MiddleMitt

Hello everyone, first time poster here!

Two years ago I was admitted into DAAP's digital design program and am now in the middle of my sophomore year. I am very impressed with the DAAP program and would certainly give it high recommendations to any prospective design students. However, since the first term I have been having huge doubts about my career choice.

When I was in high-school I had completed many non-profit graphic design projects for local schools, and was encouraged to pursue a career in design by many of my teachers. Not quite sure what I should do with my life, I followed their advice and came to DAAP. But ever since then I have become increasingly unhappy at DAAP. I feel that I struggle with course material more than the rest of my class, though I always get through each quarter with As and Bs. I also feel impatient during classes, often wondering why design should be important to me. Because of this, for the last year I've been considering leaving DAAP to explore other careers.

I am worried though that I might be throwing away a wonderful opportunity. I am well aware of DAAPs reputation for getting students into the market right away with a career ahead of them. My professors have told me that I am well in all my classes--not genius level, but not enough to have reason to want to switch. However, I have always had a cloud dream to go into English, and though pursuing a career in that direction is not nearly as promising, I'm starting to believe it will make me much happier.

I have talked this over many many times with my parents and family, and their advice has been divided. I have no designers in my family to understand what I am going through, so I'm turning to this forum, hoping anyone who is currently attending DAAP or has family members attending there can tell me about their experience in the program. Is DAAP worth sticking through for to have a steady career? Does it get better in later years? Or do you think if I am not finding happiness now I never will, and I should find follow my passions else where?

taxguy

Hi, my daughter is a pre-junior in DAAP. Let me say that if you wonder "why design" then it might not be for you. Design and art takes a LOT of commitment! If you aren't that commited , you may want to switch majors.

ON the other hand. Digital Design is a great field. My daughter was designing web sites for movies and animation for games. It is a very in-demand fun field.

I guess no one can make the decision for you. You just have to evaluate the pros and cons for yourself.

adhzedan

One of my architecture classmates ended up landing a co-op with a magazine that specializes in design. Would you be interested in something like that - writing about design? From my experience, you can definitely branch out during co-op and try to explore related careers. If you're looking for more meaning, maybe landing a co-op with a firm that focuses on sustainable or universal design might help.

However, if this stuff is making you miserable by virtue of being design-related, don't be afraid to admit that to yourself. I did, and I'm way happier now (I finished my architecture degree and am now trying to make the switch through choice of major at grad school). I'm still interested in design, I just realized that it's a personal interest that shouldn't be channeled into a career.