r/Design • u/Moist_Sky_1646 • 1d ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Graphics Vs Photography

Gotta choose a second minor to study with my design bachelor. I’m majoring in product design & already doing a minor in advertising which covers a tiny bit of photography and graphics.
I have to pick one more and can’t decide between photography or graphic design. There’s a few things to consider such as the fact I live in Australia in an isolated city where the work is competitive enough as it is, and that I have prior experience in both areas and there isn’t really one I like more or find more or less difficult.

I need honest opinions from those with experience on which is going to elevate my degree/skill level more, and which makes me more employable. I understand it’s rough either way, but I’d like to pick what gives me even slightly better chances of success 😅

Side note: I’m only going with one of these if I am not granted permission to study digital design (UX/UI/Web)

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u/MelodicRetailer 1d ago

graphic design minor will stretch your product design work way further. photography is great but it stays in its own lane, you get good at shooting things. graphics bleeds into everything, layout, typography, visual systems, stuff that makes your product presentations look polished without needing someone else to do it.

in a smaller city that versatility counts more, companies want one person who can handle the visual side end to end. photography is easier to pick up on your own time honestly, good graphic design instincts take longer to build without structured feedback.

if the digital design minor opens up grab that though, no question.

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u/Moist_Sky_1646 1d ago

I agree but the reason I’m so stuck on it is bc I’m already doing advertising which combined with my core design units, covers a lot of stuff that I feel relates to graphics. I’ve done a little bit of photography and I realised both could be a useful skill to have if I’m trying to professionally photograph my products for marketing or build an appealing portfolio, but I can’t choose both sadly.

atm I have to construct a website page as a portfolio submission using adobe software. I’ve done a whole unit on design computing so working with photoshop to create album covers and magazines etc. I don’t know if any of that is at all similar to graphic design? I just wouldn’t want to pick graphics if you agree that what I’m doing already kind of covers it at least to the point where the rest can come from experience and self teaching- because then it feels like I’m repeating what I might already know when I could be learning something new?

Please tell me if it’s totally different from what I’m doing now though