Hey guys,
So I have a liberal arts degree, but I have been doing graphic design and interface design more specifically for a while. I started as a self-taught kid, used the online communities, books, and projects to get better, etc.
I have a phone interview tomorrow with a web design company, and the person interviewing me has their Masters in Art and a BFA. How to I defend myself if that comes up? How would you?
Meh. In the arts, you have it or you don’t. If your portfolio stands up, then it is as good as anyone with more education.
My instincts say that you should be careful not to be so defensive of your self-taught route that you make the guy who has degrees feel like he wasted his time and money obtaining them. He may think that already–because at some level, even sven is right, but you don’t need/want to make it a bone of contention between you.
Would you be open to taking formal classes especially on the Company’s dime? I don’t know that you should suggest such a thing unasked, but if prompted, you should have thought about the answer.
Some people think that a piece of paper is the most important thing–if this person thinks that way, you are sunk and there is nothing you can do about it at this point. But if this person doesn’t think that way, talk up your portfolio, offer to show it off, talk about how your work has been used in the past, that sort of thing.