Am I setting myself up to struggle when I come out of college by being an Art major or will there be many opportunities for success?
I am currently an art major, and I am content with this major, but now I am back having doubts because yesterday I was at a job fair, and a man I spoke to said he’s met many art majors and said it was difficult for them to find a job because so. He suggested that I should change my major. I’m not one that just does what someone tells me I should do based off of what they think is right for me. And I don’t like when someone makes me doubt or try to change the path I’m on, because then it feels like a desire to discourage me. I rather live out the experience on my own because even if what he says is true, it can turn out positively different for me.
So, I’m wondering if any people who were art majors or have a bachelors in art can tell me how your experience was coming out of college and trying to jumpstart your career. Even though I am stern in making my own decisions, I want to hear from people like you who actually lived the experience. Overall, I just want to be successful in the world of interior design and be sure that the major I have and will get a degree in will support and not halter that goal.
11 answers
Ericka’s Answer
Fine Arts & Studio Careers
Professional Artist (painter, sculptor, printmaker, mixed media)
Illustrator (books, editorial, advertising, product packaging)
Muralist or Public Artist
Gallery Artist (selling work through galleries or exhibitions)
Design & Applied Arts
Graphic Designer (branding, advertising, digital media)
Web & User Interface Designer
Fashion Designer or Textile Designer
Interior Designer
Industrial/Product Designer
Digital & Media Arts
Animator (film, TV, video games)
Video Game Artist (concept art, character/environment design)
3D Modeler or Visual Effects Artist
Film/Video Editor
Motion Graphics Designer
Education & Community Arts
Art Teacher (K–12, college, or private lessons)
Museum Educator
Community Arts Program Coordinator
Art Business & Management
Gallery Manager
Art Curator (museums, galleries)
Art Dealer
Art Appraiser
Arts Administration (event planning, nonprofit arts organizations)
Specialized Art Fields
Medical Illustrator
Courtroom Sketch Artist
Tattoo Artist
Set Designer (theater, film, TV)
Exhibit Designer (museums, trade shows)
Entrepreneurship
Freelance artist with online sales (Etsy, Shopify, personal website)
Custom commissions for businesses and individuals
Selling prints, merchandise, or licensing artwork
Michelle’s Answer
I am proud of you. It's very much worth standing up for and sticking with what you really love and what you have a calling for. You're in the best location, too and there's more than the non-artist may think that awaits you.
Let's talk about location first. You not only have opportunities in the Art capitol of the country, there are areas nearby-ish, too. Not only will you find your niche in New York City, there's also Westchester County and a bit further North in the larger art hubs of the towns of Beacon, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston. Woodstock is only about 40 more miles from there. You have a great advantage due to your location.
Artists are amazing because there are so many ways that they can work. You can create and sell your wares, teach, work at a gallery or museum. Are you actually Majoring in Interior Design because that is the degree that aligns and qualifies you to be Licensed as an Interior Designer. I am sorry if I misunderstood because you said that you are an Art Major and that can mean many things but your career goal is Interior Design. I do want to encourage you but it pays to weigh out all the details.
Many aspects of Art can end up becoming a private business or service, so you can more or less believe that you would be in charge of your career. Think of all the types of art that you do well and try not to limit yourself to one category. Many opportunities sometimes come for students even before they graduate. It certainly did for me as a theatre major. Maintain your delightful assertive quality because that is an ingredient for success whether one is in the fine arts or the performing arts.
When my mother was alive, she taught Art Education full time and was a member of a prominent Art Gallery in the Mid Hudson Valley (New York) at which she had both professional and personal connections with. Much of her work was displayed there, she wasn't trying to sell her paintings but so many people wanted to buy them and did. She also taught a class for crafts at a retreat camp in one of the local towns. There's going to be many wonderful unexpected things that happen for you in the art world, so never let anyone discourage you.
