Is a professional degree a must? What do you think about self-educated designers?

I don't think it's a must. There are many people who do not have degrees but are far more talented, self-motivated, and hard working then those with a degree. I believe lots of experience is far more important!

It's not. Look at Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. Or even Zuckerberg. They all dropped out of university yet created category-defining companies. Education at a top university ensures you hit the floor in terms of getting that first job. But self-education and curiosity, coupled with the ability to adapt and persevere will get you to hit or smash past many professional ceilings.

These days you can learn everything you need to start a successful design carrier for free online. I mean, yes, I have a MA in graphic design and it's definitely good to have it. It helps you to build a solid foundation and you may make a couple of good connections. But is it a must? Absolutely not! To be honest.. since I've made my degree in 2015, I've learned most of the things I need to do the job on a daily basis by reading books and watching YouTube.

it could be a plus but definitely not necessity

It's not, whoever hires as a company and have the "degree" a mandatory field, just ignore that company, their culture is bs

As an entrepreneur, I must say that the topic of professional degrees in the design field is quite intriguing. While it's true that a professional degree can provide a solid foundation and formal training, I believe that self-educated designers can bring a unique flavor to the table. Some of the most innovative and groundbreaking designs have come from individuals who didn't follow the traditional educational path. They had the freedom to explore their creativity without any preconceived notions or limitations imposed by a structured curriculum. Self-educated designers often possess a hunger for knowledge and a relentless drive to learn and improve their craft. They are constantly seeking inspiration from various sources, experimenting with different techniques, and pushing the boundaries of design. Moreover, in today's fast-paced digital world, where trends come and go in the blink of an eye, self-educated designers have the advantage of adaptability.

I'm a self-taught designer and software engineer. My co-founder is a self-educated AI engineer. As we run our businesses, we don't really care about degrees that much. There are way better ways to test someone's expertise and fitness for my team.

I don't think its a must in the slightest. I sometimes rethink the amount of money and time I spent learning something that is very much commoditized today.

It could be a good idea to get a degree now. You will be perfectly positioned when the economy bounce back again.

I have learned way more during work than I ever did when I was doing my degree... Knowledge without practical experience doesn't take you far.

I think that various IT areas, design, digital marketing, programming are something that can be done without a degree and quite successfully. Of course, a specialized college can give you a lot if you really study everything, and do not order most of the work on sites like https://typemyessay.me/write-my-...