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Graphic designer profession requirements. The Graphic Designer Path: Learning and Getting a Job

One of the most important professions in the digital field, this is the profession of a graphic designer.

Graphic design surrounds us everywhere, both in the Internet space and in real life... This includes the creation of banners, flyers, presentations, layout of magazines and other graphic materials for advertising and business.

Example of a graphic designer's work: Wikium ad banner

The main directions of graphic design:

Form style
Business Cards
Logos and brand names
Presentations
Posters and Placards
Magazines and books
Illustrations and advertising in print media
Outdoor and transport advertising
Advertising banners
Infographics and graphical diagrams
Calendars
Flyers and brochures
Packaging and labels

Think what is more interesting for you: to create form style for business or labels and packaging, infographics or interfaces.

Choose several related areas: for example, you can devote yourself to working with a business - to develop a corporate identity, logos, business cards and presentations. Or study the peculiarities of printing and layout and take care of flyers, booklets, calendars, posters and other printed materials.

To understand what exactly you like, you need to try yourself in every direction.

What skills are needed

The first thing you will need is a good command of graphics programs. At the first stage, you will need:

Adobe Photoshop,
Adobe Illustrator,
Corel draw

or their free counterparts, for example:

Krita,
Paint.NET,
GIMPShop,
Inkscape,
Gravit,
Vectr,
Vecteezy Editor.

But if you want to develop in the profession, you will need knowledge of more serious programs:

For layout: InDesign, Quark Xpress, Ventura Publisher, TeX, FrameMaker.
For animating objects and characters: After Effects.
For 3D modeling: 3DMax, Blender, SketchUp, ZBrush, Cinema 4D.

The next point is knowledge about the visual side of design. The most important ones are composition theory, coloristics (the science of colors and their combination) and typography (the science of typefaces). Specialized literature and online courses will help you to study them.

Books for a graphic designer:

You can see it now. And other design essays. Michael Beirut.
Rice storm and 21 more ways to think outside the box. Michael Mikalko.

The third thing a graphic designer needs is continuous improvement. Follow trends and trends every day, and regularly check other designers' work on Behance. Expand your horizons and develop your artistic taste, refer to the classics visual arts and design, take inspiration from the work of renowned artists. This will help you avoid standing still and getting stuck in your own templates.

How to build a portfolio

It will be difficult to find a job without a portfolio, so in the process of training, create several works that you can show to a potential customer. The easiest way is to open any one and see the orders there. You will see what customers need, what their requirements and budgets are. The last point will help you determine the most profitable directions.

Another way is to create what you want, to embody own idea... For example, create an advertising banner for your favorite clothing brand, a business card with an interesting idea, or your own logo. Most importantly, remember that the work must look professional and be in line with design trends.

Where to study

You can learn a profession on your own using books and video tutorials or take an online course with a teacher who will give not only structured theoretical knowledge, but also tell about the state of the industry, about the specifics of working with clients, about pitfalls, typical mistakes newbies.

Choosing the specialty of a graphic designer, many young people rarely think about the development of their careers, about what will happen in 10-20 years. However, with the increase in professional experience, this issue sooner or later gets in the way of everyone.

Of course, the specialty of a graphic designer is very interesting and provides huge opportunities for creativity, but it has its own costs. The designer is an executive position. She has her own salary "ceiling", upon reaching which it is almost impossible to increase her income intensively.

There are several career options for a graphic designer.

The most obvious of these is the position of an art director. The art director leads a team that includes designers, illustrators, photographers, layout designers and sometimes copywriters. An integral quality of an employee in this position is the ability to think creatively, generate new ideas, control the work of designers and present its results to customers.

A graphic designer can grow to be a creative director. His main responsibilities are organizing and coordinating the creative activities of the agency. This includes generating ideas, monitoring the work of performers, interaction with customers and contractors, business planning, analysis of promising directions for the company's development.

As a designer progresses, he can also become a marketing director, who determines the marketing strategy of the company, makes decisions at the highest level, and manages the marketing department.

Another potential development option is the position of Development Director. This position presupposes a very wide range of responsibilities and competencies, but first of all the person occupying this position is responsible for the growth and development of the company.

All of these career options imply leadership positions... An alternative development option can be deepening into specific areas of graphic design: web design and application design, game design, 3D design, etc.

For successful career advancement, a designer must improve not only as a narrow specialist, but also build up knowledge and competencies in related fields.

The responsibilities of all top employees of the agency include communication with clients, contractors and performers. Therefore, it is important to master the sphere business communications... It is necessary to learn how to build communication with the customer,

delve into the essence of his problems and needs. No less important is the ability to correctly convey the task to the performers and present the results of the work. An unsuccessful presentation can ruin any idea, so the ability to clearly formulate thoughts and convey information in an accessible way is one of the key to the positions of creative and art directors.

