<p>I want to get into Graphic Design(BFA) at a good art and design school. My top two choices are California College of the Arts and Pratt Institute.
I am currently a Junior in high school. I am the assistant design editor of the yearbook and next year I will be the head design editor. I know this doesn't sound even slightly impressive, but my school's yearbook has won design awards and is a bit more modern than most.
I am also hoping to become the SBO Artist next year, which will entail making posters and flyers for school activities.
This summer I am planning on attending CCA's summer program, which should help me build my portfolio and design ability in general.
I would post some pieces I am including in my portfolio, but I don't have any solid, finished products yet.</p>
<p>Now here are my questions/concerns:</p>
<p>1- I can't draw. I mean, I have enough ability to get by in the graphic design industry, but I can't draw detailed, realistic images. I know that a lot of art schools require images drawn from still life. I am afraid that this will severely hinder my chances of being accepted. Any thoughts/ideas on how I can make them overlook my inability to draw or to improve my skill? [I have taken drawing courses, they don't seem to help.]</p>
<p>2- Do art and design schools look at anything besides your portfolio? I am worried that my extracurricular activities, grades and test scores are irrelevant. </p>
<p>3- Is my head in the clouds? Am I incapable of getting into these schools? I have been told I have talent, but am I taking it to far by thinking I have a future in this field?</p>
<p>Thanks for any answers and I apologize if I sound incompetent, please remain polite.</p>
<p>What’s great about times today is u don’t have to know how to sketch since everything is done on a computer. You sound like you’re doing a lot of research into art and design schools which is great. I have friends who went 2 the fashion institute of design & merchandising in LA and they have friends who graduated from the graphic design program which I hear is pretty cool. I’ve seen some of the student projects and hear stories about what the students are doing after they graduate and its pretty impressive. I do know the school is big into the fashion and entertainment industries so that’s a plus. I went 2 open house with my friends and heard a grad from the graphic design department who does special effects for movies and they do a lot for the entertainment industry so it’s just a thought. Good luck!</p>
<p>“What’s great about times today is u don’t have to know how to sketch since everything is done on a computer.”</p>
<p>Sounds like a formula for failure in even today’s graphics industry.</p>
<p>OP what you need to do is go to the colleges’ websites and see what they want in a portfolio. Ask your current instructors about what’s good and what’s not good. But you also need to be prepared to hear the truth – you may not be qualified enough to earn a living through the visual arts. “I have taken drawing courses, they don’t seem to help.”</p>
<p>The bulk of your coursework stems from basic illustration.</p>
<p>My brother is an instructor at an art school. A warning he gives to his first year illustration classes: when you graduate and go out to vie for a freelance job, I’ll be in that line as well.</p>
<p>It can be done – but it’s a long hard road. Make sure you hear from objective and informed voices. By no means should you consider any for-profit colleges/academies. By and large – big scammers with unemployed grads with marginal skills and huge debt.</p>