Can I work for a designer?

Question

I'm turning 13 in nov and I want to be a designer how can I start now

Answer 1

Keep a visual journal. Draw any time you have a minute, and any time you see something in print that you like, cut it out and stick it in the journal. One idea sparks another, and if you do this regularly you will amass a personal ideas archive that will always stand you in good stead.

On the digital side, you can start right away to get really good at matrix and vector art and layout. The sooner the better! If you have access to graphic design software (photoshop, illustrator, indesign) great; otherwise download gimp at http://www.gimp.org to get started for free. Check out tutorials and read manuals, and practice! Become very aware of type (it's all around us!) and experiment a lot.

It would also be a good idea to develop vector animation and web design skills.

Until you have acquired good drawing and layout skills, it's unlikely you'll find work at your age, unless you know someone who will take you on and train you up. But by taking advantage of your youth to build up your skills, you'll be brilliantly placed to take advantage of any opportunities that arise in the years ahead.  

Answer 2

I'm not sure what kind of designer you mean (fashion?  illustrative?) but your not even 13.  You can't even legally get a job yet because of labor laws.  And anyway, regardless of what kind of 'designer' you want to be, you wouldn't be hired for that kind of job without a college degree.  So you've got awhile to go.

But if you want to get a head start, try going to the library and reading books on the kind of designer you want to be.  The internet is a great resource too.  And you'll be in high school in a year or two so there will be plenty of elective classes for you to choose from pertaining to the kind of design you want to go into.  Also, if you know anyone with the occupation you are interested in, you should talk to them and find out how they got into the business.

Hope that helped!

Edit - Well, for fashion design, start by sewing.  Get some patterns and sew away.  You can't start designing clothes until you understand the basics of sewing.  Take a sewing class in school.  Maybe there is somewhere in your community that offers sewing classes.  I know my local fabric store has all sorts of classes for sewing different things (clothes, quilts, etc).  Because of course as a designer, you wouldn't just come up with the ideas but you'd have to execute them as well.  Clothes are not very easy to make.  My mom and I have a number of years sewing experience between us but no matter how hard we try, when we sew clothes they just never seem to fit right.  So just practice, practice, practice and by the time you're old enough to get a job for a designer you'll be amazing.