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Article Series: Graphic Design
Help Me To Learn Graphic Design
How
Do I Become a Graphic Designer?
The field of graphic design is very rewarding
as well as very competitive. However, there are many different
types of graphic design and plenty of sub-fields to choose
from within this line of work.
One
of the first steps to becoming a graphic designer is to
decide which type of design you are most interested in. For
instance, some people are employed in the field of animation
as creators of cartoon script. Others created the visual story
lines for video games.
An additional type of graphic design would be the development
of greeting card and stationary templates. This includes the
creation of visual arts for e-cards and website backgrounds.
It can also include banners and logos, but that is usually
more of a commercial type of design.
Commercial designing, and is probably the field that provides
the most employment opportunity. This is the line of work that
involves creating a variety of different types of promotional
multimedia productions.
For instance, a television commercial may include graphics
and animation, as well as a business logo. Likewise, an internet
add might include sound, animation, and logo art.
Some commercial graphic designers specialize in one area of
graphic design. However, most people start out working on a
variety of different design projects to gain experience. The
different types of advertisement media that are created by
those involved in commercial graphic design.
These include the following: logo design (as already mentioned),
web development, brochure creation, banner creation, sign making,
and letter design. These may include either two-dimensional
or three-dimensional images.
If
you know what type of graphic design you would like to
do then you are ready for the next step - training. You
can teach yourself and practice on your own via website
tools, library
resources, and online training. However, you may also benefit
from online and offline accredited training.
No matter how much training you have, however, you also need
practice. Perhaps you can take on a few lower-paying jobs to
gain experience that would make your resume shine. Furthermore,
you might consider completing design jobs for local non-profit
groups or churches.
Once you have completed training chances are you will need
to access your skills as a designer. If you have a natural
eye for design and you have some great samples then you can
start with these.
Furthermore, you can find free self-assessment
tools on the
web to determine whether or not you could make it as a designer.
These assessments will also help you find out more about your
strengths pertaining to design.
After you feel confident enough that you will make it as a
designer, then you will want to draw up a plan of success.
This could include a list of places that are hiring full-time
design staff or it could be your own business plan.
No matter where you are in the process of training, you should
make sure you have the best type of desktop publishing software
on hand as well. Although you may have a natural eye for graphic
art, it will take time to learn how to maneuver within certain
design programs.
If you have the best quality software, you are apt to be able
to make a living as a freelance designer. You will want to
consider this as one of your supply costs written into your
business plan.
Recommended types of graphic design programs include those
created by Adobe, Coral Ventura, Microsoft Office Publisher,
and Quarxtplus. Serif PagePlus is also a very helpful program.
You can also obtain specific types of publishing programs
for creating projects such as greeting cards, stationary, calendars,
or other gift items. Some of these include Hallmark Card Studio,
American Greetings Creatacard, and others.
You may not have hundreds-or even thousands-of dollars to
spend up front on software. Besides, if you are still in the
beginning stages of using computer software you will want to
try some out before you invest.
It just so happens that some versions of Serif PagePlus for
Windows are offered for free. These are usually the older versions,
but they often will help beginning designers perform a variety
of different design tasks.
Other types of free design software include Scribus Desktop
Publishing and Open Office. These together can help you complete
a variety of different types of design tasks. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
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