Designs for websites request to make an advertisement, a need in the small graphic for an existing web page, and sketches for clothes… All of them are gathered under the common denominator known as design. And you are an aspiring design student.
Of course, graphic design, web design, clothing design, and interior design are different things. Sometimes, they can be so different that the word “design” is the only thing they have in common. General but useful tips is another common thing.
So, what should you remember while studying any type of design?
Tip 1: Peep but don’t copy
Of course, it is hard to be a pioneer in a field where only the author’s vision is new. Every day you will come across the work of other designers, and every day you will notice something that could be used in your work.
Once a thought “borrow and use” is in your mind, please, stop, and remember: you won’t become a successful designer if you copy or imitate the work of other people. You can learn from and be inspired by other designers, but you will do a disservice to yourself if you decide to start by copying.
Be bold, be brave, be confident. Explore the styles you like, listen to your own aesthetic, and bring your vision to the design you are studying.
Tip 2: Practice
You will need to get your hand in the design. A reliable way is practicing for yourself in your free time. A more reliable way is to start a freelance career. You don’t have to remain a freelance designer all your life if it doesn’t suit you. Also, while working as a freelance designer, you can be noticed by firms and companies.
Search for freelance platforms or ask people from essayhelp.com to do a comprehensive analysis of platforms for freelance designers. You will have an idea of where to start and where you will have various tasks for sure.
Additionally, such a practice will be an excellent base for you to start filling your portfolio with work samples. The more you have, the more clients you can attract, which means experience and a customer base. It’s a very lucrative deal!
Tip 3: Communication
This one is strongly related to your decision to work as a freelance designer. You can find many stories with the same plot: clients want something they do not know what, and it becomes a headache for a designer. Because the client is always right. Because a designer needs good feedback. Because a designer wants to eat, and a client can refuse to pay for work.
Hence, you need to spend some time to describe the conditions under which you will work. When will you start working with clients, you need to ask them as many questions as possible about what they want to see in the end. Eventually, you will have the experience you need in predicting what the client needs, but this way, you will be safe, and your work will not be wasted.
Tip 4: Criticism
You can’t avoid criticism, and you should be ready for this moment in your designer’s life. You also should be ready for different types of criticism. You can ignore statements like “I do not like your work just because” as they aren’t educational for you. It’s a mere subjective statement, and you can’t please everyone.
Do not ignore constructive criticism. Of course, you still can’t please everyone, but constructive criticism explains the points you need to improve to improve your work.
Listen carefully, take notes, but apply corrections when you understand it is indispensable. Some fellow designers may accidentally try to tweak your style to their own.
Tip 5: Perfection does not exist…
No matter how good your work is, you can feel that you are unhappy with your mastery level. And this is the moment when you have to stop for a while.
Completely perfect works do not exist. Even a master will have a mistake, which an aspiring designer will see. The pursuit of excellence will exhaust you eventually. It can hinder your style and harm your deadlines. Modern capabilities allow you to return to work after a while and make some adjustments to improve the work. Use them. You will be much happier in the long run.
Tip 6: …but don’t stop learning
No, tip #5 and tip #6 don’t contradict themselves. Just because perfection doesn’t exist, it doesn’t mean that you should not learn further after you have achieved a certain level.
Look for special literature and visit events for designers, if you have such a chance. Watch tutorials and communicate with your fellow designers who have some experience. Revise your old works and see what you can do differently this time to improve them.
Do not stop learning. Do not stop improving. Do not let the strive for perfection exhaust you. And, most importantly, always be yourself in your designer’s career.
