10 answers
Amelia
Student
Sheffield, Massachusetts
5
Questions
Asked
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What are the educational requirements for a career in design and marketing?
I am interested in merging interests in business and art in college and I was wondering what classes I may need to take in order to be prepared for a career in design or marketing. #art #business #design #marketing #college
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10 answers
Derek Tata
Design Engineer
5
Answers
Boulder, Colorado
Updated
Derek’s Answer
Hi there Amelia. I am an engineer that works closely with designers, but I may have some high level guidance.
I would suggest reading job descriptions. When I was a student, I did not realize how much grey area lay between my degree and prospective job titles. It was far easier to sort out my curriculum once I found a few job descriptions that sounded engaging. You could compile a list of common requirements between the roles that sound good, course selection is a bit easier if you have some sense of the skills you want to develop.
As a start, maybe look at roles in design (in-house and consultancy), user research, upstream marketing, business strategy, advertising, or any of the grey areas in between. It may help you find where the ideal balance of business and art exists as a profession, and hopefully that makes it easier to connect the dots. Sorry to not have anything more specific to offer, but design and business are incredibly diverse fields.
Professionals may not have a great sense of how a curriculum correlates to a desired skillset, so I would suggest compiling your demonstrable experience in the skills you want to do professionally. A wordy way of saying that online portfolios are awesome, and I get really excited when someone shows me their work. It's a bit easier for visual projects, but you could use a portfolio to take someone through any project/thought process to show off your ability. As your concept of an ideal role matures, a portfolio will go a long way in attracting employers looking to fill that kind of role.
Hope this helps, best of luck.
I would suggest reading job descriptions. When I was a student, I did not realize how much grey area lay between my degree and prospective job titles. It was far easier to sort out my curriculum once I found a few job descriptions that sounded engaging. You could compile a list of common requirements between the roles that sound good, course selection is a bit easier if you have some sense of the skills you want to develop.
As a start, maybe look at roles in design (in-house and consultancy), user research, upstream marketing, business strategy, advertising, or any of the grey areas in between. It may help you find where the ideal balance of business and art exists as a profession, and hopefully that makes it easier to connect the dots. Sorry to not have anything more specific to offer, but design and business are incredibly diverse fields.
Professionals may not have a great sense of how a curriculum correlates to a desired skillset, so I would suggest compiling your demonstrable experience in the skills you want to do professionally. A wordy way of saying that online portfolios are awesome, and I get really excited when someone shows me their work. It's a bit easier for visual projects, but you could use a portfolio to take someone through any project/thought process to show off your ability. As your concept of an ideal role matures, a portfolio will go a long way in attracting employers looking to fill that kind of role.
Hope this helps, best of luck.
Thank you!
Amelia
Kathryn Riesenbach
Product Owner
1
Answer
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Kathryn’s Answer
Hi Amelia,
The generic answer is that many companies require a BA or BS in some sort of business field for most Marketing or almost any art degree for design. However, there are ways to do what you love without schooling or with unrelated schooling as well.
Businesses in every markets need designers and marketers and a huge part of the job is understanding the audience of a brand and the products the company sells, so you can often pair your knowledge on a subject with personal experience or skills in Social Media, Blogging, etc. to get your foot in the door in those professions.
Research Content Marketing and Social Media Marketing
Spend some time looking at ads, social media channels and blogs
The generic answer is that many companies require a BA or BS in some sort of business field for most Marketing or almost any art degree for design. However, there are ways to do what you love without schooling or with unrelated schooling as well.
Businesses in every markets need designers and marketers and a huge part of the job is understanding the audience of a brand and the products the company sells, so you can often pair your knowledge on a subject with personal experience or skills in Social Media, Blogging, etc. to get your foot in the door in those professions.
Kathryn recommends the following next steps:
David Weight, MS
Digital Marketing
24
Answers
Lansing, Michigan
Updated
David’s Answer
My recommendation... if you really want to cover your bases... would be to pursue your business degree with minor in marketing or design.
You'll need the bachelor's degree for the job in marketing, but design seems to be different. Many of the designers that i know have an associates or less in design, but have great portfolios. If you had the degree AND developed a strong portfolio along side it, you would be a very attractive candidate.
