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i want to be a designer... but im only 14

just to let you get an idea of the work ive done lately

bethy2.jpg

A little picture I did for my friend Beth last night.


myspace.gif

My myspace page design. Havent put text/headings on this because I put that on later. This isnt perfect as I can see a few little errors/corrections I could make.
 
I think iGav is right (my bad), rather than pushing into extended directions at this point, I would suggest get a solid footing in the art of typography. It is the heart and core of graphic design. Other areas are important to look at and expand into but typography is essential.


 
do you know any good books which might be at my local libary or websites to do with typography?
 
I've just done my Graphics course at uni.

There has been lots of advice been given out, some of which I believe is the best.

Forget about the intricacies of typography, layout, websites... You are young, you have time, and THAT is your biggest advantage.

This is what advice I would give you, and what I would do if I had to do it all over again (Some of this has been said already):

1) Never take yourself too seriously, at any stage in your design 'career'!

2) A pen/pencil and a pad of paper are your BEST friends. Draw things which interest you, even if you don't know why now. WRITE things down that interest/anger/upset you. Then ponder why? Having a perspective of the world at 14 is only something you get once :cool:

3) Draw, draw, draw and draw. Anything. Then go to still life classes, sculpt/paint/build/take apart... Look for the unconventional, if someone says something isn't 'art', ask them why and challenge what you think. Find out, and research other Artists, a variety of artist from Tibor Kalman to Jackson Pollock.

4) Take an english course!!!! I can't stress that enough. Design, especially Graphics design, is all about communication. Different ways in which you can express something through words, as well as visually.

5) Don't forget other subjects such as Maths, Design Technology,Art, Drama and Music! They will be vital sources of inspiration where original designs come from.

6) Enjoy being young, do lots of other things besides anything design related. See a film, date girls, play in a band... enjoy sleep (you'll find out why:p)
 
no, don't get into this wicked evil career of design! it will leave you feeling drained & used by marketing types that'll have you airbrushing logos off jackets and starting things from scratch despite the fact that they are looking at the "final" draft.


ok, sorry, I'm just a little burnt out as of late, this can be a very rewarding career choice if your working with the right people/clients. At other times you'll want to run away and join the circus.
 
Good so I'm not the only one burned out by this crappy career. If i would've known 10 years ago what I know now, I think I would've pursued something else. :(

dornoforpyros said:
no, don't get into this wicked evil career of design! it will leave you feeling drained & used by marketing types that'll have you airbrushing logos off jackets and starting things from scratch despite the fact that they are looking at the "final" draft.


ok, sorry, I'm just a little burnt out as of late, this can be a very rewarding career choice if your working with the right people/clients. At other times you'll want to run away and join the circus.
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10 years in? Damn, I'm only 2 years in and I'm feeling this way :p

Foxglove9 said:
Good so I'm not the only one burned out by this crappy career. If i would've known 10 years ago what I know now, I think I would've pursued something else. :(
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Heh, my first 2 years out of school I was pretty optimistic even working a really crappy low wage design job. After I left that job it was all downhill from there :D

dornoforpyros said:
10 years in? Damn, I'm only 2 years in and I'm feeling this way :p
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Somthing you might like is silk screening. It is were you put logos and stuff onto t shirts, hats, stickers and make vinyle. I know a person who does it they run there own silk screening company he says there it has its ups and downs to it like most jobs. But graphic jobs don't always go to well so I would say learn more coding stuff to make websites while also practicing up on graphics. You could get a job at a consulting company which makes web sites for people both coding and graphic design so keep practicing graphics but get into coding you can make some good money if you get the right job.
 
Possibly you might stop a minute or two to ponder what's interesting in graphic design to you,
and what's the actual job profile that the market will ask from you, as to decide in more depth what specific area of graphic design you would like to pursue.

Get to know what this areas are

Notice that as MagicWok says in his point no.4 , design is partly based in communication theory, as well as on a lot of other social sciences too, and that sometimes the student dismisses their relevance.

Visit the doblin group website and consider what they do and how it is related to design http://www.doblin.com/
good luck
 
I decided to get into this field when I was 13 or 14, and started studying in high school (because there weren't really any specialized classes in grade school for it).

I've been doing graphic design and print work for the last 9 years and I concur with everyone else who says the field is oversaturated with people trying to get in, get their feet in the door, or get a job. I worked at Kinkos for nearly 5 years from 2000-2005 and have been at my current job at a small printing company for the last year and a half, and I love what I do, but I'll be switching careers to become a residential electrician in the next 6 months because it pays a lot better and its a great opportunity for me to take.

I love graphic design and (again) I've lived, breathed, ingested and dreamed it for nearly 10 years now, but the job market for it sucks. I've seen hundreds of people come in to Kinkos and my current employer who are either looking for jobs or printing their resumes, cover letters and business cards because they're looking for jobs...and I've seen those people return on a monthly basis to print more copies out because they've had no luck.

