How to Get Started as a Graphic Designer
Category: Design | Posted date: 2021-04-28 17:55:45 | Updated date: 2021-05-03 19:27:28 | Posted by: Admin
How to Get Started as a Graphic Designer
Guide, Tips and Tricks to start your Graphic Design Career.
What is Graphic Design?
Graphic Design is the art or profession of visual communication essential to either market a product and service and to convey messages and ideas through visuals and design. Graphic Designers do not necessarily need to draw, however, they must be creative and know their ways through Softwares (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign) to produce a specific effect.
Few of many examples of Graphic Design can be seen through Posters, Magazines, Web Banners, Booklets and Advertisements.
What are the Fundamentals and Basics of Graphic Design?
The fundamentals of design are the foundation of every art and visual representation.
- Space
- A good design should be pleasing, easy to read and understand. Avoid cramming and fitting every design element on the block into a single composition.Practice utilizing open spaces for more emphasis.
- Balance
- A designer should be creative but having a balance is definitely a must. Don’t squeeze everything into a corner or lateral of your canvas. Distribute every design element into places where they can easily be seen to effectively convey the idea visually.
- Hierarchy
- In designing, it’s important to have key elements and make sure to present them hierarchically to draw attention and guide the viewers through your content. This directs viewers to where they should focus their attention.Use font sizes accordingly.
- Lines and Shape
- Lines and Shapes are the essential of every graphic design. How you use them can completely transform the looks and texture of your design. A circle can have a different message to convey than a design with sharp lines. It is crucial to create a design that is related to your brand. But this is just a part of an even bigger picture also known as the brand identity.
- Color
- Every design must grab its viewer’s attention and drive engagement. Color can bring such influence and power when you know how to use it. Colors can give an overall aesthetics to the design, but what’s more powerful is how the affect each color conveys. Use colors to your advantage.
- Typography
- Graphic Design is a form of communication and thus needs to have a message to convey. One of the easy ways is to use typography. Be creative but make sure to be in-lined with the brand. There’s a lot of font selection and layouts that will elevate your design professionally.
- Texture
- Add depth and dimensions to your design and engage the audience visually. But textures can be tricky sometimes when new to Graphic Design. Designers can sometimes overdo the design and exaggerate depths, and give overwhelming textures that are not pleasing. Practice and make trials using different amounts of depth to get it right.
- Branding
- Every brand should have their own identity. That’s why Graphic Design is a leverage in branding. Reach and connect with your target audience through visual communication.
Tips and Tricks:
Be Passionate
There’s nothing more important when developing and starting a career than to be passionate about it. Having a huge interest and loving what you’re doing is what makes you strive to be better. Graphic Design can sometimes be dreary and can drain your energy. It requires you to be patient, considerate and creative. Designers are mostly drawn into art, colors and patterns before they decide to be a Graphic Designer. You’re in luck having to possess these creative interests. Graphic Design might just be the right career for you!
Gather and Study References
A great design doesn’t just appear out of nowhere in a blink of an eye. Designers also develop their skills by gathering and studying artworks, which can be from another designer or their own current artworks or from a few months back. Designers always have an eye for a great design, thus, they study the artwork and gather points from what to improve and what to avoid.
Replicate Artworks
This may sound a little controversial, but this helps a Designer discover their art style. Replicating an artwork doesn’t necessarily mean plagiarizing and taking credit for it. You can copy the design but with some modifications. Copying another artwork and style also means you are inspired by it and so, it helps you create more. But take note to always give credits to the rightful owners, it would mean a lot to them and can be a start of a healthy connection.
Currently have a day job?
Graphic Designing can open many opportunities and offers that will surely help you financially. But when you’re just starting out, it is advisable to keep your day job for now. You can always improve your skills in your spare time or on the weekends. A designer can get more offers depending on their portfolio, so you can also keep on working with that while keeping your day job.
Be Organise
Time management is also a skill every designer should master. Graphic Designing takes up a lot of time, energy and effort. Learning is not just a one-time task, you should practice and study every possible day you can get. Organise your tasks, schedule and studies to keep up with a better daily routine. Lend at least an hour everyday watching a tutorial or work on your designs.
Accept Criticisms
You can always learn on your own and be a critic of your own work. But people have different perspectives, views and opinions about certain things. Designer’s one of the many ways to learn and improve is through criticisms. Your designs can be soon seen by the public, whether through business agendas or websites, so be sure to be ready for a bunch of critics. Acceptance and considerations are the keys to convert negative feedback into positive outcomes.
Market and Collaborate
It can be a little intimidating to collaborate with other designers and companies, but it is the best way to open more opportunities in your career. Market your works to them, learn from them and improve with them. Attending creative events and meetups, visiting galleries and art fairs, and participating in workshops are also a great way for networking and showcasing your skills.
It’s not always easy to start something new or develop something that’s already within you. But as cliche as it sounds, practice indeed makes perfect! It’ll take time, but sure is worth it! You’re creative on your own so express it on your own, market it on your own and eventually create a brand of your own! Hope this helps.
