2 answers
Isaiah
Student
Ontario
11
Questions
Updated
1345 views
I need some tips on my current career plan. Help please?
Sorry for the radio silence! I totally forgot to check back here, but I’ve been busy finalizing my roadmap. I’m 16 now (March 22) and fully committed to becoming a Creative Director and a business owner. I actually pivoted from my original business idea to focus on building a cohesive brand instead.
Right now, I’m grinding through dual enrollment at Chaffey College to knock out my GEs and my AA-T in Studio Art while I'm still in high school. My plan is to transfer to CSUSB for a BFA in Design with a minor in Business Administration to get that management foundation. After that, I’m aiming for UCLA or another top UC to get my Master’s (MFA).
To make this happen without debt, I’m planning to join the Air National Guard as a Public Affairs Specialist. This will let me serve in California while the state pays for my Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
I’d love to hear your thoughts: Do these schools align well with a career in Creative Direction? Also, for those who have served, do you have any tips on balancing a BFA workload with the National Guard?
#Spring26
2 answers
Alicia Norman
Filmmaker
5
Answers
Dallas, Georgia
Updated
Alicia’s Answer
It's great to see such a focused roadmap at 16! Your plan to hit CSUSB for a BFA is a solid move, as their design program is well-regarded for practical skills, and that Business minor is essential for a future Creative Director. Transferring to a UC for an MFA will provide the high-level theory and networking needed to work at top-tier agencies.
The Air National Guard (ANG) as a Public Affairs Specialist is a brilliant strategic play. It gives you immediate "client" experience in photography and communication.
Leverage ANG tools: Use your military access to professional gear to build your portfolio outside of school.
Transparency: Keep your professors in the loop about your training schedule to ensure extensions if a deployment or exercise arises. You're already thinking like a business owner by minimizing debt while maximizing credentials. Keep grinding!
What's your next move?
Research CSUSB's design portfolio
Connect with Public Affairs airmen
Draft your brand identity
Review UCLA MFA requirements
The Air National Guard (ANG) as a Public Affairs Specialist is a brilliant strategic play. It gives you immediate "client" experience in photography and communication.
Leverage ANG tools: Use your military access to professional gear to build your portfolio outside of school.
Transparency: Keep your professors in the loop about your training schedule to ensure extensions if a deployment or exercise arises. You're already thinking like a business owner by minimizing debt while maximizing credentials. Keep grinding!
What's your next move?
Research CSUSB's design portfolio
Connect with Public Affairs airmen
Draft your brand identity
Review UCLA MFA requirements
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Isaiah
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1403
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Isaiah,
First, I want to say your level of planning at 16 is impressive. You've obviously given your schooling, finances, and long-term professional path a lot of thought. Such strategic thinking is a real asset.
In fact, your plan is in line with a creative future. It makes sense to combine business knowledge with a BFA to build a solid basis for design. In addition to being designers, creative directors manage teams, develop brand strategy, and make decisions that impact marketing and company goals. So, your idea to combine a minor in business administration with design is quite practical.
A career in creative direction is certain to be supported by your current path, which includes dual enrollment, earning an AA-T in Studio Art, moving to California State University, San Bernardino, for a BFA in Design, and possibly later pursuing an MFA at a university like the University of California, Los Angeles. However, the quality of your portfolio will be as important as the name of the school. The quality of your work, your ideas, and your capacity to handle visual and branding problems are all major factors in hiring decisions in the creative sectors.
Additionally, your plan to become a Public Affairs Specialist in the US Air National Guard is strategically solid. Media production, storytelling, communication, and brand representation are often needed in that position, skills that are highly transferable to creative direction. Also, it can provide you with practical projects that support your educational expenses and boost your portfolio.
Communication and time management will be key in juggling a BFA workload with Guard service. Design programs can be challenging due to deadlines and studio tasks. If you choose this path, make sure to carefully schedule your semesters, refrain from taking too many courses at times when you might have training obligations, and maintain close communication with professors if you have military commitments. Though many students manage to successfully handle both Guard service and college, discipline and organization are important.
Another piece of advice is to begin developing your personal brand while you're still in school. Make a website for your portfolio, record your work, explore internships, and work with people on actual design projects. Gaining practical experience will be important because creative directing often follows years of work as a designer, art director, or brand strategist.
Your roadmap is practical and well-considered overall. Keep working on your artistic abilities, developing a solid portfolio, and accumulating real-world experience. These factors will be as important as the degrees you obtain.
Best wishes!
First, I want to say your level of planning at 16 is impressive. You've obviously given your schooling, finances, and long-term professional path a lot of thought. Such strategic thinking is a real asset.
In fact, your plan is in line with a creative future. It makes sense to combine business knowledge with a BFA to build a solid basis for design. In addition to being designers, creative directors manage teams, develop brand strategy, and make decisions that impact marketing and company goals. So, your idea to combine a minor in business administration with design is quite practical.
A career in creative direction is certain to be supported by your current path, which includes dual enrollment, earning an AA-T in Studio Art, moving to California State University, San Bernardino, for a BFA in Design, and possibly later pursuing an MFA at a university like the University of California, Los Angeles. However, the quality of your portfolio will be as important as the name of the school. The quality of your work, your ideas, and your capacity to handle visual and branding problems are all major factors in hiring decisions in the creative sectors.
Additionally, your plan to become a Public Affairs Specialist in the US Air National Guard is strategically solid. Media production, storytelling, communication, and brand representation are often needed in that position, skills that are highly transferable to creative direction. Also, it can provide you with practical projects that support your educational expenses and boost your portfolio.
Communication and time management will be key in juggling a BFA workload with Guard service. Design programs can be challenging due to deadlines and studio tasks. If you choose this path, make sure to carefully schedule your semesters, refrain from taking too many courses at times when you might have training obligations, and maintain close communication with professors if you have military commitments. Though many students manage to successfully handle both Guard service and college, discipline and organization are important.
Another piece of advice is to begin developing your personal brand while you're still in school. Make a website for your portfolio, record your work, explore internships, and work with people on actual design projects. Gaining practical experience will be important because creative directing often follows years of work as a designer, art director, or brand strategist.
Your roadmap is practical and well-considered overall. Keep working on your artistic abilities, developing a solid portfolio, and accumulating real-world experience. These factors will be as important as the degrees you obtain.
Best wishes!
Hello Chinyere, Thanks so much for the advice. Im looking more into the balance between the national Guard and my BFA workload. I know that some CSU's offer a specific schedule for those in my position. I'll look more into it, specifically at CSUSB. Thanks again for the help!
Isaiah
You're welcome!
Chinyere Okafor
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