My greatest suggestion to you is to study a 2nd area if at all possible, and don't focus on one area of graphic design and ignore the others (ie print design, ignoring web design, banner companies, etc). The more you study, the better off you'll be because you'll have a lot more skills to offer to employers and you'll also give yourself a lot more businesses and fields that you can apply for and honestly say "I know what I'm doing". I'm mainly a print industry guru but I know a little bit of web design; it hasn't helped me in the least but nevertheless - the more you know, the better off you'll be.

Nevertheless - I wish you the best of luck. :)

If anything - make sure you start working in Illustrator because it's one of the most widely used programs no matter what field you get in. You may want to learn some page layout apps...I'd recommend InDesign over Quark because for one, I hate Quark, but more importantly #2, I think a lot of companies are switching over to InDesign...that's what the company I work for ended up doing, thank God.
 
Foxglove9 said:
Good so I'm not the only one burned out by this crappy career. If i would've known 10 years ago what I know now, I think I would've pursued something else. :(
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yea...the pay isn't great, so it's basically a hell of a lot of long hours for not very much money. I too am getting out, after 8 long years, moving into tech support/networking. Pays better, and of course opinions matter a LOT less in networking...it either works or it doesn't.

re: screenprinting
this field is pretty heavily saturated, too. And really, it's beginning to look as if screenprinting will be dead in about 5-10 years. Direct-to-screen is hot right now, but it'll all be inkjet before too long. Nice to know how to do separations, but soon enough it won't matter...
 
tobefirst said:
Hmmm...at 14, I think the best advice I could give you (as a graphic designer) would be to forget about graphic and webdesign for at least a couple of years, if not more. Take those years, instead, and learn about other artistic mediums.

Take any art classes you can in school. Take painting and drawing and general art classes. Take art history. Take sculpture.

The most important thing you can learn at an early age is WHY things that look good actually look good. Learn about gestalt principles, and how objects relate to each other. Learn what color means and the emotions it evokes.

I'd even say this: learn how to write. A large part of design is typography. The more you understand the words that are a part of your piece, the better you'll be able to get those words to evoke the emotion they were meant to.

Carry a pen with you everywhere. Draw on anything and everything. Napkins and paper placemats at restaurants. Handouts in class. Learn how to draw. After you're done doing that, learn how again. :)

At your age, I REALLY feel that learning about design should not involve a computer at all. I didn't start learning about Photoshop and Quark and Illustrator until I was 18...and even that was probably a little too early. Spend as much time as you can being creative in other ways. That will, undoubtedly, transfer over to the computer when it's time.
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I'm a 20-year-old undergrad studying Comm. Design and Photography and I cannot agree more with tobefirst. You really need to get a good artistic foundation without relying so heavily on a computer as your only medium. Drawing is crucial. If you don't develop drawing skills your photoshop and illustrator skills will definately show it and you'll be using default brushes and shapes like on the thumbnails you've posted.

Art History is also extremely critical. Take all the classes you can- knowing past styles, movements, and artists will mature your creative process tremendously. Printmaking is an excellent course as well and I highly recommend it. And go look at art! Look online at different portfolios, buy some design magazines and books, go to shows and museums, go to a grocery store and look at packaging, whatever! It's important to always think creatively and look to your environment for inspiration- keep a sketchbook, always have a camera or just collect things you find interesting! You'd be surprised how much you'll learn.

As for jobs, the right networking is sometimes all it takes. Getting to know people- teachers, friends, relatives, church members, whoever- that are in the field or know others in the field is very helpful. That's how I got my first job in a design agency, by talking to people and telling them what I'm interested in.

Also, check out some design contests. Look for student divisions and enter some of your work. If you win an award you have something to put on your resume plus you can make a name for yourself. A lot of graphic design organizations and magazines will post upcoming contests on their web sites, you just have to be pro-active about it.

Just knowing the ins and outs of computer software isn't going to cut it in this field- you have to set yourself apart with intelligence, knowledge, and your imagination.
 
I haven't read through all of these posts but you can do anything you want to do bro! It starts with a passion to create. You will learn the rest.:) Just remember, this is a commerical market we live in and don't listen to anyone that doesn't know what you are talking about.
 
it sure does sound like through a lot of peoples posts that design is way to saturated - the suggestions of a 2nd area is also good. I wouldnt mind doing something in buisness for my main job and then also do design in my evenings/spair time and do odd jobs for people.
 
iminimac said:
it sure does sound like through a lot of peoples posts that design is way to saturated - the suggestions of a 2nd area is also good. I wouldnt mind doing something in buisness for my main job and then also do design in my evenings/spair time and do odd jobs for people.
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That's an excellent idea and something that I myself am trying to move towards. I plan on letting my current employer know once I am accepted into the electrician's union that I would like to continue working here, just not during normal business hours...something more like nights and/or weekends for a few hours at a time (or however long it takes me to do the work). I love the customers that I have now and my client base loves the work that I do; in fact, I've had one of my largest customers tell me that he'd hunt me down and kill me if I ever left because he counts on me to make him & his business look good. I'm also trying to get into freelance on the side & have been putting business cards out there.

