How can I learn how to create ski graphics?

Question

I live in Vermont... I don't know if any ski companies still build in Vermont. I am going to be a junior in high school and I want to start building experience to becoming a ski graphic designer!! I don't know what I should do, who I should request help from. I don't think I should wait until college when I am ready and willing to learn now!! What should I do??

Answer 1

Enroll in a Graphics Design program at a nearby school.  Most ski equipment is not produced in the USA,  Much of the snowboard production has been shipped overseas also.  Some proto type is still hand built but not on a commercial basis.  The Graphics are usually in house for each company, but that may be in the US or somewhere else, since the internet allows information to be moved quickly around the world.  

  You can start with your own sketches, apply them to some old used equipment for preliminary appearance and refine the designs.  Before you submit them to anyone, make hard copies and mail them to yourself registered and leave them in a sealed envelope. This will protect some of your rights to the designs that you may end up selling to a ski company.  If you are employed by  a company, development rights, and production rights may belong to your employer, not you.  Consult an attorney for this information.

Answer 2

Look into the graphic arts programs at UVM, St Mike's, or one of the state schools. (I'm not sure which one has the best art department.)

You'll also want to learn about marketing, pshycology, and social sciences. Skis sales are targeted at very specific demographics. The design on a telemark ski is going to have to appeal to one crowd while a pipe ski will be aimed at another group. So you have to know what is going to sell and what is going to suck.

I think there is still a Rossi plant in Williston but they do finishing or its something like the USA recieving and shipping base. To my knowledge there are no major manufacturers in VT anymore either.

Talk to your art teachers at school. Let them know about your desire to get into graphic arts. If you live near Burlington, WRJ, or Rutland your teacher may be able to hook you up with a local design firm for an internship. You might not learn about SKI graphics, but you'll learn about the graphic design business. That's what looks good on the resume when you apply for a job at K2, Rossi, etc.