With skills in hand, you’ll find your best market is to associate yourself with writers, photographers, producers… all of which have their own jobs coming their way, and need component players to assist with their projects.

Focus on your specialty, and put more emphasis on web graphics than print (still understanding the differences though).

Most of my work (as photographer) comes from other self employed entrepreneurs. And I throw work back at them too. It’s nice to have key players to trust, not only for their work, but their client relationship skills and work ethic.

For instance, an architect wants photos of his building… “Why”? I ask… “For brochure and web site”... he says, “Do you do that too?”... “Why yes I do, I work with a team”...

At that point, I’ve basically booked a web programmer, a designer, a writer, and a producer. We get used to working with one another, and basically circle jerk each other straight to the bank.

Good Luck!

There is a market but before you invest in the training, check locally (agencies, newspapers, yellow pages etc.) to see what the average salary might be unless you’re willing to relocate. I worked as a graphic artist for a small city paper and, quite honestly, earned more money waiting tables.

I have never heard of the program, but I’m not in the NYC area. I have 20 years of agency experience in the midwest, mostly working on national accounts. I’ve worked with graphic designers, production artists, illustrators, photographers. Most of the graphic designers I work with were college trained. There are two aspects to graphic design – the first is artistic talent, and the second is efficiency of both design and work methods. The later is what pays the bills. You can be the artistically talented, but if your time invested in the project overruns the budget, you’re going to have difficulties.

It’s important to have Adobe Creative Suite skills and understand design theory to be marketable. The two people I know who are recognized painters do not support themselves entirely by their paintings. One teaches art at a community college, the other has a one-man full service design firm, with an niche of clients. Both do illustration work for ad agencies as well.

In looking at their web site, it sounds like the program will give you a good grounding in fundamentals. Their web site lists graduates; it shouldn’t be too hard to find them via LinkedIn and ask their opinion of the program. I agree with @RealEyesRealizeRealLies advice about associating with other self-employed entrepreneurs. The graphics community in most decent sized cities is pretty tight, and there are lots of network opportunities.

Have you looked at Communication Arts? That will give you a good sense of what’s going on. We would use that to source illustrators or illustration style, depending on the client’s budget. Frequently we would get a top-notch illustration at a price the client could afford, but the illustrator would retain rights to the work, and license the usage of the image to our client. After that period, the client could either purchase the work, or re-up the license.

@BarnacleBill Great advice!

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies Thank you- your advice is brilliant and will help tremendously.
I network in the fine arts and know a few excellent photographers and a couple writers. I will let them know the direction I am headed in and ask if they would not mind if I referred a client to them when the need arises. When I have my portfolio I will show them my work. I am pretty confident I will be able to build a working relationship with them.

@Blueroses I am fortunate to live on the coastal fringe of Los Angeles. With some luck perhaps I will be able to find enough work in the city. I really appreciate the glimpse into your experience.

@BarnacleBill I have my BA in Biomedical Illustration but admit my ignorance of design theory as it pertains to graphic art. Thanks for looking at the program and commenting on it. I will contact a few graduates as you suggest. It can never hurt to be certain as there are a lot of relatively useless educational programs out there.

Thank you for the link to Communication Arts. I will get a copy today. I must admit that I like the idea of retaining the rights. Currently I license many of my images for product and like that arrangement.

I hired someone to design a logo from vworker.com. I think it is the wave of the future in graphic design employment. I paid $300, and got a professional result.
That might give you some idea of future earning potential.

(Not to be discouraging)

In my opinion, the world will always need creative people, especially designers. Having read A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Dan Pink, it has become obvious to me that technology jobs focused on left-brain, logical tasks are fast disappearing. What people really want is good design, functionally and aesthetically. Twenty years ago, Target didn’t sell designer wastebaskets, but today, thanks to people’s desire for designed things, you can buy a multitude of wastebaskets designed by famous Italian designers for $10.00 apiece. It’s all about finding the right market to work for. Web design is really hot right now because web entrepreneurs have started to realize that the design of their site is what brings in new users. In essence, you’re in the right field for success – now it’s just a matter of finding a niche.

What I’m seeing from your comments @NeroCorvo is that you are best suited for Illustration, now, at this very moment. With those skills, you should be able to get a quick portfolio together and begin contacting newspapers, city magazines, and ad agencies, book publishers, PR firms… and of course Biomedical Facilities… (everything medical is BIG BIG Business right now and projected to be so for the next two decades)... I make a killing just doing portraits for doctors, surgeons, dentists, scientists… and they always need web sites and print collateral to promote their services and research.

You can do this right now, and learn design theory as you proceed. But I’m telling you, running a project is nothing to take lightly. It’s not easy managing a team of creatives and having your head on the chopping block for billing, client babysitting, and creative direction. That’s an earned skill, and not one that everybody wants or needs to pursue.

I ran an agency with 13 employees and took care of everything from sales to accounting in house. It took me so far away from my photography that I closed the doors a few years ago. I’m much much happier just doing what I love (photography), and leaving the business stuff to others. If you’re an Illustrator, then be an Illustrator. Your services are needed. You’ll just have to network a bit to get into the groove.

How hard would it be to convert your fine art illustration into commercial illustration?

I just did a copy job for an art gallery who was promoting the work of a recently deceased commercial illustrator as fine artwork for a gallery showing. The lines between commercial and fine art illustration are often very thin. Good Luck!

My advice: Graphic Design does not require talent, as in, manual dexterity with a given method or technique. It also does not require an intense–thorough understanding of software. Ultimately, you must be able to articulate your ideas and concepts in a way that many people can understand. Pencil, Pen or Mouse.

The school you decide on should provide/teach you to solve (most of the time) conceptual problems through a broader visual language. Wether in marketing, advertising, interface design, signage, architecture or–whatever. Art requires no explanation, Design is an explanation. You solve problems visually, within a specific context.

Natural talent is an amazing asset to have, but it’s not a prerequisite. Nor is being a software jockey a sign that you’re a conceptual thinking.

I would pick a school that provides you with a basic curriculum based on practical experience. I’d also look for internships with agencies and companies in your area.
On-hands will teach you a great deal, much faster. Master your tools at your own pace.
Technique is learning to make the perfect mistake.