creativity

The Coolest Job Ever: Tips For New Graphic Designers

November 23, 2022

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved playing around with design and art. When I went to college, I decided to major in graphic design because it seemed like the perfect combination of my two passions. And for the most part, it has been! I absolutely love what I do for a living. I can’t believe that I get to teach graphic design, work with clients, record podcasts, and support students all over the world. UNREAL!

But there are definitely some things about this field that people don’t realize until they’re actually in it. So today, I wanted to share with you some of the dos and don’ts of graphic design, in case you’re thinking about pursuing it as a career.

  1. Do get comfortable with criticism. One of the hardest parts of this job is dealing with criticism. People can be very picky about their design tastes, and it can be tough to hear that something you’ve spent hours working on isn’t good enough. But the sooner you learn to take criticism constructively, the better off you’ll be. Remember that even the most successful designers have had their fair share of projects that were met with less-than-positive feedback. It’s all part of the process!
  2. Don’t take yourself too seriously. This industry can be pretty cutthroat at times. There’s a lot of competition out there, and everyone’s fighting for the same clients. But at the end of the day, it’s important to remember that graphic design is supposed to be fun! Yes, it’s your job and you want to do a good job, but you shouldn’t take yourself so seriously that you forget to enjoy the process. After all, if you’re not having fun, what’s the point?
  3. Do stay up-to-date on trends. This industry is always changing, and new trends are constantly emerging. If you want to be successful as a designer, you need to make sure you’re always keeping up with the latest and greatest. That means reading design blogs, going to conferences and workshops, and generally just staying plugged into what’s going on in the world of graphic design.
  4. Don’t be afraid to experiment. One of the best things about this field is that there are no hard-and-fast rules. When it comes to design, there are endless possibilities and no wrong answers. So go ahead and experiment! Try new things, push boundaries, and think outside the box. The worst that can happen is that your project doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to. But even then, you’ll have learned something valuable in the process.

So those are some of my dos and don’ts for anyone considering a career in graphic design! If this is something you’re passionate about, then I say go for it—you won’t regret it. Just remember to stay true to yourself, stay up-to-date on trends, and have fun with it! Trust me, you’ll thank me later!

CHEERS!

Derrick

 

ALSO Here are some of my favorite tools and resources; full disclosure – these links will send you to Amazon 😉