Graphic Design refers to a specialized area of the Visual Arts. It involves the enhancing of a product, service or information by designing a pleasing visual or set of visuals.
Traditionally, this field has included both the creative preparation and execution of materials in the areas of: Logo Design, Corporate Identity, Brochure Design, Photo Retouching, Charts/Graphs/Diagrams, and other printed materials. Graphic Design can also include the preparation of 35mm Slide Presentations, Television Advertisements, Multi-Media Presentations, and other Visual Aids.
Today, the term Graphic Design also includes the rapidly expanded Web Design market. While a Designer may certainly specialize in one area, it is common to find designers with applicable knowledge is more than one discipline. An artist may be expected to design entire websites, edit photos for both print and web use, and design printed materials which also have web applications.
Many of the web sites you visit involve the efforts of a Graphic Designer. Advertising Agencies employ many them to prepare the ads you see on television. In the past, a Graphic Designer could rely on predominately right- brain tendencies of being a "Creative" type. One must not only be "Creative," but also possess the "Logic" skills to pilot numerous software programs, trouble shoot computing issues, etc.
Graphic Design is a highly rewarding career. This profession is also a great Work At Home opportunity. Once one is established (education, contacts, etc.), a Home Office can be the perfect option. Incomes vary and are dependent on a number of factors, including: area(s) of expertise, years of experience, business contacts, etc.
A. Graphic Design Schools - Everything You Need To Know
A successful future in the new media industry (and specifically, graphic design) depends on choosing the right school. In my case, they asked for a portfolio of work as part of the admission process. So, if you are self-taught and eager to solidify your already existing knowledge, or a total beginner, this is a good choice for you. If, however, you have already completed a similar program, you may wish to take a new program merely to upgrade your skills (because the field of new media is always changing).
If you can, it really, really, really helps if you take a freehand drawing course prior to learning how to draw using a computer.
1. Recognition
- Does the school participate in any graphical arts competitions?
- Have students accomplished anything of reknown in the industry?
2. Teachers
I have never encountered an instructor that wasn't immensely knowledgeable about the subject area. Of course, there is a big difference between knowing the subject area and being able to teach (that is, to convey that information, and manage students, answer questions, etc).
3. Job Placement
100% make sure that you get into a program that incorporates on-the-job experience.
4. Curriculum And Tools
You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education. As it so happens in my case, the administration did something they have never done before: changed the curriculum halfway through the program. Don't just oogle at the computers, snoop around and see the programs directory and make note of what programs are installed, and if they are the latest versions.
5. Student to Teacher Ratio
Graphic design is kind of an industry that more or less demands personal contributions on every project.
6. Accreditation
Accreditation means the school has passed a certain standards of educational quality. If you can, ask for literally one minute of the head departments time and find out a listing of companies that students have been hired into.
7. Cost
A full education in graphic design can cost anywhere from 13,000 to 16,000 dollars for an intensive one-year program (120 credits). The goal here is to find a university, college, or technical institute that is recognized internationally for excellence. Let's face it, Harvard University will look a lot better on your resume than Texas Community College. Three great recognized schools in are BCIT located in Vancouver Canada (Vancouver is the equivalent of Hollywood for graphic designers, web designers, and all new media experts), the Art Institute (with locations worldwide), and the Vancouver Film School (VFS) that has graphic design programs that are very specialized.
8. Scholarships
Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on art competitions they hold regularly. You should qualify for a national student loan either way, and repayment is extremely affordable.
B. One Lesson Book - The Graphic Design
No matter who actually you are, a graphic designer, web designer, visualizer, concept developer, animator or layout artist. If you belong with word “Graphic Design”, this is for you.
It’s about the time when I was in initial stage of learning graphic design. I still remember most of my great designs were actually started without any concept and were been conceptualized, after I finished them. This article “One Lesson Book – The Graphic Design” is all about explaining the most critical and important factor to design a conceptualized & significant graphic for highly demanding corporate design world.
Graphic design is no more remains the art of playing with colors; it’s a complete set of processes to follow.
- Understanding Core Concept.
- Visualizing
- Creating Value
- Sketching
- Layout Designing
- Final Touch
1) Understanding Core Concept
Core concept is actually the message, which needs to be delivered to audience of your graphic. Better to call it subject of graphic. So before double clicking the icon of graphic editor, set a core message for your future graphic. Think what you need, your audience to know by this graphic.
