Graphic design is a field that is quickly changing, both creatively and
technically, and while it is easy to get caught up in learning new
technical skills, it is just as important to focus improving and pushing
the limits of you creativity. Here are some tips for you when doing Graphic Design.
1.Get Organized
If your business it not organized, there is a good chance your design will ultimately suffer. Fortunately, there are ways to get organized ranging from simple tricks to helpful software.
2.Become a collector
Each time you see a design that inspires you, collect it, bring it home and file it away. I have hundreds of brochures, posters and other collateral that I have collected over the years that is stacked away in folders and boxes that I can quickly access – great source of inspiration when needed. Even Starbucks gives out creative weekly mini-newspapers.
3.Grab a sketchbook
Helps you work through ideas quickly and without limitations of design software. Has made a HUGE difference in my designs. See what other designer’s say about the importance of sketching here and here.
4.Redo your old designs
I know what it feels like to look at your early days of design and think “Oh my! What was I thinking?! I need to get rid of that immediately”, but is important to keep that work. It will help you see if you’re moving forward and improving your skills. Instead of throwing away or deleting old projects, try reworking them.
5.Create fake projects
Whenever I find myself with free time (which is getting less and less lately) I create fake projects. Create a fake brand for a company. Design a logo, stationary, brochure, website – the whole nine yards. It’s good to do this once in awhile because it keeps design fun and let’s your creativity run wild without limitations. It’s often easy to get caught in a rut when clients start dictating and your work no longer becomes “yours”.
6.Start a design blog
Having started this blog only a couple months ago, I have found it to be extremely useful and educational for myself. It has made me more aware of the design community and more analytical of my own work.
7.Read other design-related blogs
I can’t stress enough how much information I have learned by reading other great designers blogs. The web in an invaluable resource of information – take advantage of it and actually use it!
8. Never start your design process in the physical world
The magic of design happens in your mind—so relax and don’t put pressure on yourself to put something down immediately on paper. People often think you need to be sitting at a computer to design, but you’re more likely to come up with inspired designs when running or lying in bed or doing whatever it is that frees up your thoughts.
9. Try not to put your first ideas on the computer
Once you have an idea, don’t immediately open a graphics program to start working on it. No matter how proficient you are, a graphics program will not allow you the same freedom afforded by pen and paper. Start sketching and see what works and what doesn’t. You’ll quickly weed out lots of bad ideas and save yourself a ton of time. You’re much more likely to be honest with yourself and scrap bad designs if you’ve spent five minutes on them and not 45.
10.Find design software that works for you
Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to design software. What you want is a program that lets you create designs without having to worry too much about complicated professional features, like robust layer management and fine-grained tools. Sketch is one of the best programs for the learning designer. It’s simpler than Photoshop and Illustrator and has a much smaller learning curve. There are great templates online and the program is cost effective ($49).
1.Get Organized
If your business it not organized, there is a good chance your design will ultimately suffer. Fortunately, there are ways to get organized ranging from simple tricks to helpful software.
2.Become a collector
Each time you see a design that inspires you, collect it, bring it home and file it away. I have hundreds of brochures, posters and other collateral that I have collected over the years that is stacked away in folders and boxes that I can quickly access – great source of inspiration when needed. Even Starbucks gives out creative weekly mini-newspapers.
3.Grab a sketchbook
Helps you work through ideas quickly and without limitations of design software. Has made a HUGE difference in my designs. See what other designer’s say about the importance of sketching here and here.
4.Redo your old designs
I know what it feels like to look at your early days of design and think “Oh my! What was I thinking?! I need to get rid of that immediately”, but is important to keep that work. It will help you see if you’re moving forward and improving your skills. Instead of throwing away or deleting old projects, try reworking them.
5.Create fake projects
Whenever I find myself with free time (which is getting less and less lately) I create fake projects. Create a fake brand for a company. Design a logo, stationary, brochure, website – the whole nine yards. It’s good to do this once in awhile because it keeps design fun and let’s your creativity run wild without limitations. It’s often easy to get caught in a rut when clients start dictating and your work no longer becomes “yours”.
6.Start a design blog
Having started this blog only a couple months ago, I have found it to be extremely useful and educational for myself. It has made me more aware of the design community and more analytical of my own work.
7.Read other design-related blogs
I can’t stress enough how much information I have learned by reading other great designers blogs. The web in an invaluable resource of information – take advantage of it and actually use it!
8. Never start your design process in the physical world
The magic of design happens in your mind—so relax and don’t put pressure on yourself to put something down immediately on paper. People often think you need to be sitting at a computer to design, but you’re more likely to come up with inspired designs when running or lying in bed or doing whatever it is that frees up your thoughts.
9. Try not to put your first ideas on the computer
Once you have an idea, don’t immediately open a graphics program to start working on it. No matter how proficient you are, a graphics program will not allow you the same freedom afforded by pen and paper. Start sketching and see what works and what doesn’t. You’ll quickly weed out lots of bad ideas and save yourself a ton of time. You’re much more likely to be honest with yourself and scrap bad designs if you’ve spent five minutes on them and not 45.
10.Find design software that works for you
Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to design software. What you want is a program that lets you create designs without having to worry too much about complicated professional features, like robust layer management and fine-grained tools. Sketch is one of the best programs for the learning designer. It’s simpler than Photoshop and Illustrator and has a much smaller learning curve. There are great templates online and the program is cost effective ($49).
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