Who Needs Website Design Training?
The first answer that comes to most people’s minds is usually “computer programmers.”

But if you are a graphic designer and want to make yourself more valuable to your firm or are in the process of looking for a graphic design position, having website design skills may be the difference between qualifying or not qualifying for the job you want.

According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010-2011 Edition):

“Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Keen competition for jobs is expected; individuals with Web site design and animation experience will have the best opportunities.”

The Future Is Now
Although graphic designers have been traditionally associated with print media, the job description has expanded and often includes the duties of providing graphics for websites and website design layouts.

Does your graphic design college offer website design courses? If so, make sure you take advantage of them.

As a graphic designer in order to stay competitive you must keep up with the latest graphic design trends and techniques.

With the emergence of the Internet as an important source of information and commerce for increasing numbers of people, website design is a very important skill set that employers seek in potential hires.

Graphic Design Schools and Community Colleges
Working professionals have busy schedules and are sometimes limited to the amount of time available for outside interests and pursuits–let alone continued education.

However, community colleges offer various certificate programs and associate’s degrees in website design and graphic design that can bring you up to speed on the latest technologies and design fields.  Night classes or weekend classes are often available.

Graphic design colleges present two-year and four-year degrees. Some offer online distance learning options in order to accommodate those who need the most flexibility in class scheduling.

Balance is Crucial
There are website designers who have mastered the coding (programming) of websites but lack an artistic eye to design one properly. Conversely there are graphic designers who excel in design but are at a loss in website design basics.

Whether you are a web designer seeking to increase your artistic side or a graphic designer seeking to improve your skills in the art of web layout, taking courses to improve your proficiency as a designer can be very beneficial.

For More Information on Graphic Design Schools
There is a wealth of free information on the Internet regarding website and graphic design courses. Click on the “schools” section here on Graphic Design Basics for helpful leads.

Do You Have a Graduate Degree?
Some graphic designers decide to take the next step in their higher education by pursuing a master’s degree. They do it for personal achievement and satisfaction or as a means to qualify for more advanced job positions.

If you have a graduate degree from a university or graphic design school you may qualify for the Emerge 2010 London Design Festival Contest.
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What the Contest is About
Up to fifteen winners will be assigned the job of designing posters for the London Underground—one of the largest metro systems in the world.

The publicity gathered through the display of these posters is sure to boost public and professional awareness for the winning designers.

The posters will be exhibited throughout various stations in East London Underground and may also present an opportunity for the designers to earn extra cash through the sale of their associated limited print editions.

How to Enter
In order to qualify for this contest you must have a master’s degree or MFA in graphic design from a graphic design college, university or online education center.

Go to the official contest Web site for the contest entry form and further submission details.

The design motif of your poster is up to you. Winners will be selected by a special official from the London Underground.
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Important Contest Links and Additional Information
Visit the following Web site links for information about this contest:

Emerge Contest Web site
Contact for Questions

The deadline for entries is July 2, 2010. There is no entry fee for this contest.

Tate Art Galleries, with four locations in the United Kingdom, and cultureLabel.com–an unique culture store that offer items from over 70 museum shops, artists, galleries and institutions are announcing an open call to all graphic artists and designers to enter the 2010 Release Contest.

Contest Details
The sponsors of this contest are seeking, “…two outstanding product designs that will be produced and sold in Tate shops, through Tate Online and at CultureLabel.com.”

According to the contest guidelines, the winning product design could:

* Capture the experience of Tate visitors, be they young or old, from the UK or from across the …globe
* Capture the impact that Tate has had on the public’s experience of galleries and its influence on …the arts
* Be inspired by the architecture of the buildings, such as the iconic Tate Modern, which is 10 years …old in 2010
* Be inspired by any of Tate galleries, which include Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate St Ives, Tate …Liverpool and also Tate Online

There are two product design categories - products that fall into a retail price range of up to £10 (15 USD) and the second with a retail price of up to £100 (150 USD).

Product Design Guidelines
For a product that will be sold for up to £10 (15 USD) the sponsors state:

“This product will become a much-loved and widely recognized souvenir of any visit to a Tate gallery - the object that anyone visitor will want to take home.

“You might want to focus on London and Tate Modern or Tate Britain and seek to create an iconic tourist souvenir that rivals the ‘Mind the Gap T-shirt’. Or, perhaps you are more inspired by the idyllic coastal setting of Tate St Ives or the post-industrial gallery spaces of Tate Liverpool?

“We want to capture the experience of someone visiting Tate - whether the magic of the first visit or the allure that keeps people coming back. Alternatively, you might seek to capture the impact that Tate has had on the public’s experience of art - transforming galleries into experiential, interactive and lifestyle spaces attracting incredibly diverse audiences.”

For example, some ideas for the sub £10 class of products could be things such as key fobs, cups, posters, t-shirts, folios, pens or other small items.