2) Visualizing
I believe the most critical factor to design a significant graphic is visualizing and designing the concept. Concept i.e. how will you deliver your message to your audience? Concept i.e. what single illusion will replace your 1000 words? In this step you need to visualize the look and feel of your future graphic. You need to visualize the contents of graphic. In graphic, they had placed a luxurious white color sofa on four wheels. Of course they wanted to show their customers, how much comfort the car delivers to rider. This is an elegant example of getting the core concept (“Delivering Comfort”) and visualizing a design (“Luxurious Sofa on Four Wheels”).
3) Creating Value
Creating value means you have to visualize your design according to the value of product or value of brand. What I mean to say is you can’t visualize a beggar signing a cheque by a Luxurious Parker Pen Or, you can’t visualize a family sitting & smiling in a Red Ferrari Racing Car. The brands have certain values and you have to design your graphic accordingly to maintain their brand value.
4) Sketching
Most of the designers love to skip this step, but this is again a very important section. Designing a sketch of your visualization before drawing the actual graphic, is like designing a demonstration model of a building, before actually building it.
5) Layout Designing
Now you are 100% ready to make your hands dirty with the various tools of graphic design software to shape your imagination in actual form. There is a saying in management “it’s always better to spend extra time when planning, instead of spending extra days in producing”.
6) Final Touch
- Check if the size ratio of text and images is correct or not? Use small text size for sleekness and big text size for giving focus.
- Check if the colors you have used are kissing your eyes or not? Use combination of dark shades or light-dark shades rather then fully light colors.
- Check if you have placed a significant amount of text too to describe your core message or not?
- Check if there is any content missing?
C. Easy Steps to Build a Successful Graphic Design Business From Home
Being in the graphic design business is very competitive – you have to learn to swim or you will sink fast. I’ve been a graphic designer for 12 years and I’d like to share the journey I took to owning and building a successful graphic design business. One of the first things I recommend to help develop skills and learn tricks that you would never learn in school is to get an internship. I got my first taste of graphic design in high school and by my senior year I was working as an intern for a small graphic design firm and also a print shop. My skills and thirst for design blossomed from there. I majored in graphic design in college and had landed a very high profile graphic design internship and was taught a vast amount of tricks of the trade by
highly skilled designers.
I use design books as inspiration for a lot of the graphic design work that I do. Having confidence in your ability and being able to apply that to your business is essential to your business success. When I first started my business, I was nervous, but confident in my ability to run my business with class. I plunged right in with both feet by developing a business plan, company name, web site and logo. Marketing is the hardest part of owning a small business and takes immense amounts of confidence and strength of character to do well, but if done effectively it will catapult your business to success.
Sell, sell, sell. Building a successful graphic design business is all about selling and marketing yourself. Some practical ways I have marketed my business is by: joining my local Chamber of Commerce, building a strong web site that is correctly optimized, adding numerous reciprocal links to my web site, handing out business cards that function as a mini brochure, joining a leads group, joining special interest clubs, attending business expo’s and conventions, and networking with other business professionals. Marketing is all about building relationships with others and then capitalizing on the opportunity to sell your graphic design services.
Customer service is key to your success. The clients you gain and the customer service they receive from you is imperative to your success. I’ve learned from my clients that they appreciate a quick response from me all the time. I recommend that you be available to your clients by email, phone and fax at all times. A prompt response is a good indication of solid
design work and will give your client confidence in your services.
If your client has a pleasurable experience with you they will happily refer you on to all the people around them. In the beginning, referrals are the quickest way to build your business on solid ground and with minimal costs. I’ve built my business by starting out working from my home. The great thing
about graphic design is the ability to do the job from the comfort of your home and this is a great way to minimize costs. Operate on a debt free basis, paying for all your businessexpenses with cash. You can still use older versions of software to build solid designs without your clients ever knowing the difference, and without the constant cost of upgrading.
While you are working from home, plan to meet with your clients at a local coffee shop or their place of business. Send design proofs via email instead of printing them out on costly paper. In fact most of my business operates over email. I hope this article has helped by giving you some practical ideas on how to build a successful graphic design business with minimal costs.
