Hello and welcome to this beginner's guide series to graphic design.
From what graphic design is, skills to be a graphic designer, design theory, education you need,
equipment you need to the graphic design portfolio and interview advice.
This series is for anyone at any level.
So if you're interested in graphic design and considering becoming a graphic designer
join me as I discuss a series of graphic design topics.
Graphic design is a very creative and specialized job
there are lots of skills and qualities you will need in order to become
a designer and become a good designer. In this video I'm going to talk about:
Psychological skills. Now the psychological skills can give you an
edge as a designer and help you stand out.
These are skills that can in no way be tort in a classroom.
These are skills that make you unique and can only come from within.
If you wish to acquire them
or become stronger in them it will be down to your own will,
thinking and personal development.
So first is: Objectiveness. You will need to be objective.
You will need to be able to think practically, realistically and look at
things from a non personal standpoint. This might mean putting your personal
biases, tastes and emotions aside for the best of a project. Just because you like
something does not necessarily mean it's the best solution or answer to it brief.
Good design is design that works well that is easily understood, has a solid
justification behind it and most importantly solves and answers the brief.
Always try and find reason and meaning for your work. If there is room for it to
look fantastic as well then that's a bonus.
Creative disciplines and judgment.
You will need good judgment to know if an idea is strong enough to answer the brief.
You will need discipline to edit and streamline an idea
this may mean simplifying an ambitious idea to meet a tight deadline or particular budget.
You may have to simplify a layout or creative execution
and to make it less busy more balanced and striking.
Confidence.
To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong. To succeed you will need confidence.
Confidence in yourself, confidence in your ability and in your
ideas to apply yourself to present and talk about your work and compete in the industry.
Receive criticism.
Now this is a big one I have seen a lot of designers react bad to criticism and
it has not helped them. When it comes to receiving criticism you need to be objective.
Do not seek praise, seek criticism. You will need to embrace
criticism do not take it personally be happy to learn from your mistakes and
listen to others for it is criticism that will make you more experienced and
a broader designer. Remember it's better to be criticised that ignored.
Everyone these days seems to be a critic.
It's easier to criticize then to create. The good thing about criticism is that
you can take it or leave it.
If someone says something about your work you do not agree with that no harm done
you can forget about it. Tho if someone says something you believed to be
correct and agree with then you can learn from it.
Coping with failure. If you failed it means you tried. The person who does not
make mistakes is unlikely to make anything. You have to be philosophical here.
Almost everything you do, you should sider a learning experience and we
never stop learning.
Like most designers it will take you years to master your craft. If things do
not work out the way you hoped first then don't be discouraged and give up
learn from it and become better next time.
Determination. Now what can sometimes separate designers success is their
determination. To never give up to keep working hard to keep learning and push
for that better job. It can take years of hard work to build and develop your career.
It can be very hard to learn the skills necessary to create your work and succeed.
You may have to stay late to get something finished,
you may have to work the weekend, you may have to learn software
to get the job done,
you may have to work with people you don't like or agree with and do things
you do not want to do. If you are determined you will go far.
Team player.
You may often have to work with other creative professionals or early on in
your career you may have to work for others in more senior roles than you.
You will need to be able to work in a team and take instructions from others even
if it's not what you like or agree with. If you can work well in a team, have a
good attitude, be liked and helpful it will help you become successful.
Patients.
The last quality here is patience. To produce anything creative takes time try not to
rush it if you do not have to. Allow your creativity to blossom. Patients can be
rewarding. If you take the time to pursue your creativity you just might discover
things you get not anticipate. Keep in mind that your life is a creative
journey some people reach their desired destinations quicker than others.
Just do your thing, believe in yourself and take your time. If you stay true to
yourself you will reach your goal eventually. So those are some of the key
psychological skills you will need to be a graphic designer.
If you'd like to take a closer look at the list discussed in this video you can
find out more in the description or in the PDF document that accompanies this
video series download link is in the description.
Well I hope you enjoyed this video if you did hit the like button on my facebook page.
If you would like to see more videos like this in future hit the subscribe button
and you can also follow me on twitter at TastyTuts.
So in the next video I'm going to discuss talent qualities
that will give you the edge as a graphic designer.
So see you in the next video!