Copywriting with a graphic design degree - Freelance UK Forums

Scarlet-Hills · 05-03-2008, 05:19 PM

Hi all,

I'm at the end of a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design, and over the past three years it has emerged that my writing skills far outweigh my design skills. This was backed up by a tutor I have who writes for various magazines and assesses dissertations from all over the country. He told me that my written and linguistic skills are some of the best he's ever seen, and it'd be a real waste if I didn't employ them within my chosen career. I'd love to pursue a career in copywriting or perhaps some sort of journalism, but obviously I'm going to wind up with a degree in Graphics. I might feel like taking a post-grad course in a few years time, but right now I can't face staying in the education system any longer. How feesable are my prospects as a professional writer (in a freelance or otherwise capacity) with a degree with only some element of relevance? I do possess a portfolio of written pieces that should work to my advantage, and I pride myself on having a good interview technique. Any advice you might be able to offer would be hugely appreciated.

- Rob

sarahsrays · 05-04-2008, 01:50 PM

Hi Rob

Even though your degree will be in a different subject, if you have a good portfolio there's no reason you can't do copywriting or journalism work.
Your design experience could even come in handy on some projects.

One thing I would say though (and I don't mean to be rude at all) is that if you want a writing career you will need to watch your spelling, especially in applications etc. There are a few spelling errors (eg; "outway") in your post and if it was an application for work you'd be out before you even had chance to show what you can do.

In general just work on your writing portfolio though and this is what will usually win you the work.

Scarlet-Hills · 05-04-2008, 04:25 PM

I completely agree with you! That post was written rather hurriedly and I guess I let a couple of things slip. I'm definitely something of a spelling freak normally, and all of my formal work is completely checked out before being sent off.

Many thanks for your encouraging advice!

GTFC · 05-07-2008, 05:01 PM

I'm also a freelance copywriter who started out in life as a Graphic Designer, but I did my HND about 20 years ago! In the meantime I've worked in account management, client-side marketing and as a freelance marketing contractor. The bottom line is, if you have a good portfolio you can win business. It doesn't matter that you do not have formal writing qualifications. Your work will speak for itself (assuming no typos of course - feesable??!). Sorry, don't mean to nit-pick, but Sarah is dead right!

Good luck anyway - the work is definitely out there

Scarlet-Hills · 05-07-2008, 05:30 PM

Bugger. I guess I do need to watch my spelling on certain words! Sorting that out can be my first task... Anyway thank you so much for your advice and inspiration, it's been extremely helpful. My self-confidence (see, should that be hyphenated?

) used to be sky high, and that was reflected in my achievements, but recently I've realised that perhaps graphic design isn't for me. I became quite lost for a year or so and my mood and outlook on life took a real tumble. I suppose it happens to a lot of people. Anyway, I have something to aspire to now. I'll go and write 'feasible' out a few hundred times.

GTFC · 05-07-2008, 07:24 PM

It's always tough when you realise you might not be heading in the direction that you expected to be - or even worse, when you realise you don't want to head in the direction that you always thought you did! The thing to do is to take a deep breath, accept that things might not pan out quite how you thought they would, and concentrate on making sure that your next step is the right one.

For example, are you just going down the copywriting route because you are 'good at it' (or other people say you are) or are you doing it becuse you really enjoy it? That's the difference. Now is also a good time to make a clear distinction between copywriting and journalism. They are very different - and yes, you would probably need a qualification in journalism, unless you could get a local paper to use you as a freelance and then take you on, so you learn as you go. I'm sure the journalism forum would have more advice on that.

Sounds like you are in a perfect position to point things in the direction you really want them to go - so make sure you get it right. The thing I always tell people is this (and it's not my quote!) - "the secret of happiness is to find something you ejoy doing and then to get someone to pay you for doing it".

It's that simple really!