Traditionally, this field has included both the creative preparation and execution of materials in the areas of: Logo Design, Corporate Identity, Brochure Design, Photo Retouching, Charts/Graphs/Diagrams, and other printed materials. Graphic Design can also include the preparation of 35mm Slide Presentations, Television Advertisements, Multi-Media Presentations, and other Visual Aids.
Today, the term Graphic Design also includes the rapidly expanded Web Design market. While a Designer may certainly specialize in one area, it is common to find designers with applicable knowledge is more than one discipline. An artist may be expected to design entire websites, edit photos for both print and web use, and design printed materials which also have web applications.
Many of the web sites you visit involve the efforts of a Graphic Designer. Advertising Agencies employ many them to prepare the ads you see on television. In the past, a Graphic Designer could rely on predominately right- brain tendencies of being a "Creative" type. One must not only be "Creative," but also possess the "Logic" skills to pilot numerous software programs, trouble shoot computing issues, etc.
Graphic Design is a highly rewarding career. This profession is also a great Work At Home opportunity. Once one is established (education, contacts, etc.), a Home Office can be the perfect option. Incomes vary and are dependent on a number of factors, including: area(s) of expertise, years of experience, business contacts, etc.
A. Graphic Design Schools - Everything You Need To Know
A successful future in the new media industry (and specifically, graphic design) depends on choosing the right school. In my case, they asked for a portfolio of work as part of the admission process. So, if you are self-taught and eager to solidify your already existing knowledge, or a total beginner, this is a good choice for you. If, however, you have already completed a similar program, you may wish to take a new program merely to upgrade your skills (because the field of new media is always changing).
If you can, it really, really, really helps if you take a freehand drawing course prior to learning how to draw using a computer.
1. Recognition
- Does the school participate in any graphical arts competitions?
- Have students accomplished anything of reknown in the industry?
2. Teachers
I have never encountered an instructor that wasn't immensely knowledgeable about the subject area. Of course, there is a big difference between knowing the subject area and being able to teach (that is, to convey that information, and manage students, answer questions, etc).
3. Job Placement
100% make sure that you get into a program that incorporates on-the-job experience.
4. Curriculum And Tools
You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education. As it so happens in my case, the administration did something they have never done before: changed the curriculum halfway through the program. Don't just oogle at the computers, snoop around and see the programs directory and make note of what programs are installed, and if they are the latest versions.
5. Student to Teacher Ratio
Graphic design is kind of an industry that more or less demands personal contributions on every project.
6. Accreditation
Accreditation means the school has passed a certain standards of educational quality. If you can, ask for literally one minute of the head departments time and find out a listing of companies that students have been hired into.
7. Cost
A full education in graphic design can cost anywhere from 13,000 to 16,000 dollars for an intensive one-year program (120 credits). The goal here is to find a university, college, or technical institute that is recognized internationally for excellence. Let's face it, Harvard University will look a lot better on your resume than Texas Community College. Three great recognized schools in are BCIT located in Vancouver Canada (Vancouver is the equivalent of Hollywood for graphic designers, web designers, and all new media experts), the Art Institute (with locations worldwide), and the Vancouver Film School (VFS) that has graphic design programs that are very specialized.
8. Scholarships
Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on art competitions they hold regularly. You should qualify for a national student loan either way, and repayment is extremely affordable.
B. One Lesson Book - The Graphic Design
No matter who actually you are, a graphic designer, web designer, visualizer, concept developer, animator or layout artist. If you belong with word “Graphic Design”, this is for you.
It’s about the time when I was in initial stage of learning graphic design. I still remember most of my great designs were actually started without any concept and were been conceptualized, after I finished them. This article “One Lesson Book – The Graphic Design” is all about explaining the most critical and important factor to design a conceptualized & significant graphic for highly demanding corporate design world.
Graphic design is no more remains the art of playing with colors; it’s a complete set of processes to follow.
- Understanding Core Concept.
- Visualizing
- Creating Value
- Sketching
- Layout Designing
- Final Touch
1) Understanding Core Concept
Core concept is actually the message, which needs to be delivered to audience of your graphic. Better to call it subject of graphic. So before double clicking the icon of graphic editor, set a core message for your future graphic. Think what you need, your audience to know by this graphic.
