Am I in the wrong line of work?

[pheck]

I went to medical school (where I am now) because I like helping people and I like science. My other love has always been art and design. Getting into Flash over this past year has been the best and the worst thing for me. I am constantly 'distracted' by this place, and find myself dreaming up new things to do in Flash while my head is buried in the books.

Does anyone else find themselves in a similiar predicament? Doing one thing, enjoying it, but finding yourself more passionate about another thing?

I'll see this school thing out, but man, you professional designers out there are in a good place (despite the hardships of finding the next client

[gerbick]

well, yes. I'm a freelance/contractor programmer, but my very first job out of college was doing 3D animations in Japan.

do I miss it? heck yeah.

I have a dual degree. Computer Science on one side, Digital Media (later redubbed Digital Arts/Design at my university) on the other side. I have danced on both sides of my degrees, but honestly, I wish I did more design than program.

however, like my father just recently stated... if you have to ask, then you need to seek the reasons why you question your livelihood.

currently, I am thinking of going to grad school, and honestly, I've learned so much in the last year from Flashkit and the people I have met here about Flash, I would think there is a place in design for me good luck with your decisions and endeavors.

[Desertsnowman]

ARt anD deSign Rock - that it there is nothing else !

[jamble]

Flash and flashkit are a nice distraction for me to be honest. It's not like I'm in a job that I love but it pays the bills and I don't have to work particularly hard

I am constantly thinking of things to do, at the moment, it's getting wintery and cold so I'm spending imaginary lottery winnings on trips to warm places

[calpomatt]

Hey Phil!

Ahhh....the story of my life. Playing around on the computer when I should be doing my physics homework.

The way I look at it...web design is something that, for the most part, you can teach yourself. You can also do freelance work on the side....

I really enjoy civil engineering so far and fully intend to follow through with it. I love working out challenging situations and problems as well as the feeling of creating something important. I also intend to do some web/graphics/music work on the side. Whether this is just playing around or actually making money won't matter much, the point is, you can still do both.

A medical degree out of stanford will give you a nice plush job somewhere. So hey....make a bundle for 20 years as an MD.....retire, and spend the rest of the time playing with Flash.

- Matt

[sctrob]

I know what you guys mean.

Got my B.S. in a medical-related field and am now considering going back and getting a fine arts degree...

I always wanted to go to art school and learn how to animate, but just got caught up in other things.

Does anyone have any advice to someone who is considering a change in career?

I am using Flash and other multimedia for my job now (in research) but my question is...

Can you get into the field w/o a degree and just some technical computer experience?

[pheck]

good advice/interesting stories....

one thing i think is very important for me is to set myself up in a job I enjoy. I think I will enjoy doctor-hood, but I also think designer-hood would be a ton of fun.....very few people can say they love their jobs, but I bet that most designers can say they do. Is this true?

[iForgotMyPassword]

but I bet that most designers can say they do. Is this true? [/B]

i would have to agree....

i think most "designers" (especially those who work freelance) really enjoy what they do.... and they good reason to.... it is fun it makes pretty good money and you get to (in most cases) DO WHAT YOU WANT... your artistic mind is listened to and respected.... which is not allways so in other jobs....

anyways ...Design is fun

[Fadzter]

Originally posted by calpomatt
....I really enjoy civil engineering so far and fully intend to follow through with it....

hey matt,
didn't know you were also studying civil eng.? which university are you in? what year?
i'm in 4th .. University of Nairobi.
flash is also a hobby that tuned serious and brought in some cash.. so i won't say no to it.

pheck: i know exactly what you mean, when i'm not 100% focused on studies, it's flash in my head all the way! i think it's a disease ...

[calpomatt]

Woohoo! Another Civil Engineer! I'm not the only one!

I'm 3rd year over at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Lovin every minute of it.

- Matt

[Fadzter]

great! glad you love it.
one question? can you manage to do any flash during the academic semesters?
i know i can't.... to much workload

[calpomatt]

I haven't worked with Flash in a while....my new hobby of the month is Photoshop. It's not as time consuming and I manage to still get everything done. It's all about time management.

