Can I still make it into graphic design with limited skills in using Photoshop?

I am heading towards University or Tafe (in Victoria, Australia) to study graphic design as I really want to be a graphic designer. The problem is that my skills using programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign are kind of weak. But then again, my creativity, ideas, sketches, illustrations and anything that's done using my hands are actually pretty good. My question is: am I going to learn how to improve my skills in Uni or Tafe and can I actually make it into graphic design?



Thanks guys.Can I still make it into graphic design with limited skills in using Photoshop?
Once you start taking classes, you should be able to start picking up things quite fast. It's all about the repetition! I entered my graphic design classes with a pretty good knowledge of Photoshop, but absolutely no experience in Illustrator or InDesign. That was last year, and this year I was the tech help for the freshman graphic design class. I can tell you that there were people in my class who had no experience with ANY of those programs, and by the end of the first semester, they were blazing away, so I think you'll be fine. Plus, a lot of graphic design, doesn't take place on the computer! Many of my instructors won't let us use the computer for the first few steps or a project, or sometimes not at all!



I think you're going to be fine. :)Can I still make it into graphic design with limited skills in using Photoshop?
It depends really on what you mean by sketches/illustrations done by hand. If you mean painting and so forth, and you have a passion for it, you may find a Graphics Design course is not for you. A lot of the courses in GD will teach you design specifications, how to use the programs related to publishing and marketing, and how to do logos, websites and so forth.



If what you're interested in is CG illustration, you are better off doing an illustration/visual arts course, many of the art colleges do accept computerized entries for projects though are then less good at teaching you how to use the programs you want to.



The answer to your actual question is that no, you do not need a solid grounding in these programs (though it will help you get higher marks if you are familiar with them) in order to get into Graphic Design. Remember though you will mostly be doing web-end graphics, logos, buttons, backgrounds and so forth rather than doing actual drawings/illustrations (people, animals, anime, game art).