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.
So you're thinking about getting into graphic design and
you're wondering how to begin. In this video I'm going to discuss and suggest a
few things you can do to help you get started. To get started I would suggest
you undertake six key steps and I would recommend you do them in the following order.
Step one: Learn research, Step two: Collect, Step three: Be inspired,
Step four: Practice, Step five: Seek education
and Step six: Apply your skills.
Now these steps can be taken at any stage in your life if young
still in school and looking to get into graphic design you can follow these steps.
If you're older perhaps you're thinking of a career change
you can also follow these steps. In this video I'm going to talk about step three:
Be inspired.
Now I believe that inspiration is the strongest motivational force there is.
An inspired person is a motivated person. A motivated person is a creative person.
A good designer will always be seeking inspiration to fuel one's imagination
and look for creative opportunities. To stimulate your imagination and inspire
your creative career I would recommend a range of sources. So the first
inspirational source is: Found objects. So this is quite possibly the easiest and
most cost effective source of inspiration. In the last episode I spoke
about collecting everything you find interesting and keeping it in a print or
digital scrapboo. By keeping your found objects you will be able to revisit them
in future. Found objects are free sources of inspiration.
Next is: Books and subscriptions.
In the previous episode I also mentioned that a good
habit is to collect interesting books to begin your own library.
I would also recommend that they are not just about design try books on
photography, science, technology, illustration ,fine art, web design
typography and so on. The idea here is variety. In a future episode I will
attempt to recommend some good books you can read to help you get started. As well
as collecting books you can subscribe to monthly creative magazines.
These are great because they will keep you up to date with what's going on in
the creative industry. Like with found objects you can refer back to these in
future when you're in need of some exploration. If you're not able to
purchase your own books or have subscriptions then you can always visit
your local library. Next is: Online inspiration. From google image searches
to stock image web sites to creative blogs that publish every day,
to hundreds of free video tutorials.
Today the internet is one of the richest sources of inspiration and it's all at
your fingertips. Build yourself a good bookmarks library and visit your sources frequently
Next is: Everyday inspiration.
Now there is a lot that can be read in books, seen and learned on the internet.
But I would also recommend you get outside. There is nothing more refreshing
than stepping away from your desk and clearing your head. Look and observe the
world around you. See graphic design in an everyday practical context. See packaging
and its design, see magazines, see interior design and shops and stores,
see street signs and shop signs, see advertisements and see Branding and fashion.
As you see practical design start to question it.
Don't just accept things for the way they are. Ask yourself why.
Why was it presented like it was? Try and understand.
Ask yourself how do you feel? How was the experience?
Good, bad? What did the designer want you to think or feel? and how did they do it?
and did they do it well? Take pictures and make notes.
Next is: Museums galleries and exhibitions.
Try and visit art galleries or museums as
often as you can and this does not have to be about graphic design.
This could be about anything.
Try and see graphic design working in a creative context. See how an exhibit is
presented. Look at what has been used to present that exhibition. Study the
installation aspect of the presentation. Study the print aspect of the
presentation and study the digital aspect. If possible think about the
presentation and experience as a whole then ask yourself why? Why was it
presented like it was and try to understand.
Ask yourself how do you feel? How was the experience? and what did the artist or
designer want you to think? and how did they do it? Again take pictures and notes.
Next is: Creative agencies. To learn more about the industry and see what type of
work has been produced you only have to search online for some good design
agencies. This will give you a good insight and inspire you
of which direction you may want to take and what type of the agency would like
to work with. This will give you a good insight and inspire you
of which direction you may want to take and what type of agency you would like
to work in. Agencies often post up job vacancies. Here you can learn what design
agencies look for and what it takes to work in the design industry as a graphic designer.
Next is: Local colleges or universities. Now look out for open days for drop in
days at your local college or university. A lot of art schools have end of your
shows. These are great opportunities to see what creative courses are an offer
and what kind of work students produce. Seeing some of the work will get you
excited, inspired and interested.
Next is: People. So if you are attending exhibitions, galleries, local colleges,
universities and looking up design agencies. There will be a good chance you'll
get the opportunity to talk to some really interesting people.
If you get the chance to visit any local colleges or universities try and talk to
design teachers and tutors. They will often have good advice about design
education and ways into the creative industry.
If you don't get the chance to attend any open days then you
can always try and email your questions. If you can try and chat to students,
asked questions and seek to learn about their experiences on creative courses,
what they got out of it and what their plans are.
If you decide to drop into local design agencies try and talk to people who are
already in the industry. Ask questions and seek to learn about their experience
as a designer working in industry. There is a lot to be learned from creative
people and their stories can be inspiring. So the last inspiration source
I have here is: Literature. Now try and read as much as you can.
Literature stimulates the imagination which can trigger some really cool
creative ideas. Read how authors use words to describe and tell a story.
Expand your vocabulary. This will help you express yourself. So that's the third
step on how to begin as a graphic designer.
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 talk about the next step,
step four and talk about how you can begin to put into practice
what you have learned over the previous three steps.
So see in the next video!