Natwerk Designs

Should I major in advertising DESIGN or graphic design if i want to be a creative director someday?

I go to FIT in NYC and have an associates in Communication Design and am applying to upper-division soon. I'm deciding between advertising design and graphic design as majors for the BFA program. I ultimately want to become a creative director because I LOVE concept, design and writing. I'm minoring in English Writing. I am stronger with concepts than I am with "technical graphics." Should I go into something I am better at and can perfect, or something I am weaker in? I am torn between majors because Ad design focuses MORE on concept than graphics (though graphics is taught in this major), and Graphic design focuses more on the technicality of graphics. More ads are created in the AD major and more logos, brochures, posters and layouts are created in the GD major. If I go into AD, would my career choices be limited? Could I still easily do GD work with a major in AD? If I go into GD would it take longer to get into the advertising industry???! And unfortunately money is an issue because of my ENORMOUS amount of student loans... so which major would be a better door to take financially? A swift qualified answer would be greatly appreciated as I only have 1 month left to declare my major. Thank you so very much! -student desperate for wisdom

Public Comments

1. I didn't even know there was an "advertising design" degree. that being said I think that going into advertising design is a waste of your time. I'm a graphic designer and any good school will train you in advertising design and all other design aspects. Almost all of my graphic design courses focused on some sort of advertising aspect...like how to best reach your target audience or making you design at least one ad. Also keep in mind that being a creative director can take many many years of experience to reach and you will most likely be putting in over 40 hours a week (think more like 60). You will also need good leadership and speaking abilities as you will run a team of people. Some students if they are very good and have either an excellent portfolio or have interned with that company will get hired as the creative director/art director but most it takes a while to get there. So that being said a graphic design degree will cover everything you want to learn and do and has a lot of job potential. You want to be able to be as versatile design wise as possible to get the best design jobs and that way when your at that level to be a creative director you know pretty much how to do everything. Good luck.