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Which minors pair well with graphic design and would help me stand out on a resume?
My native language is Spanish I am in grade 10 in an international school. I am on my career exploration journey to find out as much information as possible and do possible internships for my dream career.
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4 answers
Dante Guintu
DesignOps
7
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Dante’s Answer
This is a loaded question — pardon the long explanation for context, plus to reset expectations.
As a recovering graphic designer, it's a dated role plus it generally underpays. The well-paying design careers have labels like user experience (UX), user interface (UI) design, visual design, user research design, product design, and service design. (I'm likely missing others, even the major for human computer interface (HCI).) Design roles have evolved quite rapidly in the last 15+ years — Silicon Valley / the SF Bay area had a big influence in this trend.
To help you stand out: have a multi-disciplinary background or foundations in different areas. Your portfolio and project work should reflect this. A candidate's portfolio is the key factor to get hired much more than the resume.
First, consider which design role resonates with you. Second, it's best that you discover that other discipline/minor that you're drawn towards. Folks here will have recommendations, but really trust yourself and your inner voice.
In fact, the biggest consideration is to look for a university that supports multi-disciplinary learning, meaning their programs encourage students to explore courses in other majors. Down the road from you is Stanford which has an excellent design program as the d.school is part of the School of Engineering. Other ones would be Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Purdue, and there are many others.
As another factor, you are multi-lingual! Leverage that and the fact you attend an international school. Finally, you're in one of the best places to land a great internship in Silicon Valley. Best of luck as you're starting off in an ideal location.
As a recovering graphic designer, it's a dated role plus it generally underpays. The well-paying design careers have labels like user experience (UX), user interface (UI) design, visual design, user research design, product design, and service design. (I'm likely missing others, even the major for human computer interface (HCI).) Design roles have evolved quite rapidly in the last 15+ years — Silicon Valley / the SF Bay area had a big influence in this trend.
To help you stand out: have a multi-disciplinary background or foundations in different areas. Your portfolio and project work should reflect this. A candidate's portfolio is the key factor to get hired much more than the resume.
First, consider which design role resonates with you. Second, it's best that you discover that other discipline/minor that you're drawn towards. Folks here will have recommendations, but really trust yourself and your inner voice.
In fact, the biggest consideration is to look for a university that supports multi-disciplinary learning, meaning their programs encourage students to explore courses in other majors. Down the road from you is Stanford which has an excellent design program as the d.school is part of the School of Engineering. Other ones would be Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Purdue, and there are many others.
As another factor, you are multi-lingual! Leverage that and the fact you attend an international school. Finally, you're in one of the best places to land a great internship in Silicon Valley. Best of luck as you're starting off in an ideal location.
Agree 100% with this reply!
Stacey Baldini
Dante Guintu
DesignOps
7
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Dante’s Answer
This is a loaded question — so please bear with me as I provide some context and adjust the expectations. Please take this advice with a grain of salt; it's only worth two cents.
As a recovering graphic designer, it's a dated role plus it generally underpays. The more lucrative design careers have labels like user experience (UX), user interface (UI) design, visual design, user research design, product design, and service design. I'm likely missing others, even the major for human computer interface (HCI). Design roles have evolved rapidly in the last 15+ years — Silicon Valley and the SF Bay area played a big part in that shift.
To help you stand out: develop a diverse skill set that spans multiple disciplines. Your portfolio and project work should showcase this variety. In fact, a strong portfolio is far more important than a resume when it comes to landing a job in design.
First, consider which design role resonates with you. Next, figure out what other field or minor you're interested in. People here can give you suggestions, but ultimately, you should trust your instincts and listen to your inner voice.
One crucial factor is to find a university that promotes interdisciplinary learning, meaning their programs encourage students to take courses from different majors. Down the road from you is Stanford which has an excellent design program as the d.school is part of the School of Engineering. Other options include Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Purdue, just to name a few.
As another factor, you are multi-lingual! Leverage that and the fact you attend an international school. Finally, you're in one of the best places to land a great internship in Silicon Valley. Best of luck as you start off in an ideal location.
As a recovering graphic designer, it's a dated role plus it generally underpays. The more lucrative design careers have labels like user experience (UX), user interface (UI) design, visual design, user research design, product design, and service design. I'm likely missing others, even the major for human computer interface (HCI). Design roles have evolved rapidly in the last 15+ years — Silicon Valley and the SF Bay area played a big part in that shift.
To help you stand out: develop a diverse skill set that spans multiple disciplines. Your portfolio and project work should showcase this variety. In fact, a strong portfolio is far more important than a resume when it comes to landing a job in design.
First, consider which design role resonates with you. Next, figure out what other field or minor you're interested in. People here can give you suggestions, but ultimately, you should trust your instincts and listen to your inner voice.
One crucial factor is to find a university that promotes interdisciplinary learning, meaning their programs encourage students to take courses from different majors. Down the road from you is Stanford which has an excellent design program as the d.school is part of the School of Engineering. Other options include Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Purdue, just to name a few.
As another factor, you are multi-lingual! Leverage that and the fact you attend an international school. Finally, you're in one of the best places to land a great internship in Silicon Valley. Best of luck as you start off in an ideal location.
Isabel Christopher
Graphic Design
4
Answers
Clarkston, Michigan
Updated
Isabel’s Answer
That's a fantastic question! Many students often find it challenging to select a minor. However, in the field of Graphic Design, there's a lot of opportunities to complement your degree.
Firstly, I'd suggest exploring the current minors your school offers for Graphic Design. From there, many individuals opt for a business minor. This can be incredibly beneficial for aspects like freelancing, becoming an entrepreneur, or navigating the corporate world.
Alternatively, a minor in communication could be a great fit. This can enhance your client relations skills and aid you in establishing a strong connection with the people you're designing for.
Another intriguing option is a minor in art history. This can deepen your comprehension of art's evolution and the emergence of trends in the design world.
These are just a handful of options that are frequently coupled with a graphic design major. However, the key is finding what aligns with your degree and boosts your understanding of design, as well as your ability to communicate effectively with your clients.
Remember, whatever minor you decide on, there's always room to expand your knowledge in other areas. Therefore, there's no such thing as a wrong choice!
Firstly, I'd suggest exploring the current minors your school offers for Graphic Design. From there, many individuals opt for a business minor. This can be incredibly beneficial for aspects like freelancing, becoming an entrepreneur, or navigating the corporate world.
Alternatively, a minor in communication could be a great fit. This can enhance your client relations skills and aid you in establishing a strong connection with the people you're designing for.
Another intriguing option is a minor in art history. This can deepen your comprehension of art's evolution and the emergence of trends in the design world.
These are just a handful of options that are frequently coupled with a graphic design major. However, the key is finding what aligns with your degree and boosts your understanding of design, as well as your ability to communicate effectively with your clients.
Remember, whatever minor you decide on, there's always room to expand your knowledge in other areas. Therefore, there's no such thing as a wrong choice!
Emily Kurfess
Graphic Design
4
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Photography pairs very well with Graphic Design! In my current career at an in-house design department, our team not only designs brochures and advertisements, but we also photograph our products. Having photography experience has been VERY helpful to me! Other minors that would be helpful are UI/UX Design, Web Design, Animation, or Digital Illustration.