2) Visualizing
I believe the most critical factor to design a significant graphic is visualizing and designing the concept. Concept i.e. how will you deliver your message to your audience? Concept i.e. what single illusion will replace your 1000 words? In this step you need to visualize the look and feel of your future graphic. You need to visualize the contents of graphic. In graphic, they had placed a luxurious white color sofa on four wheels. Of course they wanted to show their customers, how much comfort the car delivers to rider. This is an elegant example of getting the core concept (“Delivering Comfort”) and visualizing a design (“Luxurious Sofa on Four Wheels”).
3) Creating Value
Creating value means you have to visualize your design according to the value of product or value of brand. What I mean to say is you can’t visualize a beggar signing a cheque by a Luxurious Parker Pen Or, you can’t visualize a family sitting & smiling in a Red Ferrari Racing Car. The brands have certain values and you have to design your graphic accordingly to maintain their brand value.
4) Sketching
Most of the designers love to skip this step, but this is again a very important section. Designing a sketch of your visualization before drawing the actual graphic, is like designing a demonstration model of a building, before actually building it.
5) Layout Designing
Now you are 100% ready to make your hands dirty with the various tools of graphic design software to shape your imagination in actual form. There is a saying in management “it’s always better to spend extra time when planning, instead of spending extra days in producing”.
6) Final Touch
- Check if the size ratio of text and images is correct or not? Use small text size for sleekness and big text size for giving focus.
- Check if the colors you have used are kissing your eyes or not? Use combination of dark shades or light-dark shades rather then fully light colors.
- Check if you have placed a significant amount of text too to describe your core message or not?
- Check if there is any content missing?
C. Easy Steps to Build a Successful Graphic Design Business From Home
Being in the graphic design business is very competitive – you have to learn to swim or you will sink fast. I’ve been a graphic designer for 12 years and I’d like to share the journey I took to owning and building a successful graphic design business. One of the first things I recommend to help develop skills and learn tricks that you would never learn in school is to get an internship. I got my first taste of graphic design in high school and by my senior year I was working as an intern for a small graphic design firm and also a print shop. My skills and thirst for design blossomed from there. I majored in graphic design in college and had landed a very high profile graphic design internship and was taught a vast amount of tricks of the trade by
highly skilled designers.
I use design books as inspiration for a lot of the graphic design work that I do. Having confidence in your ability and being able to apply that to your business is essential to your business success. When I first started my business, I was nervous, but confident in my ability to run my business with class. I plunged right in with both feet by developing a business plan, company name, web site and logo. Marketing is the hardest part of owning a small business and takes immense amounts of confidence and strength of character to do well, but if done effectively it will catapult your business to success.
Sell, sell, sell. Building a successful graphic design business is all about selling and marketing yourself. Some practical ways I have marketed my business is by: joining my local Chamber of Commerce, building a strong web site that is correctly optimized, adding numerous reciprocal links to my web site, handing out business cards that function as a mini brochure, joining a leads group, joining special interest clubs, attending business expo’s and conventions, and networking with other business professionals. Marketing is all about building relationships with others and then capitalizing on the opportunity to sell your graphic design services.
Customer service is key to your success. The clients you gain and the customer service they receive from you is imperative to your success. I’ve learned from my clients that they appreciate a quick response from me all the time. I recommend that you be available to your clients by email, phone and fax at all times. A prompt response is a good indication of solid
design work and will give your client confidence in your services.
If your client has a pleasurable experience with you they will happily refer you on to all the people around them. In the beginning, referrals are the quickest way to build your business on solid ground and with minimal costs. I’ve built my business by starting out working from my home. The great thing
about graphic design is the ability to do the job from the comfort of your home and this is a great way to minimize costs. Operate on a debt free basis, paying for all your businessexpenses with cash. You can still use older versions of software to build solid designs without your clients ever knowing the difference, and without the constant cost of upgrading.
While you are working from home, plan to meet with your clients at a local coffee shop or their place of business. Send design proofs via email instead of printing them out on costly paper. In fact most of my business operates over email. I hope this article has helped by giving you some practical ideas on how to build a successful graphic design business with minimal costs.
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