As for myself, many older people would always ask me, "What kind of job will you be able to get with a degree in Theatre?" as if that was going to be impossible. Well, since I moved to Hollywood after graduation, in a prime theatre and performing market, I did get my first non-acting career job in theatre straight out of college. People just need room to take things step by step and recognize opportunities. You will do the same.
I hope that this helps and that your continued path continues to enlighten you in all ways towards the career and work you really want to do. Best wishes in all you do !
Wyatt s’s Answer
I got a Bachelor's degree in Animation. I pretty much had to make my own way out of college when nobody would hire me. I started my own Animation business and ran it for about seven years until the recession got the better of me. I'm someone who believes there is value in pursuing a dream. It certainly requires a lot of faith, perseverance, and a certain degree of flexibility. Even in the face of AI, I haven't entirely given up on my dreams. I get pretty discouraged for certain, and it sometimes feels downright suffocating, but we all need something to hope for.
I think we're going through a rough patch right now with AI, but if the masses become obsolete, it will just shift us into a new world where all the obsoletes have to work together to find new usefulness and purpose.
Jeffrey’s Answer
You don't have to derail your dreams or change your major. However, you may want to ADD additional coursework to compliment your art degree. Some of the above responses have some great suggestions. The world today is hundreds of shades of grey and there are so many ways you can share your creativity. Art has many forms and you can channel your creativity in many ways. Carve your own path, network like crazy, and look for open doors. You may get into Interior Design and decide to take that in different directions or apply your design skills in whole new ways. These are unexpected opportunities that you want to be prepared for...you never know where they will take you (just like art, you'll need to be brave).
Achieving success is tough to measure. Success can be measured in wealth, being in demand (people like what you do), being proficient and efficient (the better your skills, the faster you work...generally), the creativity you bring to each opportunity (via demand) - this where it gets fun, building a portfolio of work (design, solutions, customers), and growth (skills, craftsmanship, resourceful, and agile - adapting to new situations and challenges, temperament and emotional intelligence).
It's your future so you're the only one who can drive. Just don't be afraid to ask for directions and try some new routes along the way.
Jeffrey
Coreen’s Answer
The honest answer: it depends on your goal, strategy, and mindset. An art major does not automatically equal struggle. Many people have built fulfilling careers in creative fields, including interior design, which is already a clear and achievable goal if you approach it strategically.
✅ Opportunities for Art Majors in Interior Design and Beyond
* Thriving field: Interior design blends creativity with function, with demand in residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.
* Valuable skills: As an art major, you’ll hone visual storytelling, design thinking, and creative problem-solving skills that translate into marketing, branding, UX/UI, and other design roles.
* Portfolio-first industry: Employers and clients often care more about your work samples than your degree title.
* Entrepreneurial routes: Many creatives build success through freelancing, running their own studios, or taking on passion projects alongside other work.
⚠️ Challenges to Prepare For
* Competition: Creative roles can be crowded, and entry-level salaries are often modest.
* Specialisation needed: Interior design often requires technical knowledge, software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Revit, understanding building codes, and client management skills.
* Networking is essential: Internships, mentors, and industry connections often open more doors than job boards alone.
💡 Your Mindset Is Already a Strength
You wrote:
“I’m not one that just does what someone tells me… I rather live out the experience on my own…”
That independence, combined with resilience and adaptability, is exactly what helps creative professionals succeed. If you love interior design, your art major can be a solid launchpad... just build the bridges between your coursework and the real-world demands of the job.
Final thought: You’re not choosing between passion and success, you’re choosing how to combine them. Stay committed to what excites you, but be proactive in building the skills, connections, and portfolio that make opportunities come to you.
