People have always been asking themselves this question no matter where they were or what they did. Some people land high paying executive jobs and realize that what they really wanted to do was to become an artist. But some problems come along the way and they end up doing something that they never really wanted to do in the first place. Don’t be one of them – if you have a love for becoming a graphic designer and you have always been contorting pictures in design software on your computer, then you can not only learn graphic design but you can also turn it into a productive career so you do not have to be stuck doing something else. This way you can get both personal satisfaction and capital benefits.
Let’s face it – design schools aren’t really affordable. Even if you could afford it you might not be able to go to school because of your work agenda or your daily routine. But that does not mean that you cannot be a graphic designer. You can surely do it on your own with a little bit of help. Any form of art, like graphic design, becomes a skill only if you have practiced enough and only if you have the simple knowledge of how to draw and how to design. A lot of people got into graphic design thinking they couldn’t draw if their lives depended on it but came out of design programs drawing like pros. Learning art is all about getting yourself out there and doing – not just procrastinating and dreaming. If you keep your interest going you will enjoy studying graphic design.
Learning graphic design means that you will need a lot of books at your disposal. You will also need some key stationary at first and later some art supplies. You will need a sketch book ready at hand. Look for book titles in sketching and drawing first – before you tackle design. Andrew Loomis is a great writer and you can learn a lot from his books about sketching. Buy and keep those books as a reference or just check them out from the library. The next thing you need is to train your eye with those books and employ those techniques in the art that you draw. And you must draw – a lot. Draw things around you and you will begin to get an idea about how to sketch. If you can do it on paper you can do it on the computer. You should also learn to sketch story board size drawings and bigger drawing both.
You will also need some other informative books on topics like graphic design elements, color theory and mixing, letterhead design, brochure design, logo design, visiting card design and on designing layouts. Design is also learned by viewing other people’s designs – just don’t copy them but take elements from them and do your own thing. Take all this very seriously – just think that you are in a design school but you don’t have to commute or pay education fees. Do your assignments and practice designs – you can also take help from online forums and communities for graphic design. You will learn even more that way. To learn graphic design you just have to keep yourself excited about it.
Tags: andrew loomis, book titles, daily routine, executive jobs, form of art, graphic designer, personal satisfaction, productive career, sketch book, work agenda