To give you an idea of the design education I have: I have an Associates degree in Digital effects and Animation Technology and graduated with honors and top of the program. I have extensive experience and proficiency with Adobe programs (I.e. Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, AfterEffects 6.5) as well as lay-out programs as QuarkXpress and InDesign. Furthermore, I have done extensive work in Dreamweaver and Flash and I am very proficient in 3D modeling programs such as Maya and 3dsMax.
From a world-wide 350 entries, chosen for the S.P.A.C.E. Siggraph 2003 exhibition and honorable mention awarded.
http://www.siggraph.org/education/space/space2003/SPACE2003.htm