How to become a better designer?

[estazor]

Well I am sure everyone is wondering this question as much as I am. What would you all say would be best to become a better designer? Would it be through practice, following your instincts, classes, experience, or maybe a combination of all that is stated above but with a little extra?

[Big Perm-dizzle]

by better do you mean faster at creating art that clients like or more experimental new styles or better can mean with like a web designer knowing more developemental skills

this forum is one way to make yourself 'better' in any aspect

---- Sheriff of Boobie Island --------

Wayne: Our enemy is wicked, so...
J.D.: Dude, she's Freddy Krueger.
Wayne: Damien.
J.D.: Dude, she's Vader.
Wayne: No! She's the Emperor.
J.D.: Yeah, but with really great ****.

[estazor]

Well I guess I am asking how to better overall. I mean to be able to say that your work overall has improved continuously instead of just staying at the same level.

[PrintDriver]

the best designers I know have a clear concept of how a job goes together from start to finish.

they know what they want for an end product and they work backward from there. that means calling the printer or the fabricator FIRST and sitting down and hashing out what can and can't be done and coming up with alts right away.

scheduling is also discussed and when what files are due and when the drop dead date is for anything (rush charges can apply after that date).

then they are flexible should something change halfway into the project, whether it is a client asking for a special change or a carp slipping with the router and making the visible opening for a graphic a little too big.

then they stick to the schedule (usually).

course then there are tv people... want it yesterday, send files tomorrow. TG for FTP.

how to determine if you are staying at the same skill level is tough. if you do one thing (or several) really well and keep doing it and make money, what's it mean to get better? I think it's when you can look at a job and say it went smoothly from start to finish.
Programs and layout are practice, practice, practice but business skills and learning how NOT to lose money is what can make you good. Prepress, time management, self-starting are all good things to learn and hone.

a little off topic maybe but close.

and what is wrong with my friggin cap key???

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[paulrandfan]

The best designers I know are educated, and are constantly solving different design problems. They can think on their feet. Actually the best designer I can think of is Luba Lukova. She's a designer from NYC, and did a show at my school. She is so intelligent and so brilliant. Read, learn, and problem solve.

'To Design is much more than simply to assemble, to order, or even to edit; it is to add value and meaning, to illuminate, to simplify, to clarify, to modify, to dignify, to dramatize, to persuade, and perhaps even to amuse.' --Paul Rand

[gr8one]

I believe the best thing you can do tobecome a better designer is experment, experiment, experiment. Don't be afraid to break up a design that's halfway done and head off in a new direction if you're not happy with it.

I used to tip-toe around my designs for fear I'd "screw them up", yet at the same time I knew the design wasn't quite there yet, and this usually resulted in hoursof wasted time moving page elements one pixel this way and one pixel that way.

Experimenting allows you to see designs that your mind would not have even envisioned. I believe some of the best design elements out there happen as a result of "lucky mistakes" that the designer decided to keep.

As I've heard it described before in other forums - "The play factor must be high".

[profrec]

i agree with the lucky mistakes concept that gr8one said.

i often find myself making 2 or 3 different versions of whatever i'm doing and taking ideas from each one that work the best be it the typeface from one or the imagery from another and build a final concept based on that. it's kind of the round about way of doing things though and i'm actually working now on trying to break myself of the habit, (too time consuming).

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/frusty.gif

[gatorage]

Like paulrandfan said, it is making sure you're always learning.

Graphic design is an amazing career that touches on so many other areas, there is no excuse for not learning something new every day/week/month/year.

If I'm having trouble solving a graphic design problem, I look for inspiration somewhere new, be it architecture, interior design, industrial, fine art, any related design disciplines. Or I look at an area like psychology, gestalt theory, grid structures, fibonnaci sequences, geometry, etc etc the list is endless.

You'll find that your designs evolve and improve consistently if you're expanding your knowledge base.

[D-Zine]

I have to agree with everything pretty much that PD said above.

Boobie Island or Bust!

