On Pursuing a Degree in the Creative Field

Manila City, Philippines, 2010. I was with my mother and my father as they accompany me through the process of enrolling at a university in which an acquaintance of mine is also a student - a graduating student at that time. I was so naive, a young boy without a hint of what it's like to be in college or how to deal with Manila traffic and so on. While filling out some pertinent documents t the registrar's office, I was asked, "what course are you going to take?" Then the registrar staff handed over a list of all the available courses that this university offers.

 

My first choice was Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Advertising, followed by Nutrition and Food Technology, a technical course. As an innate lover of the arts, I was drawn instantly to the name and to the anticipation of what BFA has to offer to an aspiring creative like me. 

Fast forward to 2014, I finally graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. The prior anticipation and excitement during my admission days are replaced by worries and uncertainties, knowing that the 'real world' is not going to be as easy as we thought it to be. I became a graphic designer, graphic artist, art director, and now, I am connected with the academe teaching BFA courses and subjects.

In the present day, I have been hearing a lot of sentiments and stories coming from some of my students saying that their decision in taking up BFA was frowned upon by their parents, meaning, they are not pleased and are not supportive of the course mainly because of the stigma about creative works. 'There is no money in the arts', this is how the older generation sees my industry in general, up until now.
The stigma carries a big impact on the people who wish to pursue their creative endeavors whether in visual arts, music, theater, writing, etc. These presumptions act as the biggest hindrances in the minds of these aspirants. They are subject to scrutiny amongst their family members, especially from their parents. It also affects their self-esteem greatly due to the lack of confidence coming from outside factors.
We can also look into how our society caters the creatives. Some people, not all, are not considering these people as 'professionals' and they even think of art as a hobby, not a real job. 

These are the current issues and problems that our industry is facing in the aspects of society, economics, and academics. As we progress in technology and sciences, we tend to forget that our culture and arts are important too. These observations support the notion that our country is not yet ready for a creative future, a future where artists, designers, writers, dramatists, and so on are also regarded as professionals, not just simply hobbyists.

Our current academic system is putting a lot of effort into supporting and strengthening our appreciation, recognition, promotion, and preservation of the culture and arts here in the Philippines. However, without the proper support and awareness coming from the families themselves, these efforts will not be as effective as they should be.

Pursuing a degree in the creative field is not just a matter of how much will you be able to make in your future, pursuing a degree in the creatives is more on the nourishment of one's soul by expressing artistic expressions, creating works that will make the world not just a better place, but also a beautiful one, and many more. Practically speaking, creative degrees earn an average but their salary can be easily doubled or tripled once they have established a good portfolio and a solid pool of clientele. According to an article from johnclements.com, graphic designers took the 11th spot out of 23 as the most in-demand jobs in the Philippines for 2023. We are also seeing a drastic change in the business sector as more and more businesses are already transitioning from traditional platforms into e-commerce, which needs to have a designer to look after especially on the postings and such.

We can only assume that our industry - the creative industry - is still a very crucial part of our nation-building. It supports various sectors, uplifts the spirits of our countrymen, and makes use of the spaces for us to savor and experience creativity in its full glory. 

I hope that in the next years, our support for young creatives will be stronger than ever for I believe that the future is creative.