Yes - going a dual route and doing design on the side or as a "second love" is an excellent idea and you can't go wrong with that. Figure that you'll be able to work a job that you like in business (or whatever you choose), and you'll be in a field where there is demand for your skill and expertise, and you'll get good pay. And then on the side of that in your spare time, do design because you like doing design, and earn that little extra bonus income. That's a win-win situation right there. :)

Again - the best of luck to you. You sound like you love design and that's the important thing...enjoy what you do because it makes the day pass by a lot quicker. :D
 
well i am 14 and also a graphic designer. i enjoy designing web pages for anything i can get my hands on. i use fireworks and dreamweaver for nearly all of my work. i also like making graphics. i would reccomend making your own sites just for fun, and getting as much feedback as possible for them. all i can tell you is to learn your tools well, and weather you do that slowly by just messing around with some graphics and such (like i have) or finding some book or online guide. (i did use a few tutorials to teach me aqua.. those are pretty cool.)

just challenge yourself to whatever you can. you can check out my stuff in my ipod phone concept thread and my content deficent website is here:

http://twdesign.zendurl.com/

the last thing i want to say is that it isn't a disadvantage being 14. in your title, you said you want to be a designer, but you are only 14. keep in mind that you aren't only 14, you are 14. i can't think of a better age to want to be a designer, and you are already on to a great start to becoming one. just do your best, and spend a lot of time on it, and you will see weather it is right for you, and you will of course get better. good luck!
 
waynesun said:
I'm 15 years old, and have done some work for other companies on websites. Just fool around with Photoshop often, learn how to correctly integrate your colors into your design, look elsewhere such as (www.fantasyinterfaces.com or www.levid.com) for designs to inspire you. The only class i had was in my junior high school 8th grade year, sitting next to a guy who was pretty damn good at PS. The rest of the time before that i just played around with the program, making simple little websites and gradually building on the designs.
If youre designing on a Mac, you're lucky! I envy you. I design on a 800some mhz HP Computer with 256 MB of ram. Not to mention my crappy monitor which doesnt display colors right. I use my PSP for evaluations :).
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Same here, I'm doing some work for some people right now. You can find some great job offers on some websites (reputable ones). Make sure you use brushes ;) my favorite thing about Photoshop.
 
Master these:

The Elements of Design...

• Line
• Shape
• Texture
• Value & Color
• Space

And then the Principles of Design...

• Balance
• Movement
• Emphasis
• Unity

I've seen so-called "professionals" create stuff that looks like crap, simply because they just have had poor training in what makes things look pleasing. You must have an artistic eye, and some natural talent to truly succeed in the field.



While I'd love to do it on the side, I doubt I'd go to college for Graphic Design. I much rather go into Industrial Design or Architecture... Or both. But, I have less then two years to decide at this point. Eek.
 
iminimac said:
Hey
about a year ago I got into design and for that year I have done various photoshop and I have learnt most of photoshop and done a fair bit of work. I have made websites (myspaces to be exact) for myself and friends and my myspace tends to get comments of wow! or that is so cool. I feel pleased with my level of work but I want it to get better.

I have learnt alot of html and some css and have been doing more work for web lately. I also just picked up a copy of dreamweaver and flash which I hope to get good at.

I want to improve and when im older be a graphic/ web designer. As im 14 I have been unable to find any grahpic design courses which I can do (Southampton, UK if anyone knows one). What should I be doing to improve. Ive read the forums and people talk of classes and I will try and take some when I get older but they also talk of books. Is there any good books or anything else I should do/get.

Many thanks
David
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you sound way ahead of the curve...congrats on that!

ok, let's get to business:

also look at www.experts-exchange.com

it caters to all computer based professionals, including professional, highly paid graphic designers and web page designers

while you are at it, check out schools like rhode island school of design, cooper union, school of visual arts, parsons, and pratt

...and don't forget the ivy league columbia university art departement

and there is also ucla, usc, and new york university

it will be worth you while to check out these "edu" websites
 
Plymouthbreezer said:
I've seen so-called "professionals" create stuff that looks like crap, simply because they just have had poor training in what makes things look pleasing.
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Nope, not always. You're forgetting two things. Namely:

• Time vs. money
• and the client's wishes...

In an ideal world, every job would look lovely but realistically, it doesn't. Pragmatism pays the bills.
 
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