PS - hyphenation is very subjective and generally the rule is to go with that makes the sentence more easily understood. In this case you don't need a hyphen in self confidence

05-03-2008, 05:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scarlet-Hills Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hertfordshire/Lincolnshire Posts: 23	Copywriting with a graphic design degree Hi all, I'm at the end of a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design, and over the past three years it has emerged that my writing skills far outweigh my design skills. This was backed up by a tutor I have who writes for various magazines and assesses dissertations from all over the country. He told me that my written and linguistic skills are some of the best he's ever seen, and it'd be a real waste if I didn't employ them within my chosen career. I'd love to pursue a career in copywriting or perhaps some sort of journalism, but obviously I'm going to wind up with a degree in Graphics. I might feel like taking a post-grad course in a few years time, but right now I can't face staying in the education system any longer. How feesable are my prospects as a professional writer (in a freelance or otherwise capacity) with a degree with only some element of relevance? I do possess a portfolio of written pieces that should work to my advantage, and I pride myself on having a good interview technique. Any advice you might be able to offer would be hugely appreciated. - Rob __________________ *"Don't mistake legibility for communication"* - David Carson Last edited by Scarlet-Hills; 05-04-2008 at 04:28 PM.

05-04-2008, 04:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Scarlet-Hills Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hertfordshire/Lincolnshire Posts: 23	I completely agree with you! That post was written rather hurriedly and I guess I let a couple of things slip. I'm definitely something of a spelling freak normally, and all of my formal work is completely checked out before being sent off. Many thanks for your encouraging advice! __________________ *"Don't mistake legibility for communication"* - David Carson

05-07-2008, 05:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scarlet-Hills Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hertfordshire/Lincolnshire Posts: 23	Bugger. I guess I do need to watch my spelling on certain words! Sorting that out can be my first task... Anyway thank you so much for your advice and inspiration, it's been extremely helpful. My self-confidence (see, should that be hyphenated? ) used to be sky high, and that was reflected in my achievements, but recently I've realised that perhaps graphic design isn't for me. I became quite lost for a year or so and my mood and outlook on life took a real tumble. I suppose it happens to a lot of people. Anyway, I have something to aspire to now. I'll go and write 'feasible' out a few hundred times. __________________ *"Don't mistake legibility for communication"* - David Carson

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05-04-2008, 01:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
sarahsrays New Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8	Hi Rob Even though your degree will be in a different subject, if you have a good portfolio there's no reason you can't do copywriting or journalism work. Your design experience could even come in handy on some projects. One thing I would say though (and I don't mean to be rude at all) is that if you want a writing career you will need to watch your spelling, especially in applications etc. There are a few spelling errors (eg; "outway") in your post and if it was an application for work you'd be out before you even had chance to show what you can do. In general just work on your writing portfolio though and this is what will usually win you the work.

05-07-2008, 05:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
GTFC Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 58	I'm also a freelance copywriter who started out in life as a Graphic Designer, but I did my HND about 20 years ago! In the meantime I've worked in account management, client-side marketing and as a freelance marketing contractor. The bottom line is, if you have a good portfolio you can win business. It doesn't matter that you do not have formal writing qualifications. Your work will speak for itself (assuming no typos of course - feesable??!). Sorry, don't mean to nit-pick, but Sarah is dead right! Good luck anyway - the work is definitely out there

05-07-2008, 07:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
GTFC Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 58	It's always tough when you realise you might not be heading in the direction that you expected to be - or even worse, when you realise you don't want to head in the direction that you always thought you did! The thing to do is to take a deep breath, accept that things might not pan out quite how you thought they would, and concentrate on making sure that your next step is the right one. For example, are you just going down the copywriting route because you are 'good at it' (or other people say you are) or are you doing it becuse you really enjoy it? That's the difference. Now is also a good time to make a clear distinction between copywriting and journalism. They are very different - and yes, you would probably need a qualification in journalism, unless you could get a local paper to use you as a freelance and then take you on, so you learn as you go. I'm sure the journalism forum would have more advice on that. Sounds like you are in a perfect position to point things in the direction you really want them to go - so make sure you get it right. The thing I always tell people is this (and it's not my quote!) - "the secret of happiness is to find something you ejoy doing and then to get someone to pay you for doing it". It's that simple really! PS - hyphenation is very subjective and generally the rule is to go with that makes the sentence more easily understood. In this case you don't need a hyphen in self confidence