Want More Links?

If you have read this far, you are probably interested in finding out some more stuff. Over my research I have found a few interesting web sites I would like to share.

AIGA: The Professional Association for Design
The AIGA website is a great resource for designers of all types. Founded in 1914, their goal is to help empower designers and provide resources people can access to advance their skills.

AIGA Design Leaders Confidence Index
This part of the AIGA website talks about what the job outlook for designers looks like over the years from the perspective of the leaders in design.

Oregon Career Information System (OCIS)
This particular resource is not linked because it requires you to have certain passwords. Most schools and colleges have accounts that you can access with the information they give you if you are a student. The resource itself is great if you have access to it. It talks mostly about Oregon, but you can look at National statistics for many of the careers. It can provide you with related information to a career, and even interviews with people in specific careers giving you a more personal inside look.

Washington Occupational Information Service (WOIS)
Much like OCIS (above) this resource is not liked because it requires passwords. A Google search or a look at your schools library site will most likely give you links and passwords. Like OCIS, WOIS provides information about specific careers, giving statistics for them mostly in Washington, although they do give some nationwide statistics.

Smashing Magazine
Smashing magazine is an interesting online magazine that has all kinds of articles about graphic design. Tips, pictures, links to other resources, guides, and general inspiration.

Graphic Design vs. Web Design (Video)
Stefan Mischook talks in a video about what the differences between graphic design and web design are. He also answers questions like "Which should I choose?".

One thing I thought about considering web design, is how much competition is there with all the "do it yourself" web site programs? Here are some links I found regarding that:

Web Page Design Programs: Important Considerations to Choose the Right One
This article is mostly for people who are looking to create their own website, but don’t necessarily want to hire someone to build it. It talks about the things you have to consider when choosing one of the do-it-yourself programs.

Do it Yourself VS. Hiring a Professional Web Designer
It talks about the advantages and disadvantages of hiring a professional to design a web site vs. you buying a program or teaching yourself some basic coding to create your own website saving money. The biggest disadvantage it says to hiring a professional is that it is expensive, but if you were to try and do it yourself, you would probably spend a lot of time.

Advantages of a Professional Web Design VS. Do-it-Yourself
A short article pointing out the advantages of hiring a professional to design a website. It doesn’t present the other side of the article, but brings up good points of having a person designing your website allows it to be original in look and feel as well as having a professional who knows how best to attract traffic to the site.

Do-it-Yourself Website Development VS. Custom Web Site Development
Another site discussing the pros and cons of hiring a professional or designing a website yourself. It outlines the pros and cons more clearly than the above links. Some parts of the article boast their premium membership for tutorials, but the list of pros and cons is the best so far.