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Is Graphic Design A Useful Skill?
A new year is an excellent opportunity to consider the need to develop your skills over the next 12 months. Why is this so? And, no matter where you are throughout your profession, you must stop being washed away by the tide of history. There are lots of opportunities to render yourself a more appealing candidate for prospective customers or employees, whether it’s mastering the newest trends in digital typography, learning some simple coding, or making the most of the cool modern networking technologies through partnering alongside other creatives.
What which expertise would really help you succeed in your career? In this post, we’ll look at what’s in high demand right now and how you will satisfy such demands by upskilling yourself in 2021.
01 – Digital typography
If you work as a graphic designer, you may already be acquainted with the basics of typography; if not, begin with our primer, Typography rules and words any designer should recognise.
However, as graphic design gradually shifts from paper to web, the need to consider the fundamentals of visual (rather than print) typography has never been greater. It’s not just a matter of exchanging ems for pixels.
02. Software abilities
It is entirely feasible (and remarkably common) for graduates of reputable design programmes to leave with no real coding skills. In one way, that’s fine: as long as you’ve covered the basic concepts of graphic design, you’ll have a solid foundation to build on later.
But you may have to do so at some stage. In reality, it’s doubtful that you’ll get even a junior designer job if you don’t know how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Meanwhile, if you’re in a later stage of your career, it never hurts to introduce a few tech strings to your bow while applying for work, based on the direction you choose to specialise in.
Check out the work postings on a forum like Design Jobs Board to get a sense of what people are searching for; most advertising would mention specific resources as’must haves’ and some as ‘preferred.’ However, bear in mind that by the time you’re completely qualified, that might have changed.
Can 2021 be the year you figure out After Effects?
The most crucial thing, then, is to concentrate on tech skills that can help you flourish in the fields that you’re most involved in, such as After Effects for improving your skills in motion graphics and animation, or WordPress for dabbling in web design.
You can’t be an authority about anything. However, whether you recognise a business or academic need and have the ability to push yourself into different fields, you can be a stronger designer at the end of your path.
03. Image editing As the environment grows more visually sophisticated in the era of Instagram and Snapchat, image editing and retouching is becoming an extremely necessary aspect in graphic design careers at all stages.
It involves everything from small-scale cleaning work (removing tiny bugs from a shot such as dirt, mud, flare, and glare) to cropping pictures to suit various media networks, to full-on image editing and upgrades.
Picture washing, processing, and improvement is now an incredibly necessary capability for artists.
However, if your current job does not entail image processing, it is well worth your time to develop your current skills. Especially because you’re unlikely to ever completely ‘master’ it.
You may also improve your picture processing skills by enrolling in a course, watching Photoshop videos, or working on a side project.
04 Photography
In addition to editing files, the opportunity to catch initial images is particularly valuable for artists. As a freelancer, this ensures you will depend less on stock photography to have more value to the customer. If you work in a gallery and commission other photographers, your intimate experience of the profession will help you connect with them more efficiently and get the exact shots you need.
05. User Experience Architecture
User interface (UX) architecture is becoming highly relevant as the design industry focuses more on digital. Employers are particularly interested in designers that specialise in the parts of goods that customers engage with. Data has been integral to many devices, creating a need for professionals with user experience design expertise that can render such products simple to use for consumers.
And it’s not so much about changing careers to become a UX designer as it is about improving your abilities to perform your current work.
06.Coding is not necessary!
It is the same for coding as it is for UX. Nobody expects a graphic artist to create a website from start to finish – it would render them a web designer – so the more you learn about the coding method, the more you would be able to work with developers and programmers on your digital projects.
07. Graphic design
Many professional graphic designers have told us that they fear they are slipping off the curve in terms of digital abilities. When it comes to print design, though, certain younger artists can have a skills shortage.
Despite the advent of digital, print media remains an important aspect of the design community, so learning how to better set up your screen designs for the real environment is also an important part of a designer’s knowledge base.
User interface design is suitable for individuals who wish to shift professions.
Since it values transferable talents and diverse life perspectives, user interface design is an excellent field for career changers. If you walk into a room full of UXers, you’re likely to see people with experience in digital design, web design, communications, psychology, and other fields.
A UX Researcher, for example, may benefit from an undergraduate degree in psychology. A journalist or marketer can enjoy working on the content production aspects of User Experience. People may move skills from another career into this sector in a number of ways.
Communication skills, critical reasoning abilities, and a curiosity in human psychology will all be applied to a fulfilling user experience profession. Of course, every designer will need instruction in the particular design skills needed for the work, however such skills are often teachable. Which brings us to our next topic…
How will I get a job as a UX Designer in the coming year?
Attending an upskilling class, bootcamp, or academic programme is one of the simplest paths to become a UX Designer. Though self-study is feasible, it is preferable to enrol in a credential programme where you can obtain supervised instruction in the profession. Attending a programme will also provide you with connections to a well-established network of experts in the industry that can assist you in advancing your career. Blue Sky Graphics is your best bet at learning graphic design, web design and UX UI design online!
