Jamie sent me an ad for a course that encouraged copywriters to train to be graphic artists. The idea was to boost sales and offer a one-stop solution to a client’s needs.I have very strong feelings about cross-training, but I’m not going to go into them here.
Instead, I read the ad and thought, “Damn, I must be one lucky guy.” I’m blessed with the skills of both writing and graphic design, and I have a natural talent for both. Not many people can claim that. Either they’re very good writers and can’t draw a straight line to save their lives, or they’re graphic artists who can’t put together a single, coherent sentence.
I’m all for expanding one’s skills. Here is why:
- You become more indispensable and less replaceable to your employer or clients.
- It’s good to know a little bit about everything to envision how the big picture fits together. See the trees and the forest.
- It helps to communicate ideas and discuss a project’s facets with co-workers.
- Knowing the terminology of the job and the skills involved in a project helps create a better project.
- Even if you don’t know how to do a task, you understand what the obstacles could be and could help resolve them.
If you do cross-train, let people know your level of expertise right away. Don’t pretend to be a professional or well-versed when you’re not. It’ll come back to bite you – hard.
I’ve had many people lead me to believe they understood the terminology of design or how to use a specific graphics program, only to find out later that, on a scale of 1 to 10, their experience was a -1. The client didn’t get what he or she wanted, and I ended up cleaning the mess of revisions.
But go ahead and cross-train. If you’re a writer, try graphic design and vice versa. It can’t hurt. Most clients appreciate the extra effort put into a project. Just make sure your new skill is up to standard and not a just an attempt at being something you’re not.
You may also learn that graphic design takes talent. I make it look easy. Maybe a little too easy, since Jamie still thinks I can conjure up a website at the drop of a hat. Instead of bemoaning the fact my business partner has me on a pedestal, I’ll take that as a compliment. And try not to fall off my perch.
Jamie,
Thanks for the motivation. I had a few years of art training before graphic design courses existed, and it’s a bit discouraging to have an artist’s view but not today’s necessary training to use it. I can see where it would make a writer more employment-worthy, especially if they have detailed knowledge of web design.
Perhaps folks who are still in school will follow through with this suggestion. In conjunction with their writing, they will probably find themselves more in demand.
Jamie? That’s okay, people often get us confused – after all, we’re both *so* alike! I’ve always been a strong believer in cross-training, it helps a business to run much more smoothly when someone can cover for another person and pick up the slack when needed.
When I was in school, computer graphics was brand new and there were very few courses available. At that point, I had never touched a computer, except for basic data entry and word processing on the most basic level. As the years went by, it became clear that computer graphics weren’t just a fad and I had to get with the program if my career was going to advance. The days of Exacto knives and wax machines were at an end. But it was that rudimentary training of doing everything by hand that gave me a better understanding when it came to creating projects on the computer. I think a lot of people are lacking that today (man, I feel like such an oldster! Next thing you know I’ll be lamenting having had to walk to school everyday in ten feet of snow…). It’s easy to pick up a graphics program and learn how to use it, after all, just click and point, right? Anyone, not just graphic artists, will tell you their jobs often involve skills not common knowledge to the rest of the world and that’s what makes them experts in the field.
Don’t get discouraged. If you have the basics already, you can expand on them, there’s plenty of knowledge to go around.
Harry-
Sorry!
All that you say makes perfect sense. I’ve played a little with Corel Draw and that sort of thing, but I know it’s nothing like what “real” graphic programs have. Perhaps someday…!