Most people here will say you need a design degree, and maybe you do at some places, but whether you have the degree or not, you will either win or lose the design job based on your portfolio of work.
You'll need the bachelor's degree for the job in marketing, but design seems to be different. Many of the designers that i know have an associates or less in design, but have great portfolios. If you had the degree AND developed a strong portfolio along side it, you would be a very attractive candidate.
Most people here will say you need a design degree, and maybe you do at some places, but whether you have the degree or not, you will either win or lose the design job based on your portfolio of work.
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
850
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Amelia,
I am inferring from your question that you are looking to go into marketing in some aspect. I would ask you - what do you want to do with marketing? I took a look at the jobs that Marketing majors can get and found this article: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-jobs-for-marketing-majors-2064050. I am an Instructional Designer, which uses many of the elements that I found mentioned in the article related to marketing, most specifically communication skills and creative skills. You mentioned art in your post. Many artists in whatever form simply create art, but honing your craft in your preferred art medium can have great value. How do you plan to use your art? I would say that it is important to learn the medium that you are creating in. As an Instructional designer, I have to hone my writing skills, my computer programming skills, as well as skills to create in specific mediums such as videography and photography.
Overall, I think that your class choices will come from what you want to do. The job that you have a passion for will have a specific set of skills that you will want to gain if you do not already have them.
Good luck in finding college classes that meet your passions.
I am inferring from your question that you are looking to go into marketing in some aspect. I would ask you - what do you want to do with marketing? I took a look at the jobs that Marketing majors can get and found this article: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-jobs-for-marketing-majors-2064050. I am an Instructional Designer, which uses many of the elements that I found mentioned in the article related to marketing, most specifically communication skills and creative skills. You mentioned art in your post. Many artists in whatever form simply create art, but honing your craft in your preferred art medium can have great value. How do you plan to use your art? I would say that it is important to learn the medium that you are creating in. As an Instructional designer, I have to hone my writing skills, my computer programming skills, as well as skills to create in specific mediums such as videography and photography.
Overall, I think that your class choices will come from what you want to do. The job that you have a passion for will have a specific set of skills that you will want to gain if you do not already have them.
Good luck in finding college classes that meet your passions.
Thank you so much.
Amelia
Duangkamol Jarupatrakorn
Marketing Communications
1
Answer
Bangkok, Thailand
Updated
Duangkamol’s Answer
From my point of view, let look in to the course syllbus to know more the subject and content that you're interesting. Now I work as Marketing communication, my education background is bachelor's degree from faculty of communication arts and master degree in MBA focus on marketing. if you interested in the design, you could learn in the major of advertising.
Sometime the career in design and marketing, may required communication art or marketing field, but it depend on you experience. if you could be an internship in the design or marketing role, it would be great for your background, because the design and marketing we should learn on the job training.
Sometime the career in design and marketing, may required communication art or marketing field, but it depend on you experience. if you could be an internship in the design or marketing role, it would be great for your background, because the design and marketing we should learn on the job training.
Thank you!
Amelia
Shay Freeman
Market Development
1
Answer
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Shay’s Answer
Hi Amelia,
I studied English and Public Relations in undergrad, gained work experience and then formally pivoted into marketing after obtaining my MBA with a concentration in Brand Management. Take courses that fall within the marketing function such as communication, advertising, marketing strategy etc. Those classes will help give you the foundation of what marketing is and what aspect of you marketing you may most enjoy.
As Duangkamol mentioned, the other most critical aspect that you should consider is getting an internship in design or marketing while you are in school. Having the formal degree and practical experience will set you on a path to success.
I studied English and Public Relations in undergrad, gained work experience and then formally pivoted into marketing after obtaining my MBA with a concentration in Brand Management. Take courses that fall within the marketing function such as communication, advertising, marketing strategy etc. Those classes will help give you the foundation of what marketing is and what aspect of you marketing you may most enjoy.
As Duangkamol mentioned, the other most critical aspect that you should consider is getting an internship in design or marketing while you are in school. Having the formal degree and practical experience will set you on a path to success.
Thank you.