Successful leadership of a creative team will require human resource management skills. For a team to work stably and efficiently, you need to find an approach to each employee, develop a rhythm that is comfortable for everyone and not lose drive.

The responsibilities of creative and art directors often include organizing and conducting photo and video filming. Here organizational skills, personal concentration, responsibility, time management skills and adequacy in assessing the capabilities of your team come in handy.

Learning the basics of marketing is essential. Understanding the laws by which the market operates and tracking current trends significantly increases your competitiveness.

What matters is the general intellectual and cultural level. Competent oral and written speech, knowledge of the history of art and material culture, the ability to maintain small talk and good manners will greatly help in career development. Ownership is highly desirable English language at a level sufficient for free communication.

There are many ways to obtain all of the above knowledge and skills. You can get additional higher education, attend courses and trainings. Now there are practically unlimited opportunities for self-education. Do not forget that work experience and a wide network of business contacts play a key role in career growth.

I wish you not to be satisfied with what has already been achieved and always strive for more, because the key to success is in daily growth and development!

November 14, 2017 11:58 am

After graduation, for a very long time I worked as a secretary and assistant, dreamed of career growth, promotion to the department, until finally I realized that I had to take everything "into my own hands", for the thirtieth was not far off, but no more or less I never took a serious position! I didn't want to work as a “girl in the wings” anymore, and I realized that it was time to master a new craft.
Today there are a huge number of professions that many do not even know about! I didn’t know either, when at the end of school, I chose the institute to which I entered. If I knew about everything that it offers modern market, I would definitely immediately go to study for graphic designer!

Graphic Designer- by 90% creative profession, which is easy to learn from scratch if you are bored with working, for example, as a lawyer or accountant. In no way do I belittle the importance of the above-mentioned specialists, but it often happens that society recommends getting a "serious" profession first, and then studying for whatever you want! And then you start working in your specialty, and your desires fade into the background - and they get paid just fine! But the soul requires creative impulses!

A graphic designer is actually an advertisement designer. A person who is engaged in visual communication. Advertising can be any: for example, printing (leaflets, brochures, large-format advertising), web (banners, sites), smm (promotion in social networks) and so on. And also, it is the graphic designer who develops logos and corporate identity. This is a very demanded specialty, because in a highly competitive environment, good advertising designers are worth their weight in gold!

You can unlearn a designer at courses, or at an institute - to get a second higher education. In my case, it was something in between - courses professional retraining at a well-known design university, at the end of the course, I received a state diploma. All the teachers were from the university. The program, of course, was express (only a year), much depends on your desire and interest. In my case, the desire was great - by that time I was frankly bored with working as an assistant, and I was very interested in getting a new specialty.

At any training you will be given a "base" and the necessary literature, which you need to thoroughly "shoveled". The course program includes lessons in drawing and painting. Even if you do not know how to draw, it all depends, again, on your desire and perseverance. You will be taught how to stylize, sketch, and if you want to master academic drawing, you just have to work harder.

In addition to drawing and painting, in graphic design courses you will have lessons in composition, color science, typography (the art of type), as well as training in design programs. The latter - even if you do not want to work in your specialty, it will be very useful for you in life: you will understand the difference between a raster and a vector, learn how to professionally process your photos, and not just Instagram filters :-), make up beautiful travel albums - and much more. This is a mega useful and cool skill!

In addition to the lessons, of course, you will have to read a lot of literature - not only in order to master design terms and learn about the various tricks of advanced designers, the resources they use, but also in order to learn how to competently communicate with clients.

And this is a separate "nishtyak" of a graphic designer - freelancing and the possibility of additional income. I’ll make a reservation right away that this is not easy, there are a lot of pitfalls, which can be learned from various professional literature and from our own experience. I will say one thing for sure: if you are sociable, easily get along with people and know how to negotiate, you will have a minimum of problems. And if you "trample", you can completely go to remote work is just the dream of any office worker! :-)
Of course, there are many illusions associated with the work of a designer. For example, after painfully working out my portfolio, and finally starting to work, I realized that there will be no continuous creativity here either :-) Both customers and employers have their own idea of the product for which you are developing a design, and it can be very difficult " agree "with internal ambitions. Therefore, it is better to always have a clear idea of what and why you are doing in order to be able to defend your idea. At the same time, you need to have great flexibility in order to be able to "hear" the customer, because the main task of the designer is, after all, to work for him.

