Real world experience is invaluable, and new graphic design teacher Mark Bailey wants to bring what he’s learned in the field of graphic design to his classes at West Essex. Bailey said he’s teaching to ensure that his students have taste perception, but also have a successful career after high school.
Bailey, a third year educator, taught in Roselle and Fort Lee previously. As any teacher would be, Bailey is interested in infusing his knowledge on graphic design from his professional experience into his classroom and hopefully be absorbed by his students. Distinctively, Bailey wants his students to leave high school with a sense of direction and purpose, working in something that will allow them to lead a successful life.
“Get something you can make money in while you still find work in graphics,” Bailey said. “Otherwise, you’ll still be working at Whole Foods.”
Bailey, who stresses that graphic design is a very competitive field, said he wants to make sure his students are tasteful, but are also job-ready. According to Bailey, 30 years ago the field of graphic design was relatively calm, but today, with AI software and technology threatening to corrupt the creativity and individuality of the field. Graphic design’s popularity skyrocketed, and wages started dropping.
“I’m finding I’m seeing that a lot of people have the same degree as myself, and wages are starting to go down because there’s so many people out there with the same degree that people don’t want to pay for graphics when they can get a cheap piece of software to bang out quick and dirty graphics,” Bailey said.
Bailey’s goal is to not create, but shape his students into successful graphic designers, or at least make sure they do not end up working in grocery store aisles. Now, he is starting an Animated Knights Workshop Club, where the members will learn the basics of animations with the finalizing goal of having a short film done by the end of the year. Bailey expresses how incredible West Essex is as a school for him.
“This is the best school I’ve been to so far,” Bailey said. “West Essex High School has an incredibly high bar.”