Amelia
Tiffany Conaway
Marketing Manager
2
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Tiffany’s Answer
Hi there -- great that you're interested in design and/or marketing. There are a few things I'd recommend you do outside of schooling. For example, many people that I have met and work with in marketing, do not have a business or marketing degree. When you think about the core of marketing and design, it's about human interaction and understanding. I wouldn't focus too much on classes to take in school as it's more important to have critical thinking skills and EQ than take specific courses in marketing or design.
- I recommend reaching out to professionals in marketing and design to pinpoint what exactly interests you. You'll find that these fields differ greatly in terms of the day to day responsibilities so having more focus on what interests you will help you go down a path in a creative field.
- Look for an internship! Many companies value your internship experience more than the actual title of the degree you have. My company specifically looks to see projects people have worked on, which you'll get through internships.
- With design, projects and building a portfolio are incredibly important for securing a job post graduation. Companies who hire for design definitely want to see what you've produced rather than see you've taken 1 or 2 design courses.
Overall, this is a time for you to explore and learn as much as you can so you can best set yourself up for success in whatever field you want to go into.
- I recommend reaching out to professionals in marketing and design to pinpoint what exactly interests you. You'll find that these fields differ greatly in terms of the day to day responsibilities so having more focus on what interests you will help you go down a path in a creative field.
- Look for an internship! Many companies value your internship experience more than the actual title of the degree you have. My company specifically looks to see projects people have worked on, which you'll get through internships.
- With design, projects and building a portfolio are incredibly important for securing a job post graduation. Companies who hire for design definitely want to see what you've produced rather than see you've taken 1 or 2 design courses.
Overall, this is a time for you to explore and learn as much as you can so you can best set yourself up for success in whatever field you want to go into.
Brian Eggie
Sakes
4
Answers
Voorhees Township, New Jersey
Updated
Brian’s Answer
As far as marketing goes. I think you need a bs or ba degree from 4 year school. Many companies have associate marketing positions which lets you start with more direction from a senior person.
CHRIS WARFIELD
Medical Device Sales
4
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
CHRIS’s Answer
Hi Amelia,
You're going to want to simply speak with your college admissions counselor. If you are still searching for the right college to attend you want to speak with this person at each institution and get their feedback on the education route you are interested in.
They are experts in their field and will be able to advise you on the best route to take within their institution. That route will look different at each college and it will be up to you to decide which one is right for you.
Best Regards and Good Luck!
You're going to want to simply speak with your college admissions counselor. If you are still searching for the right college to attend you want to speak with this person at each institution and get their feedback on the education route you are interested in.
They are experts in their field and will be able to advise you on the best route to take within their institution. That route will look different at each college and it will be up to you to decide which one is right for you.
Best Regards and Good Luck!
Thanks for the advice.
Amelia
Ellen Metzger
Marketing
3
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Ellen’s Answer
Hi Amelia, great question! Being a good marketer is about good problem solving and tapping into your instincts as well as other's perspectives. Combining marketing, design, and business into one concentration in college is a great idea! It will allow you to be a nimble and well rounded contribution to any marketing team.
I'd advise you to take art classes that force you to challenge your perspectives and help you appreciate other's. As well, be sure the courses focus on practical understanding of design tools like InDesign, etc. If possible, try to get an internship or participate in a club that helps you apply these skills to real world applications. For business, be sure to take classes that offer concrete skills like project management, accounting, as well as design thinking. Although accounting and finance courses are admittedly not as existing as design or marketing courses, they do help you ground your thinking in the practicality of business fundamentals.
Review courses that focus on training in applications
Read course reviews and courses where people were challenged by the profession and course topic
Purse an internship or club where you can apply your learnings to practical situations
I'd advise you to take art classes that force you to challenge your perspectives and help you appreciate other's. As well, be sure the courses focus on practical understanding of design tools like InDesign, etc. If possible, try to get an internship or participate in a club that helps you apply these skills to real world applications. For business, be sure to take classes that offer concrete skills like project management, accounting, as well as design thinking. Although accounting and finance courses are admittedly not as existing as design or marketing courses, they do help you ground your thinking in the practicality of business fundamentals.
Ellen recommends the following next steps: