I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the proper section, but has anyone gone through any of the certificate programs at sessions.edu? I'm seriously considering their Web Design Master certificate program, and I wanted to know if anybody on here has done any of their programs. From some of the reviews I've found searching on Google it sounds like they offer some pretty good programs, but I'd rather try and gather as much information as possible before commiting to such an expensive program. Thanks!
Hey there, I am currently a freelance graphic designer who has taken many classes at sessions.edu, with a few more to go in order to complete my certificate. I highly recommend the program, which has definitely helped prepare me for what I am doing now. I have pasted an interview that was conducted with me regarding my sessions.edu experience. I hope this makes your choice clear! Best, Sean Lynde ----------------------------------- 1) What were your learning goals when you came to Sessions? When I first started at Sessions, my goals were to become a better designer, whatever that meant at the time. I thought I wanted to move towards web-based work, though that has changed drastically. My goals are now set higher than I ever imagined. Little did I know that I would develop a passion for typesetting and typography, package design, logo design and identity, signage and environmental design. Great instruction can fuel so many hidden fires. 2) What was your education and work background before Sessions, and why did you feel you needed more to get where you wanted to be in the industry? When I started classes at Sessions I was working in the music industry, specifically as a drum technician for a touring rock band. I graduated college with a Bachelors in Music from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell but felt my artistic (and obsessive compulsive) nature calling. After I finished my music degree, I enrolled in the graphic design program at the same school; it wasn't quite the education I had received in music and decided to leave the program. For years I studied design and the tools needed for the field on my own (from books, internet) while I tried to figure out the next logical step. I knew I needed more training, though working for the band forced me to look for something flexible. After lots of thorough research, I found Sessions, which turned out to be an excellent investment. 3) What made you choose Sessions over other design education options you might have considered? My first thought was that Sessions couldn't be a good design program—the tuition fees were so much lower than other schools and I thought it was just another mediocre design school looking to make money. But after looking at the classes offered, the faculty bios and resources from the Sessions website content, I gave them a call. Sessions not only offered the quality of schooling I desired, but the flexibility of the program was perfect for my nomadic lifestyle. I was hooked by my first class lesson. 4) What did you get from your Sessions experience that would have been difficult or impossible to get at another school? For example, this might include anything from the material being taught, to the instruction, to the way the course is designed and conducted. The endless resources from well-developed classes. The instructors and course developers at Sessions have a great way of presenting both historic and modern design information. The case studies and content-rich lessons were a gold mine for the passionate designer, and though a traditional classroom has benefits over an internet-based class, I believe that the Sessions experience provided resources that allowed for greater learning in a shorter amount of time. 5) What would you say was the biggest challenge you faced when deciding to begin your design education, and how did you overcome it? Probably paying for tuition. I didn't have much money, though Sessions allowed for an easy and flexible payment plan that kept me from having to eat oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 6) What skills are you most proud of learning since you came to Sessions? Working with type, hands down. Having a great eye for color means nothing in a business world if you can't organize elements of your own alphabet. 7) Has your study at Sessions helped you make any progress in your chosen career path? For example, this might include promotion or shift at your current workplace, changing to a completely new job, or taking on freelance design projects. Are you kidding? I am currently a full-time freelance designer in Manhattan! I have a website, business cards and I constantly network. All of my new clients have been referrals from existing clients. I haven't had to look for work in many months. I now have my career goals set at the top. I figure if I only get half way there, that's still pretty good. Sessions helped provide me with an education, confidence and fuel for the fiery passion inside me that is design. 8) What is your next career goal? I am looking to get some business experience at a company that specializes in identity design. I want to be part of a team of creative thinkers, not just production artists. I want to bring ideas to the table and build business. Starting my own company is always on my mind. And somewhere down the line I expect to win a prestigious design award (insert smiley with the big teeth).
To amnezia and AdamSee, Your judgement comes as quite a surprise. If you look at the sessions.edu website (http://www.sessions.edu), you can find my information on there, somewhere, along with other students. I do not know the author of the original post. My reply was to inform user “volatile†– who I have never met or spoke to before – of my experience at a school which, I believe, provides an excellent platform for someone interested in design education. Volatile—mind not the judgement of others. My education at sessions.edu has prepared me to work as a freelance designer in New York City, where I am getting bigger and better opportunities as time goes on. I am not sure of your background, but if you have a passion for design and the discipline to apply it, do the research and form your own opinion about the direction you would like to head. Good luck. For the others who wish to stay online all day and judge, carry on. Sean
seriously, i am asking a legitimate question. i want to know what kind of value i can expect from their courses. unfortunately, I can't take the other guy who actually responded seriously because his response was also his first post, and for all i know he could work for sessions because they are based in new york also. I myself have no affiliation with sessions, and would like to find out if the 7K in tuition they charge for their program is actually worth the money. if you think this is some sort of spamming effort on my part then whatever, i don't really care what you think. So, if anyone who has gone through any courses at sessions.edu has something to say, please enlighten me. Thanks.
$7000 would be a lot to spend on an online course! If you're a good self-teacher, spend a few hundred on books instead. Get involved with the community and possibliy attend some small courses/conferences for those nagging questions you may have. The course seems very basic.
well after looking into the courses, I figured out that I probably already know half of the material. I've bought quite a few books and am currently learning Flash and PHP, which I shouldn't have a problem picking up eventually. but the thing that really made me look into the program was actually getting a certificate to put on my resume. but then again, I seem to be doing pretty well without a certificate and I already have a job making about 50k, which is alright for someone my age. I think I'm gonna put this on hold for now, but if anyone has something they'd like to say about sessions.edu I'd still like to hear it.
wow i was interested in the course but after Adam see had to say .....i think i will try his "budget effective way" thanks for the pros and cons though
sean patrick lynde (sean), the graphic designer who posted above, was arrested in NYC on aug. 21, 2009 for THIRTEEN COUNTS OF FELONY ANIMAL ABUSE WITH SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO TORTURE. his (alleged) victims were two friendly senior cats which had been his (then) girlfriend's pets for all of their lives (until within a month of getting an apt. with sean (one poisoned, one beaten so severely it had to be euthanized), and then consecutively, 4 kittens (two dead, one left with severe brain damage and one disappeared completely and is presumed dead). that's SIX friendly cats and kittens in total who were killed and/or tortured within 4 months of being in the same apt. with sean lynde. IMO, there is something very, very, wrong with this man.
sean patrick lynde must have known that a grand jury would have found him guilty for torturing and killing all six innocent, friendly cats and kittens (his ex's beloved pets) over a four month period. he grabbed onto a plea bargain like a life raft when he admitted to killing only one of the six, an eight week old friendly, sweet kitten named bonafide who died from an inflicted broken neck. the judge was not happy with this plea bargain since sean lynde had been indicted (by a grand jury) and arrested for torturing and killing all six. sean lynde was sentenced to one year of intensive psychotherapy while the court reserves the right to put him in prison for up to two years if he screws up even once.
sean mackenzie, graphic designer, convicted of felony aggravated animal cruelty after confessing to deliberately breaking the neck of his ex girlfriend's little 8 week old, friendly, trusting, innocent kitten to entertain himself while she was at work. He was indicted and arrested for thirteen felony counts of animal cruelty after all six of her cats and kittens were cruely beaten and killed but sean lynde got a plea bargain and was convicted for only one. Now, to try to avoid people finding out who he really is, the creepy coward has legally changed his name from sean lynde to sean barry mackenzie. Beware...sean barry mackenzie (aka sean patrick lynde) is a very sick psychiatric case.