Graphic design is a field that is quickly changing, both creatively and technically, and while it is easy to get caught up in learning new technical skills, it is just as important to focus improving and pushing the limits of our creativity.Below is a list of tips, exercises and practices that can help you strengthen creativity, continue learning, and help you to become an all-around better designer.
1Become a collector. Each time you see a design that inspires you, collect it, bring it home and file it away. You can stack them in boxes or folders, allowing you access to them. They're a great resource of inspiration when needed. Even Starbucks gives out creative weekly mini-newspapers.
2Having an extensive book collection is always essential to learning. I try buying a new book at least every 2 weeks that range from inspirational, educational and technical topics.
3This is a very important step I’ve recently decided to take and started this blog. I always felt like. I was not someone who could teach other people because I’m still learning too. However, I discovered that sharing your knowledge is a great way to learn as well.Writing design articles helps to organize your thoughts and review the knowledge you’ve already acquired. Also, it usually requires some research and examples, which can even lead to knowing the topic deeper and better.Creating a blog is definitely a good idea and just another step you want to take if you feel like you’re ready for it.
4A year ago, a friend of mine, started a ‘national studio tour‘ where he toured and interviewed with over 100 different design studios. He said the experience was amazing and learned so much by asking questions that design school could have never answered. He also met a valuable useful contacts.
5Sometimes, you would overlook the type of paper you are using for your resume. Of course, you would focus more on the design and contents of your resume but do not forget the type of paper you will use. Some employers are actually particular with your paper choices. Grab a good paper and it will give you more points to get the job.
6Build in a set amount of revisions for your projects. A client that can endlessly revise your work can be a real problem. Set a certain amount of revisions and then charge for those that go over.
7Join and be active in the design community. As a freelance designer, joining an online design community is a must. Not only does it keep you up-to-date in the design world, but is also great for feedback and critique. Being your own boss is great, but not having anyone to answer to as a freelancer also has its down sides. If you work alone, there is no one to criticize your work and help you improve. A site you might like tobecome a part of is DeviantArt. There you can.
8Use Professional Fonts: While free fonts are like candy to graphic designers, many of them are poorly put together. This is not to say that they should be avoided entirely, but it is a good idea to explore and experiment with any new font to make sure that it will perform the way you want it to in a variety of situations.
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