[LAURA]

Just keep doing it and doing it. I also find that reworking old projects and thinking about how I coudl make them better helps. Also, try to get out of the habit of solving design problems in the same way and force yourself to approach a design differently than you normally would. I find that helps too! Study well known designers and ask tons of questions, which is what you're doing by posting, so great!

lAF

[Carder]

Hello everyone.I am new to this forum and interested in this question very much.I'm not a designer but i realy want to be a good designer,so I need some suggestion about how to getting start?(sorry,my english is not good,but I can reading.)

Post Edited (Carder) : 9/2/2004 6:42:54 PM GMT

[morea]

Hi Carder, welcome to GDF!

If you want to learn about design, this is definitely the place to be! A good place to start would be the Resource section here at GDF - http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/default.aspx?f=36

I've also learned quite a lot by trying different tutorials on the internet and reading 'Teach Yourself....' books. Don't overlook the basics, either. Layout, color theory and an understanding of the printing process are very important. Practice sketching, experimenting with shape and color, and brainstorming. Learn from what other people are doing, and practice a lot!

Above all, keep a positive attitude, don't feel bad if your design work looks 'simple' next to others with more experience. Post your work here to be critiqued... the people I have met here have given me all kinds of pointers which have made me a better artist. I hope that this helps! Good luck!

You know what are neat? Sheep. Because they're wooly, and if you pick them up, they scream!

[Carder]

Thank you very much morea! I'll doing my best. And I just finished a work,I'd like to know what you think about it.

[morea]

It's a neat image - what does the company do?

You know what are neat? Sheep. Because they're wooly, and if you pick them up, they scream!

[Keyare]

They swoosh.

It's another swooshing company.

You see, swooshing became popular in the late nineties. Many many companies added swooshing to their repertoire and in some cases reflected their new-found swooshing capabilities in their logos. Swooshing was cool. Swooshing was hip and nift.

Everybody was doing it. Everybody had to swoosh. A swoosh here, a swoosh there...even if they didn't really swoosh! I even considered adding swooshing to my business and logo back in the day.

You'll still see the remenants of the swooshing fad to this day in companies around the world. (Not just surf board companies and fisheries and boat builders - those are old-school swooshers.)

So anyway, that company must be really good at swooshing to still have it in their logo.

Care to share a tacoobie?

[Keyare]

or maybe they sell snails.

Care to share a tacoobie?

[Big Perm-dizzle]

swooshes = circa 1997

try something new....

otto veblin = Zartan


'yes here is your logo' - zartan
'um dont like it can you add a swoosh?' - zartan
'No I am the designer bitch now pay your bill!' - zartan
- client leaves -

[Magnus]

Yeah, like a blob. Blobs I hear are in nowadays.

"It's not cheating if you win."

- A VERY wise person.

[subdriverswife]

You've gotten some excellent advice. One more thing I'd like to add which is more playing off what most folks have already eluded to is this forum...or design friends/cohorts to bounce ideas off of. When I was still 'Trying' to do it on my own, I had access to my good friend Rams (cowgirl expressions on here) and another friend and designer. The 3 of us constantly bounce ideas, concepts, WIP's off of each other and have often really cranked out some great looking product because we had that constructive criticism. In essence, I not only had 2 design professionals whose brains I could pick, but it was more than that because they also knew my personality, my style, and could find nuances that someone else might not be able to or knew just what suggestion to make so the design would 'fit' and still be 'my style' if that makes any sense. Having support in the 'biz' is a great thing. I've only been on this forum a few weeks but everyone here has been extremely open, helpful and wise. Its a nice find in a world that can be cutthroat oftentimes. I also think reinvention is a good thing. Give your website and your program a facelift from time to time and keep it fresh. Encourage clients to do the same. Take a marketing approach to your design. Not just what 'should' look good or work theoretically but what is working in that industry today,etc. An example is the horse industry which I work very closely with. The 'trend' for breed magazine ads (especially stock breeds) is to mask the horse into a completely new background. The effect is very obviously fake, but it sells. Look at what sells, play with techniques, participate here in the potluck showcase or photoshop battle for some 'fun practice', etc. HTHS and best luck!

