Design courses need to teach market realities

I read with interest the letter by Darren Bolton about the state of current design courses (DW 23 September). When I embarked on my degree I knew nothing about the design packages used or about the design process, I simply knew that I wanted to be a designer.

My chosen course may have taught me a lot about design, but it neglected to teach me the ways of the industry and how hard it is to obtain a job.

With no industry ties and no work placements it’s left me and my fellow graduates struggling to find work with little, if no, commercial experience (the bane of a graduate’s existence).

The course is not only to blame for this, as many people have no on-line portfolios and very little work to show for three years of studying. But, as Bolton said, courses have a responsibility to teach students the realities of how hard the market is and how much experience they need to survive.

Likewise, they need to tell some students that they have no design ability and will never get a job – I worked with some people who had absolutely no idea how to design who passed their degrees with high marks.

Like many other graduates, I have the potential and desire to make it as a designer. However, without the proper work to show for it, we stand very little chance of making it.

Tony Goff

Graphic designer who is looking for work

London