by the time i enrolled at the art institute of dallas in 2001 i already had five years of experience with photoshop/illustrator/html/etc. so the classes weren't really that challenging. the one thing i liked, however, was the critiques and the time restraints on completing a design. it's that extra push that i'm missing right now. there are sites out there, like core 77 and worth1000 which allow designers to get together and come up with challenges and battle each other for the fun of it (or for points). i'm also quite fond of illustration friday.

i think i might try to contribute to these more in the future.