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[morea]

Excellent tip, SDW.

Tana na envinyatanye metimave metuvanye

[Carder]

Thank you everyone....Thank you subdriverswife,you let me know there is something more improtant than only just graphic design.And hope you don't mind my next jejunely question.Why the something new is the best?What about old?Who made the fad? By the clients or consumers or maybe designers?...How can I know what they need?(I mean the clients and consumers). And how can I make sure that my ideas has on my own way? Is it improtant?

And by the way.What's the 'HTHS' means?

Finally,GDF is really a good place.I love here.Thank everyone again.And forgive my bad english please.

[morea]

I find it helpful to come right out and ask a customer what they are looking for. What color or colors do they like? Are there certain colors they dislike? What do they sell? Who do they sell it to? What would they use the logo for - printing? web site? signs? What values are important to the company, meaning, what 'key words' describe them? Do they have a slogan / motto / tagline? How do they want to be thought of? That helps to focus on ideas that will appeal to them.

And I'm guessing that HTHS means 'hope this helps some...'

Glad you are enjoying it here... this is a great place! /emoticons/biggrin.gif

Tana na envinyatanye metimave metuvanye

[Carder]

Oh...you are so nice morea.I understand now.Thanks.

And I'd like to know.Is here anyone has designed anything about China?

[subdriverswife]

Thanks Morea! I might not be a great designer but I like to think I have a sales/marketing/customer satisfaction driven mindset. Correct on the HTHS! :)

Carder- I might should have phrased that differently. I don't neccessarily think 'new' is always best, and there are certainly cases where it is not going to benefit you to reinvent the wheel. Morea gives you excellent advice in probing your clients for their initial likes/wants/visions, etc. In fact, there's one of those 'mass production' logo companies out there that does this, www.logobob.com . I'm not suggesting use them, but if you look at their free advice page, you'll see a long list of off the wall questions that helps their designers determine whether your goal style is traditional, new age, modern, cutting edge, daring, etc. Maybe I should've said to always try to keep a 'fresh' (rather than new) perspective on jobs. Its good to research the industry and see what is working, what isn't, but keep your mind open and try not to let those adverts/sites/etc that you're looking at pilfer into your design if that makes sense. Best of luck!

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[Carder]

Thanks subdriverswife!
I've been here just only a week.And everyone here has been fervidly and helpful though my question is simple.Thanks a lot.

[ic3d]

I have a few 'rules' that helped me a lot getting better and better since i started.

- Practise a lot!
- Don't be satisfied too quickly, always look for the components and the creation as a whole seperatly and try to tune every little detail, not matter how mutch time it costs.
- Always keep learning, new software, new techniques, styles, shapes, colors etc etc always keep learning.
- Always keep looking around, see what others create. buy books, watch portfolio's, sites, museums, exhibitions, video's etc etc. And just look around, there is so mutch design around you. If you love designing you'll love looking around, use your imagination, create things, finalize things or change them as they are, all in your head.

Web and design portfolio in progress (http://www.pixelerate.net)

[revelation]

Hi all! im new to this forum and found it to be great! im a graphic designer from liverpool currently grasping the concept of web design. ive always found that what makes me personally a better designer is keeping a small A5 sized book on me at all times and just jot any ideas that i have down in it... kinda treat it like a brain. i have come up with some great concepts doing this, and now i couldnt do without my books. /emoticons/thumbsup.gif

[coconut]

organization is good. Also expose yourself to art. Look at what the big guys are doing in advertising. Billboards, magazines, tv, websites. Drawing skills help. Develop a style you like. Know the softwares that are used. And of course use this forum. :) Don't get overwhelmed. Study Post Script.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[coconut]

revelation I couldn't agree more. I keep a small pad with me to write down color combinations I like. Great advise.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[revelation]

hey thanks! i often look at billboards and other advertisements and sometimes run over how i would develop the work. i have a thing for fonts, i develop some of my own but im trying to get to grips with a package called fontographer. i try the whole organisation thing but the artistic chaos sometimes takes over. im gettin better at it tho.