies, how to mark up artwork, photography, how to use computers etc.
• Outside projects set by industry professionals.
• Access to competitons.
• Access to a full design library.
• Working with other students on projects.
• Access to other parts of the college to collaborate on projects from metal typesetting, pottery, sewing and fashion, metalwork, sculpture etc.
• An environment where people learn together, en mass.
• Access to advice on any project from tutors on any project at any time.
• Access to valuable information like Mintel reports.
• A final show which will be seen by the design industry where many students get interviews, work experience and jobs.

Is it possible to become a good designer without going to college. Yes.

Is it more likely that you will become a good graphic designer if you Go to a good college: Definitely YES.

WHAT YOU DON’T LEARN AT COLLEGE (from my experience):

• You can’t do award winning work on every job!
• The hours and long and the pay isn’t brilliant for many years.
• How to deal with awkward clients.
• How to present jobs to clients and how to sell ideas.
• How to use programs properly.
• Most of your day is organising, not designing.
• How to art direct.
• How design works in the real world.

I believe a good college education is the best foundation for the rest of your career. Whether this is true outside of the UK is another matter.

Final point is:
You never stop learning.

In no way am i suggesting that art school is just study nor was i comparing the two in a dismal manner.

Art school gives you a vast understanding of many elements in design and gives you the face to face encounters with a great lecturer or someone with an excellent understanding on the topic. As you said they do get the advantage of agencies scouting at the end of the year.

In terms of sitting at home and learning, i never directed anything at reading blogs, i just used the word articles in a broad term whether it be on a blog, website or any other form of interaction over the internet.

The main point in my comment was that the knowledge gained and skills learned are very similar whether whether you are taught at an institution or self taught. As i mentioned above there may be some upsides to attending a school of sorts however and i am not directly comparing the two, i am just stating that they are similar in terms of knowledge and skill.

Its really a never ending war though, and will always be one.

Its absolutely ridiculous to think that a disciplined and hard working person can’t learn and become a great designer outside of an institution though. The amount of books, online articles, and video lectures out there is staggering.