For product designs that will be sold for up to £100 (150 USD) the guidelines state:

“This more premium product might be the collector’s item that captures the human experience held in Tate.

“We still want to capture the spirit of Tate described above but this product could be a much sought after limited edition, object or accessory and would have the creative flair, artistic and design values reflecting Tate brand and the higher price point.”

Ideas for products in this pricing tier could be, but not limited to, items such as special edition posters or prints, ceramic pieces, jewelry or lithography prints.

Prizes
The winner will receive a cash award of £500 (750 USD) plus royalty payments for the first 6 months of the sales of the design.

Other information
There is an entry fee of £5 (7.50 USD). For the complete rules and guidelines for this contest, click here. To submit your product design idea, click here. All questions regarding this contest should be sent to release [at] culturelabel.com.  The deadline for this contest is March 22, 2010.

What Does the Job of an Interior Designer Encompass?
For many years the job of an interior designer had to do with decorating living or business spaces by using the appropriate selection of furnishings, lighting, floor and window treatments, artwork, and the use of color.

For the most part, these are the primary functions of interior designers but recently the tasks of interior designers have expanded to architectural aspects such as planning for interior detailing, the placement of windows, stairways, escalators, and building renovation elements.

Interior designers are responsible to their clients and must assess what their needs and wants are before going into the actual phase of interior design planning.

A great deal of communication is needed during this phase to make sure that the concepts of the client and the interior designer are in phase.

Interior design jobs can be as small as a one room treatment of a kitchen, bathroom or living room to taking on projects for entire office buildings, retail stores or public locations.

These projects are often done under tight deadlines and the interior designer must be able to work well under pressure and multitask effectively.

What Steps Are Necessary to Prepare for an Interior Design Career?
Entry-level interior design jobs require a college degree in design. Professional design schools offer programs that take 2-4 years to complete. There are also 2-3 year certificate programs in interior design offered by community colleges, art schools, and online education centers. Some graphic design schools also include interior design in their curriculum.

Some graduates of interior design programs gain needed work experience by interning or serving in a design apprenticeship program. These apprenticeships are 1-3 years in length and provide career training for aspiring interior designers.

Apprenticeships are usually done at a design firm or architectural firm under the watchful eye of a professional designer.

The Qualities Employers Seek from Prospective Candidates
Many employers of interior designers want individuals who are proficient in using computer aided design (CAD) software. A basic understanding of engineering and architecture is also desirable.

Those seeking employment as interior designers should be creative, efficient, and have strong communication skills. They should also be constantly attuned to what is going on in the interior design industry in order to maintain a current perspective of what is fashionable and what is not.

The Job Outlook for Interior Designers
The future looks bright for interior design positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be a 19 percent increase in interior design jobs from 2010 to 2018. Although there will be substantial openings for interior design jobs, the competition for these spots will be extremely high.

In 2008 the mean annual wage for interior designers was $51,020.

This music festival may not break the attendance records set by Woodstock, but the Linton Music Festival does offer a chance for graphic artists and illustrators to submit their entries to its t-shirt design competition.

The winning t-shirt design will be sold at the concert and online. The winning entry receives $500. Second place receives a royalty of 50 cents for every t-shirt sold.

Rules and details of the contest:

• 2 or less “spot” colors! (no blends or shades)
• No white t-shirts!
• Design using vector art…if you win, must provide design in vector format, and in desired print size. (Must be smaller than 1500×1500 pixels)
• No more than 2 designs will be accepted per person. ONLY 20 designs will advance to the “Voting” phase.

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The contest deadline is July 1, 2009.

The music concert takes place in Linton, Indiana, a small town with a population of 6,000. Linton is home to Goose Pond, one of the country’s leading wetland preservation projects. The festival is from August 29-31, 2009. Garage bands, indie artists, jazz, rock, and even bluegrass music rounds out this eclectic selection of entertainment.

Last year, the festival had over 10,000 people attend. The event is free of charge and camping sites are available near the festival grounds.

BOM is here to help by bringing you the Design Not Drama Contest where you can show the world how you keep the drama on the down low in your relationships! Express how you dial down the drama by designing a t-shirt that reflects the BOM = Boss of Me themes. Use the Entry Editor or download a t-shirt template, create your Design Not Drama statement either as a slogan or picture and submit to win a $1000 Apple Gift Card, 20 t-shirt copies of your design plus have your entry posted on BOM411.com.

This contest is open to California residents aged 15-19. The grand prize winner, based on most creative, best slogan and best reflection of theme, will receive a $1,000 Apple® Gift Card, 20 copies of his or her t-shirt and the design featured on the BOM411.com website. Prizes will also be given away for the runner-up and 4 most viral winners.

Deadline is 5 December 2008. Visit the site to learn more.