Recently Returned to Graphic Design

[Scottc82]

Hi everyone! My name is Scott and I am a young college student. Art, Graphic Design, and digital images were my life while I was in high school; I played with Photoshop during the times when my friends were playing video games or hanging out with friends. I got pretty good at it...but I've been out of the loop for a couple years. I dropped everything after high school and went to Texas on a two-year service assignment for my Church. Now I'm back, and I'm wondering where do I start? Last I checked, it seemed like shadowness.com was king, and everyone was using Arial font and arrows to decorate exploded teapots from 3D Studio Max...what's popular in 2007? What new and cool stuff is there, what have people figured out?

I LOVE art, and I love design - so basically I'm asking for a map more than anything. Where should I go for new insight and inspiration?

Thanks,
-Scott

[Kool]

Hi Scott, welcome to the forum. http://home.comcast.net/~rnick9/koolsmiley.gif

I know what that two-year service assignment was ;)

[budafist]

Is there an in-joke here?

Scott, there are many trends every season or so. It doesn't mean that you should follow them. Some of the greatest designers avoid the latest design fads. To be a good designer you should be able to have a style that comes from within. Styling your design by seeking what is "in fashion" only makes you a copier. To be a creator, you need to know what works and what doesn't and why. Until you can create from within, you will only be a trend whore and never a trend originator.

[morea]

welcome Scott.

This thread contains my best advice for aspiring graphic designers:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25079

[Scottc82]

Hmm okay. Thank you for the advice Budafist; and for the link morea. Elder Kool, glad to know we're out there [if that doesn't make us sound like Illumnati, I don't know what will (cool down everyone, it just means we share some common beliefs)].

You know I actually had the term trendwhore in my original post, but I changed it because, like you said Budafist, that's not the point. Copycats and fashion lackeys never started any revolutions. ;) But they can give them greater momentum.
Anyway, thanks for the responses - I'll be checking out ya'll's art and posting up mine as it comes.

[SurfPark]

The most recent visual trend is called "Web 2.0" and it can be neatly summed up here: http://f6design.com/journal/2006/10/21/the-visual-design-of-web-20/

[Ned]

Two-year service assignment? What is that, a missionary venture?

[Scottc82]

Yes, I was a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Thank you SurfPark! That is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. Very interesting - Of course I have seen the rise of the Web 2.0 style, but I didn't know it had a name. Cool. Props to Apple for re-inventing graphic design. ;P jk. That's what they like to think, I'm sure.

Uhmm well I've attached a recent design piece, a personal piece - it's the design for an engagement ring I plan to [one day] have made for my future wife. All done in Photoshop, 'cept for the stock photos of course - which are, parenthetically, not copyright by me, but by whoever took them and put them on the internet.
Just to show you what I do. Critiques or whatever welcome.

Ya'll have a great week
-Scott