Hi, I am a sophomore at Moore CAD and I am currently an illustration major and I am halfway through the school year and I want to switch my major to graphic design. I want to be an art director when I am older and when I search online a graphic design bfa seems to be a prerequisite. I am already finished a semester into the illustration major and I feel like if I switch I would not graduate on time. I currently have declared a minor in graphic design but I would not be able to take the upper level classes. Is double majoring worth it for this field even if it means I might have to take an extra year and take out more loans? I am interested in logo and product design. I originally majored in illustration because I am interested in technical drawing and have that skill but am worried if I will be able to get a full time job when I graduate. Taking more graphic design classes would help me learn more about the design fields that I would like to get into when I graduate. So I am wondering, is it worth it or not? I have financial need and am poor and have taken out loans already.
My daughter is at Pratt as a Communications Design major which means she is receiving training in all of the disciplines you mention: illustration, GD, and Ad Art. Rest assured that there is HUGE overlap among these disciplines so that, with proper training, you should be able to move among them throughout your career w/o having to double major now.
What you need is two-fold: a broadening of your skill set (so yet, definitely minor in GD and be sure to take lots of typography and hopefully some imaging ), and confidence that your BFA will qualify you for a broad range of communication design fields. In fact, one reason it’s important to remain flexible in the field of ComD is that the demand and the tools change over time. You might wish to be a logo designer now, but you might end up working in another (but related field) down the road because that’s where the jobs are. If you are receiving the proper conceptual training, then you will be well prepared to make this kind of switch.
Don’t forget why you went into illustration in the first place: you have a skill in how to tell the story with pictures. That is YOUR particular talent so don’t abandon it. Instead, build on it. Your graphic studios will help you learn to work with content and images and you can work with your instructors or do independent research to figure out how to use both in a way that persuades the customer to buy the product.
A final piece of advice: While you may think it’s a disadvantage NOT to have access to upper division GD studios, I actually think it’s the early conceptual stuff that will help you the most in creating some truly break-out illustration pieces while in school. Instructors love - and remember - and recommend! - those students who are able to think outside the confines of their major. Think “Communication Design” rather than “Illustration vs. Graphic” and you will be one of those treasured students.
Good luck to you!