Does Age matter?

To be a professional designer/ programmer or any webdesign related?

I Dont think that It does matter, its all about talents and skills you have, and how much efforts you are ready to put on something that you are working on. However I prefer dealing with people who have had experience before and know what exactly I want( mainly people who have been in this firm for a long time).

Not really, but being older IS an advantage though, as you can get certificates and some solid recognition for your skills.

Personally (get ready to flame me), age does matter. However it is tied into a few things and not just "I hate teen designers". You specifically talk about professional people, ie those working in the industry not just making a quick buck.

Experience is a major factor in design/programming and I'll give you an example. I was looking over some jobs recently and they required twelve years of working experience in a certain industry... I'd started programming professionally at 9 years old, then that wouldn't have been a problem but alas I didn't start that young.

To quickly pick up on one of Nofan's points, "its all about talents and skills you have." Someone may be the greatest designer in the world at their age, but if they're not business-wise they simply won't break into the industry. It's all well and good being able to design, but without and business background the chances are slim of being able to pull it off professionally. There is so much more to being a professional designer/programmer than simply being able to design/program.

I think it does matter. A 13 year old isn’t going to get a contract with any large company, however talented they are.

It is very possible for someone to make it on the internet, however old they are, but to be a recognised professional you need to reach a certain age IMO.

Does a 13 year old need to contact a massive company? A thirteen year old can take jobs which are 300$ and be very happy making a very nice profit as he/she has no bills e.t.c Also does and would a adult freelance approach a large company? If I was a 40year old freelance im not sure if I would approach large international companies...

so in my opinion, being fairly young now and when I started freelancing age is not an important factor, I have a large list of pleased clients, I have always been polite e.t.c but I quess that depends on the person..

I think the general view of many people is that if they find out your a teenager doing any sort of business they'll be worried and possibly won't choose you.

That's why when I started my hosting company at 13 (now closed) I never have out my age.

A 13 year old will probally not even bother trying to get any contracts with large companies. More interested with making money doing freelance design work. However, if people are looking for a freelance designer, they will most likley pick someone who has experiance and isn't like 13.

~ Joe

experience.

Age matters a lot.

• If you're under 18 you cannot legally enter a binding contract with a client.
• Older clients often don't take young people seriously (it's true)
• Communication is more difficult across generations

I'm 25 now but I still look very young and I battle it every time I meet a potential client. The most important thing I have learned is to not try to act old though, just to be myself. People are sometimes nervous about youth, but confidence is a powerful tonic that can override that feeling. Still, you need experience and that only comes with age.

I think it does matter to them, because most of them believe the older you are the more experienced you are.