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Why Do You Want To Be A Graphic Designer
As a graphic artist, you could work on everything from branding and ad posters to website templates and book covers. You will have plenty of imaginative tricks up your sleeve to help a customer or boss visually communicate their message.
There are several options for a graphic, ranging from the colours used to the font (or lettering) used and why. Is the colour red associated with fear or with vigour? Is an old-fashioned font more likely to make consumers believe a product or make them fear it is out of date? Is it necessary for the picture to be enticing and abstract, or a photograph or drawing, in order to convey the message? Should a person’s face be used in a photograph? Should it be a close-up or a picture from a distance to display the whole scene?
As a graphic designer, you could work with large or small businesses on a variety of goods and services, such as:
- Packaging for products
- Websites, games, books, and magazines are also examples of digital media.
- A company’s visual identity (e.g. creating their logo and saying what colours they should use in their marketing, packaging or product information)
- Computer sports
You could use your graphic design experience in marketing, publishing, manufacturing, web and game design, and you could work in print or online.
You could work for an employer or an agency with a variety of customers that need design services, or you could go freelance one day after gaining expertise. Then you will be able to have your customers.
Should graphic designers know how to draw?
It is beneficial. You will not be using traditional methods like paint and pencils all too much. Most graphic design work is created with computer software, but being able to draw rough sketches would always be beneficial.
How much money would a graphic designer make?
Graphic designers make about £17,000 and £50,000 (UK average). According to recent labour market data, graphic designers in the UK will receive between £16,000 and £50,000 a year on average.
Your starting pay can vary depending on factors such as your level of experience, preparation, venue, and the size of the organisation. If you gain expertise, understanding, and experience as a graphic designer, your pay will rise.
What qualifications and preparation are needed for this position?
There are no rigorous requirements required to become a graphic designer, but qualifications will help you develop your design skills. Graphic designers may hold a diploma or a degree in a similar field such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, visual communication, or product design. Courses are available at some universities and art colleges in the United Kingdom. An online course in graphic design is taught by Blue Sky Graphics if you want to study graphic design from home.
Students who choose an academic path often begin with a foundation course in art and design, which results in a diploma and often takes a year to complete. Foundation degrees are also available and can be completed in two years of part-time training. A foundation course allows students to create a portfolio of their work to show companies what they can do while also providing a foundation in the expertise and career fields relevant to art and design.
A portfolio is similar to a digital CV of work you have done that demonstrates your talent, ability, and style. You can create a distinct style that people associate with your work, but you can also demonstrate your versatility by being able to design in a variety of styles to complement what an employer is looking for. Consider a well-known cartoon character as an example. If the animation appears on a lunch box or stationery or is re-created as a toy action figure, all official merchandise must depict the character in the same manner. This is referred to as ‘home-style,’ and it can be a valuable skill for graphic designers to illustrate.
Progressing In your career
With time and practice, you might advance to the position of senior designer in charge of a team, artistic director in charge of a project, or management in a number of ways. You may specialise in a particular industry, such as web design or packaging, or you could work in a variety of areas. You will discover whether you want to work for a single organisation or for an agency that handles a variety of clients and projects.
When you have gained enough experience, you could go freelance and work with your clients or start your design firm.
Any methods for gaining work experience as a graphic designer include:
If you get compliments on your drawings, look at the online shops that will make your pictures into T-shirts, posters, magnets, and something else. You will not become wealthy, but employers will value your self-confidence and self-management skills in approaching your designs in a business-like manner. Do your homework on all of the online retailers available and choose one where they can only produce the product if anyone orders it, so you do not end up out of pocket.
If possible, draw in a variety of types. On social media, you can connect with many people who are designing fan art or posting their concept ideas and challenges. Exploring your culture will motivate you to make more often, share your work, and learn from other people’s design tips (as well as things they wish they had done differently).
These days, a lot of graphic design is achieved online with apps like Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop and CorelDraw. Get free samples of applications such as CorelDraw to see what other completely free software is available (like Inkscape, which lets you design vector graphics and is a free alternative to Illustrator or CorelDraw). It looks better on your CV if you can gain experience with the tools employees use in their workplaces. It would also make you relax into a new career faster. And if you are using modelling tools that are not widely used in the corporate community, it is also a rewarding experience. Knowing about vector graphics means you need to learn how to use new technologies once you have a new career, so you already know what it can do.
Create a professional-looking personal blog. This is an opportunity to showcase your website design as well as your knowledge of graphic design and typography (or the use of lettering to create a look and feel). You will host your portfolio, as well as any visual works in progress, on your blog. Of course, you should have a link to your online shop where you sell items with your designs!