I've also been focusing on music more. It's a good release from a long day at school.

There needs to be an even balance between engineering/flash/partying though. I was fully working on the last one tonight. Good ole Sierra Nevada.

[Fadzter]

hey matt.
i'm working on a civil engineering console for fadzter.com and it's all in flash.
you'll be able to plot bending moment diagrams and calculate deflections, sway etc.. all on the site by inputting your loads, member types, dimensions, etc!
what do you think?
i'll tell you as soon as it's up.

i just thought it's a cool way to combine the two things i do..
maybe someday, you and i can hook up & make some engineering software fully in flash? what say you?

do you know of any other people studying civil engineering that do flash?

[avex]

hmm.. i know what you ppl mean. especially in my case, my geographical culture has somehow contributed in this - "the mysterious constant need and cravings for multitasking abilities".

kids in .my are *cursed* with local society's expectancies of multitasking. it's OK if you're able to do SO MANY THINGS AT ONCE and being able to be GOOD at 'em all, BUT sometimes you'd better off concentrating FEWER things at a time but producing quality work...

hell, it's even OK to do flash when you're a microbiology major or even if you're from Monash School of Animal Psychology but in the end, that's not really the point. the time spent and balanced will usually determine the success of whatever you're doing: the better, the latter and even both. if the work's good, then the work's good, eh? but usually, a 1 hour's worth of work just simply don't match up to an 18 hour brainstorming and structure.

YAY! to those ppl who actually CAN take up lotsa jobs and still produce quality stuff, but for the rest of us who's like me, try avoiding it - coz we'll get to say YAY! too, but a bit later.

[credo]

I come from a strange kind of background, I am a fully qualified baker, I have been baking for about 8 years now. A friend of mine convinced me to buy a computer a year and a half ago, I had never owned one before and I just fell into flash and design just from boredom. I have always been good at art but I didn't do any kind design course outside of normal schooling. I didnt even finish Yr12.
Now I have my own personal flash site that I am really proud of, and I am the web master of our states only professional raceway ( http://www.wascc.com.au ) and I might be joining my friend in starting our own design company. I can safely say I know Flash, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Cool edit pro and assorted graphic/sound programs fluently.
So yeah I do it as a hobby, completely self taught, and I'm getting somewhere in the field of web design.

So don't despair all you hobby designers, good things come to those who flash

[Edited by credo on 11-10-2001 at 07:33 AM]

[Gloomycus]

I'm a senior in high school now and I'm weighing my options. Here's what I got lined up:

Seneca College - Graphic Design Diploma (3 yrs)
York University/Sheridan College - Bachelor of Design (4 yrs)

I've wanted to do those programs for about 2 years now and have been gearing my high school courses towards arts and computers.

[marcus_from_hell]

pirtty intresting story everone got...

i am 'forced' to study some thing i don't want to which piss me off but if you think with a cool mind its for your own good. i have decided to get a solid education and a degree to my name... then enjoy doing what like most. graphics/web design.

good luck in what ever you do

Fadzter, i saw the preview of your version 3 site... its pritty cool

good job

[gerbick]

you know... I was thinking about this recently. I mean... I just went almost 80 out 96 straight hours re-coding a portion of a SOAP/XML web service/interface that the specs were "mysteriously" changed a couple of months ago, and I found out on Thursday.



I'm tired of this stuff. So... any suggestions!?

[toony]

Always wanted to go in to media design when i left school but due to personal (family) problems it went all pear shape, ending up doing a few jobs but later on got into accounting (CIMA). Just wish things had been different, most of time is spent cartooning & illustrating making some money but not alot to go fulltime.

Took a couple of weeks off sometime ago to do a project (charactor design) was working like 7am to 11/12pm @ nite every day, just loved it gave me such a buzz as i said would love to do it F/T, but hey accounting pays the bills..and the fast cars & the fast women..well it would if i weren't married..