Coreen recommends the following next steps:
Phill’s Answer
It is great to hear that you are considering what kind of career you will be able to have when you graduate. This is specially something to consider with majors that might not have a lot of job opportunities. However, I can say from experience, it is not impossible and if there is anyone who says it is impossible has not tried themselves or have not put in the full effort to make a career for themselves. I graduated from an art school, around many different kinds of artists, and there were plenty of students who did get jobs and those who did not. Even if the job market is difficult, that does not mean you will not be able to get a job. However, the job search does not start once you graduate, it starts once you begin, and I think that is where my classmates went wrong. I saw that those who did get jobs as soon as they graduate, came into college ready to network. Networking as much as you put effort into your work is necessary. This is what builds possibilities of potential job opportunities in the future. Some are working/displaying in galleries, some have art residencies, some design window displays. There are many different directions an art degree can go towards. What matters is how much effort you put towards that. If you do this properly, you can ideally have a job that is creative and paying, and time to do your own independent work on the side. No matter what you choose, always keep creating!!
Best of luck on your journey!
Kim’s Answer
In the olden days, many people used to go to college because it made them a better person--hence our philosopher/chef in Eagan. But education has gotten obscenely expensive over the past several decades, and people have come to expect that a college degree should and can directly pay for itself and be a path to a secure future. But life is a lot more complicated than that--especially now, when so much is changing so quickly. Some skills we learn in creative disciplines are enormously valuable in life, like problem-solving, risk taking, and navigating ambiguity.
There's no way to predict whether you'll be the next Kelly Wearstler or working five retail jobs to pay off your student loans until you're fifty. I wish there were. But I can predict almost certainly that if you tell yourself that your dreams are foolish and don't try to make them come true, you are likely to end up miserable. Fortunately there's a whole lot of middle ground in there somewhere. Use your creative skills to find it.
Think about how you can work your way through school so you can minimize the amount of money you have to borrow. Think about a double major of art and business, or some other combination that makes sense to you. What other skills do you have that may be in demand now, and perhaps in the future? For instance, healthcare is probably going to continue to boom, as Baby Boomers are aging, and Gen X is right behind them. People are living longer but not necessarily better, and they'll need care. You might learn to code bills, or become a nursing assistant, or manage art exhibitions in a hospital, for instance. Know that higher ed is just the beginning of a lifetime of learning and that it's very likely that you'll change careers several times over your life--but if you're an artist at heart, that calling will always be with you, whether you answer it or not.
I majored in art and art history but dropped out and got a technical certificate in commercial art because I thought I was ensuring that I'd have a steady, good-paying career. When I was a student, the market was great, and there were lots of companies in my city that hired illustrators, designers, art directors, and photographers. I work as a graphic designer, production artist, and writer/editor now, but with AI, my "sure bet" isn't so sure. I had no way to predict that. But what has never gone away is my childhood dream to make and exhibit art, and I don't think it ever will. It's the only thing that makes me feel really excited to get up in the morning, and I know how depressed and unbearable I am when I don't maintain my studio practice. It is one of the things that makes all the drudgery I do to support myself possible.
Don't give up on your dreams! You don't have to. You just might have to think of creative ways to make them come true.
Wishing you great success and joy in all your endeavors.
Elizabeth’s Answer
Christina’s Answer
Art majors often stand out by highlighting three specific skills rather than just stating, “I do art.” Focus on what makes your work unique and valuable. For example, you might say, “I help establish successful brands, excel in color placement and design, work well in teams, and stay updated on trends in cinematic arts.”
To differentiate yourself, make your resume unique; many sound generic. Art is a specialized field, so be clear about your goals to find the right opportunities.
Ross’s Answer
I have a master's degree in philosophy and I only got that for the entertainment of learning it, as a chef having a masters in philosophy doesn't help my career at all, you need to find the career you want to be in so you can start adjusting for that after school.
It goes back to the old joke "what is the most common thing a philosophy graduate says everyday?... Do you want fries with that?"
Rebecca’s Answer
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many Art related careers, eg Graphic Designer, Fashion Designer, Web Designer, Painter, Artist, Art Teacher,etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counselor, your parents, etc
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore any intern opportunities in the career
Hope this helps! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!