Advice for an Aspiring Graphic Designer? [Mostly Web Focused]

[rumz]

1) school. I'm not a fan of the formal 4 year degree system (I think it's inefficient), but have learned to value my BFA education. You definitely need to learn design principles, things like balance, harmony, unity. Especially hierarchy. Also typography is so important. As you learn these, you'll learn what good design is and why. Hint: design is not decorating or making something pretty.

2) while in school, I was coached not to use just my school portfolio when seeking professional work. The idea was to give yourself some projects. Make them up. They'll then be different and stand out more.

Along those lines, when creating projects for yourself for your portfolio, use a subject matter that you're passionate about. The project is likely to be so much stronger of you're passionate about the subject.

3) for web design, as others have mentioned, don't underestimate the value of learning how to code. Especially smaller companies will be more likely to hire someone who can code and design-- they get way more mileage out of that employee than one who only understands visual graphic design.

 

[Legacy40k]

Don't use a mac for web design?

If you're serious about web design, you need to be using a computer that has Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome and Firefox installed, you should also have access to a device with a mobile browser (ipod touch, iphone, android phone etc) and you should have access to an ipad or other "slate" device.

The trick is that there is no standardizations in web (there are common rules, but that's about it) so you have to test everthing on multiple browsers, those are the major ones that you need to concern yourself with.

 

[Legacy40k]

1)
3) for web design, as others have mentioned, don't underestimate the value of learning how to code. Especially smaller companies will be more likely to hire someone who can code and design-- they get way more mileage out of that employee than one who only understands visual graphic design.

Agreed. You MUST understand at least some code to be effective. Nobody will expect you to write your own javascript, but you should know how to utilize it still.

 

[SR20DETDOG]

There's a lot to designing for the web

You've got that right, I'm at the "the more you know, the more you know just how much you don't know" stage. It's a bit overwhelming really Only one way to get past that though!

rumz,
I'm not a fan of formal degrees either, I really don't think they're an effective way for me personally to learn. Once I am in a position to do some proper schooling though, I'll definitely be jumping at the chance.

Legacy40k,
I'm going to using Bootcamp other things anyway, so IE won't be an issue. Mobile devices on the other hand are going to be a bit more difficult to get to, atm I can only borrow iPhones from friends, which is better than nothing I guess

Learning to code (more advanced) Javascript is actually where I'm up to now. It's a slow road though, a lot of it just goes straight over my head first time round. Revision and practice eventually overcome it

 

[alice43]

Hi

Once you have completed your college you will have to search earlier but after you get experience you will get many opportunities in fact people will approach you an you will have many choices in front of you

 

[jmacleodpc19]

Lots of good advice in here.

I would also stress the importance of learning the basic programs. Having worked in both large and small agencies, I can tell you that if someone came in and said, "I don't know Photoshop, but I'm really good at the knock-off program" they wouldn't be back for a second interview. Nobody has time to teach you on the job anymore. If you're looking to work at a place that uses Adobe software, learn the Adobe software.