I Met Someone That Has My Dream Job. I Knew It Existed!

I've been getting a lot of flack over my degree choice. All of my technical friends either think that I need a traditional Computer Science Degree instead. Some have suggested that I don't need a degree at all, and I should just make some pretty web sites from home (exactly what I DON'T want to do, small business is not appealing to me at all). Kenny is just nervous about the costs of WSU and is pushing me to settle on the 2 year, and get whatever work I can get. I could probably get the 4 yr CS degree. I might have to since 4 year options are limited.

So, I've been a bit confused as to if I can really get a job designing what user interfaces look like without being the one to do all the background programming. Having a little bit of that knowledge I can understand, it's good to know what is beyond my scope and when to pass it off to the guys that know what their doing, but I don't really want to be a programmer, I want to be a designer. (I write this now and next year I'll be getting my AA in databases or something "more practical")

I signed up for the first class in a line of digital art classes. It's basically "Here is Adobe CS3/4. Here is how you start up illustrator or photoshop, edit something or create a layout, and then save it." It's a really, really intro level class. None the less, most all of my experience has been with GIMP and Inkscape, and it'll be nice to learn all the facets of the Adobe stuff. What I am most excited about is that the instructor for my class has MY job. The one I want! The job that is in my head as the one that I'm most suited for (I knew it existed). He works at PNNL and does covers for Scientific Computing magazine, posters for the lab, branding, and he works on, you guessed it, UI design for web based applications. I showed interest in that and he said that since there was interest he would actually spend some time talking about it in class.

He has not been impressed with the DTC majors out of WSU, he says it's seems like they've never touched the software. From what I gather, he looks for Art Majors with computer science minors or experience. It's a bit depressing, there is not a local 4 yr Art program. DTC is the closest to art I can get. I guess my only option is to get the multimedia degrees, but focus more on really forming a good portfolio, and to start building my network of contacts. Ya, I'm a bit overly optimistic and excited.

So, if any of you know Chris de Graaf let me know, I may use you as a reference when I beg for an internship.