Remember your high school days of notebook doodles, sketches, scribbles, hand-drawn bubble letters and pictograms? Who knows if you were nurturing your graphic designing talent from an early age? In 2019, a career in graphic designing is not only lucrative, but also unconventional and interesting.
Statistically speaking, in an amazing series of facts about graphic designing, LinkedIn has shared the following data. Check out:
→ According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, there will be a 13% increase in demand for graphic designers by 2020.
→ Graphic designers are critical to marketing.
In another report highlighting interesting facts about graphic designing, it has been found:
→ 67% of small businesses are willing to pay $500 for a logo.
→ 60.8% of marketers are of the opinion that visuals are important for successful marketing.
Graphic designing is undeniably one crucial aspect when it comes to creating visually enchanting advertisements, creative websites and the likes. Today’s users are mostly into smart designs, easy navigations and responsive templates, and graphic designing appeals to them in all the right ways.
In order to cater to the needs of the users, aspirant graphic designers must come up with innovative designs, depending on the primary look and feel of the brand. Here are a few helpful graphic designing tips and tricks one must learn to leverage the potential of good graphic designing to the fullest.
1. Develop a Solid Understanding of Typography Rules
If you wish to see yourself as an established graphic designer in the near future, then this is one crucial point you must take note of. Developing a strong knowledge of spacing, type weight and kernel associated with different brand images is crucial.
You should not hesitate to serve your clients in accordance with the specifications mentioned. Hence, having an in-depth knowledge of different typography rules is a convention you cannot afford to overlook. Here’s everything you need to enjoy a head-start.
→ Select The Perfect Font: Every brand image has different auras. Some are sporty, while others are inspirational and interactive. The font type you would choose must serve the purpose of connecting to the audience. Merely creating an impeccable design isn’t the idea. Make sure the font you use is in sync with the market.
→ Make The Most of Kerning: A flawless kerning job can make a huge difference. It is essential to create an organised and well-knit text. An ideal kerning job fine-tunes the characters in a text and engages your audience for longer.
This, as a result, produces unified designs. Unless the space between each character is even and visually satisfying, the result won’t look nice.
Texts should be short, crisp and intriguing. Convoluted paragraphs and improper alignment will only increase the bounce rate. After all, you are aspiring to be a successful designer, not a research paper writer.
Your job is to combine texts and images in a typographically appropriate way. Thus, it is imperative for the beginners to focus on well-built concepts that unify all texts, with fine-tuned spaces between the characters.
→ Come Up With Perfect Alignments: Non-designers or beginners tend to choose “Justified” and “Centre Aligned” styles, and that is where they go wrong. The idea is to practice correct alignment and come up with the most suitable one, depending on the length of the paragraphs. An incorrect alignment makes the text too hard to read. One must learn how to adjust the length of the lines prior to using alignment styles blindly.
2. Focus On Industry Statistics and Data
Data-driven knowledge can make a world of difference to a designer. This is one of the key proficiencies that most hiring managers look for in a designer.
A professional graphic designer should be creative and data-driven at the same time. Being data-driven and acquiring industry insights on a regular basis will help you in the ways listed below:
→ Smarter assessment of designs that has and hasn’t worked well in the market previously
→ Greater chances to come up with genuinely functional graphic designs
→ Enhanced technical knowledge and the ability to generate creative ideas and client-oriented designs
Creativity has its importance, as long as you are making an effort to back it up with statistics and saleable content. Hence, being data-driven is a priority one cannot afford to overlook. The idea is to learn from the past and design for the future.
3. Acquaint Yourself With The Latest Software and Programs
Developing a thorough knowledge of the technical functionalities of Photoshop and illustrations will always prove to be beneficial. Being proficient with the nitty-gritty of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Creative Suite and the likes will help you to cater to a wider clientele in the near future.
In addition, one must consider exploring the avenue of motion graphic designing as well. Would you like to refuse a client who is willing to shell out bucks for impressive motion graphics design? Certainly not! This makes it crucial for the new designers to develop a basic knowledge of perfecting motion graphics like a pro. You may choose to explore these programs to remain in sync with the latest industry trend.
¬ After Effects
¬ Maya
¬ 3D Studio Max
¬ Apple Motion
¬ Cinema 4D
Before I Pull the Curtain Back
Graphic designing is no less than an art that highlights the creativity and imagination of an individual. However, nothing comes easy in life. You got to push your limits and make an effort to embrace perfection in all forms. This is the reason why aspiring designers should consider investing enough time in learning about the basics of graphic designing before stepping into the professional world.
Before calling it a wrap, I would like to offer a quick recap. Here’s a glimpse of what we have learnt so far. Take a look at the key takeaway points in the smart chart below.
Now that you know what it takes to become a successful designer, it is time for the real deal. Put on your thinking cap, read books and journals on graphic designing, create an impressive profile and wait for the clients to knock on your door.
Cheers!
Summary:
Creativity and designing go hand in hand. Aspirant designers dreaming of making it big in the industry must learn a few tricks of the trade. This informative article explicitly talks about the crucial lessons and technical insights a beginner must learn to enjoy a seamless professional career as a graphic designer.