Don't waste your time and take longer than it requires to pickup the skill to become a designer. Learning graphic design will open up new professional and personal possibilities.
clashgraphics.com gathered the following information about graphic design and what you can do to learn it.
What Is Graphic Design?
Graphic design refers to the profession and discipline of activities that project visual signals or communications intended to convey well-defined messages to specific demographic groups with clear and predetermined objectives.
Learning Graphic Design
As with any new subject, there are many new things to learn. Getting acquainted with the basics is your first step on your journey. Having determined that graphic design is the career or skill you want to pursue, you’ll need some guidance on the steps to take in order to achieve your goal. Consider the following advice and tips:
Familiarize Yourself With Graphic Design History - There are many places where you can get started with graphic design history, from podcasts to documentaries and design books.
Increase Your knowledge of Design Principles and Process Skills - Graphic designers should know the 5 principles of design:
- Alignment
- Repetition
- Contrast
- Hierarchy
- Balance
These principles work together to create a cohesive design, stability, organization, consistency, impact, and clear message. Following these principles, designers can articulate and solve visual and conceptual problems as a part of the design process, from the research phase to idea development and the final outcome that gives their client the desired results.
Deepen Your Knowledge of Typography - Typography helps you give character to a brand and is crucial to graphic design, including magazine copy, advertisements, logos, and much more. Understanding typography allows you to justify typographic choices in your own work and significantly elevates your design work.
Learn the Fundamentals of Color - Color is an essential part of design because it is used to affect the mood of the design and the brand. Color is used as a powerful tool to persuade and entice. Experienced designers have a profound understanding of:
- The meaning of each color
- Color combinations
- How color palettes are used for emotive impact
When choosing colors for a design, having a solid foundation of color meaning and the science behind it will help you produce superior designs.
Become Proficient in Design Programs - Pursuing a career in graphic design will require you to learn how Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop (Adobe Creative Cloud), and Sketch work together to create stunning designs.
Use Social Network Platforms - Social media platforms like Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram are tremendous resources for connecting with and discovering works by other designers and artists.
Join National and International Design Groups - Attending local, national, and international design events (in-person or virtually) affords you the opportunity to network with other designers and artists, building your connections and popularity in the industry. Networking with these people can help you accelerate and advance in your design career.
Continue Your education - Being self-taught can take you a long way in the graphic design industry, but without a higher education, you may find it challenging to secure employment in high-level positions or in larger corporations.
At the college or university level, graphic design schools are typically a department or academic unit within a larger institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in graphic design and related fields. Such programs may include:
- An Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design (a two-year program)
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design (a four-year undergraduate program)
- A Master’s Degree in Graphic Design (a post-graduate course of study typically requiring two years to complete)
- A Certificate in Graphic Design (a standalone credential for those transitioning into the graphic design field)
In this post-pandemic era, most graphic design colleges have eliminated separate designations for on-campus and online degrees. Instead, these institutions now list their graphic design courses as either “in person” or “online.” Among the nation’s best graphic design schools are:
- Pratt Institute - pratt.edu/academics/school-of-design
- Rhode Island School of Design - risd.edu/academics/graphic-design
- Carnegie Mellon University School of Art - design.cmu.edu
- ArtCenter College of Design - artcenter.edu/academics/undergraduate-degrees/graphic-design/overview.html
- Parsons, The New School for Design - newschool.edu/parsons/bfa-communication-design
Required Skills for Graphic Designers
Applying for a new or better position as a graphic designer requires you to use all of the essential skills that make you a graphic designer. Here are some of the skills that employers will consider when hiring a graphic designer:
- Creativity
- Communication Skills
- Strategic Thinking
- Design App Experience
- Coding Knowledge
Uniting the multiple skills required for you to be a graphic designer will increase your value to the work market. Read more about required graphic design skills at clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/essential-graphic-design-skills/
Mastering Graphic Design
In this article, you discovered information about learning graphic design, how to further your education in the field, and the skills you must possess to excel in the profession.
Embracing the need to seek more information and education in the graphic design field will help you progress professionally and develop a more meaningful career.
Not knowing the most efficient way to become a graphic designer can leave you with less prominent positions or delay the process and cost more.
Sources:
newschoolarch.edu/blog/how-to-become-a-graphic-designer-step-by-step/
rasmussen.edu/degrees/design/blog/what-is-graphic-design/
northcentralcollege.edu/news/2022/03/02/what-do-graphic-designers-do
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