By the way, about the "painful" creation of a portfolio: at first, you will have to work hard, since all clients and employers are interested in your work. And they need to be made from scratch. You can take student work, drawings and a diploma, or take on any job, even for free. Personally, I invented companies, drew logos for them and literally trumpeted everywhere that I was starting to work as a designer - there were people who needed such services.
Now I can confidently state that this work much more interesting than what I had to do in administrative positions. Now, instead of boring documents and numbers, I deal with pictures, presentations, drawing and photo editing.

Of course, everything inevitably turns into a routine, but tell me - what kind of work does not have it? :-) This is partly why designers tend to change their place of work often - they want new achievements, new colors and paints, since working within the framework of one corporate identity is not only boring, but also difficult.

As a designer, you can develop both "upward" and "in breadth". In the first case, you can develop into an art director, brand manager, head of the marketing department, in the second, master web, smm, ux-design (interface design), etc. Or you can go teach or run your own design blog! There are many opportunities for development!
By the way, there are many famous personalities who started out as a graphic (or web) designer, for example: Emma Stone, Serafima Shnurova, Freddie Mercury.

I am of the opinion that you have to go to work like on a holiday :-) Or, at least, come closer to it, because at work we spend most of our life! Therefore, do not be afraid to master new professions if you do not like the old one or are simply fed up!

Thanks to everyone who read to the end! Have a good day and weeks! :-)

Updated 11/12/17 12:03:

My site address: stremyakosha.ru

22.01.2015

How to build a career as a graphic designer: practical tips

Today graphic design is a rapidly growing branch of the IT industry, despite the crisis situation in the country, and at the same time, strangely enough, every day it becomes more and more competitive. We see the work of designers everywhere: signs, plates, pillars, advertising posters, flyers, brochures, books, newspapers, packaging, labels, TV screensavers and much more. To survive in such a rapidly growing and competitive industry, you should do whatever you can and do as early as possible. Some start out in college or college, but there are those who work and do businesses and websites at 14 or even earlier! Age shouldn't confuse you. Rather, he should inspire you to get involved long before other designers leave you crumbs.

During a crisis, it is very important not to waste precious time, so no matter how old you are and at what stage you are, following our recommendation, you will give your dream the right direction and impetus to development.

Practical advice:

1. Learn a specialty

There are several different ways to become a designer. The first way is to enter a university at the department of design. The second way, no less difficult, is to master the profession of a graphic designer in short-term courses.

In the first case, you will listen to lectures for five years, do practical and theoretical exercises, communicate with professors and other students. If you have the desire and ability, you will probably graduate from an educational institution and become a good specialist in the field of design.

In the second case, you will save your time, money, and most importantly, you will receive a lot of useful and practical advice from designers, such as they will not tell you at the university. We must not forget that professional level possession of programs, comprehended empirically, in working order. Full time job and analysis of completed projects will help you become a good designer. It is very important to look at the work of other more experienced designers and learn from them. Do not be afraid to borrow some good techniques at first. Be sure they borrowed these techniques from someone else).

Of the required programs, you can select Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator (Illustrator can be replaced by Corel Draw). You need to start with vector programs, and this is Corel or Illustrator.

There are a lot of programs for designers now. Each is for a specific purpose. For example, in InDesign it is convenient to typeset multi-page publications, and in 3DS Max, you can render various objects and scenes. It is not necessary to know dozens of graphic editors, the main thing is to be able to work in 2-3, but do it at a high level.

2. Consider what area you would like to work in

Most often, the design has specific application... There are logo designs, packaging designs, magazine designs and so on. In connection with the rapid development of the advertising and information business in our country, there is an increasing need for competent and experienced specialists in computer graphics in the following areas:

Polygraphy... These are designers, layout designers, layout designers, graphic designers, photo correctors, etc.
3D modeling, animation... These are the developers of everything for video ads and technical design.
Web design. These are developers in the field of design and layout of Internet sites, web advertising, web programming, as well as site support.
The photo... a professional photographer should be familiar with at least several photo editing software.
Interiors, landscaping. These are designers of interiors, building facades, developers of small art forms, steles, advertising installations.
Engineering area. This is development technical documentation equipment, design and modeling, the creation of drawings of varying complexity.
The science... Processing of various images and drawings obtained as a result of scientific experiments and research, construction of three-dimensional graphical diagrams and other dependencies.

3. Create your corporate identity and your website

Business cards, resumes, letterheads and other elements of your personal identification, marked with the original design style, will give you a big advantage and show that you really care about your career. Take the time to create a personal style, because this is a direct presentation of yourself and your skills. Time is precious, and many employers simply cannot afford to spend it looking at the pictures they send - they will ask you to send them the URL of a page or PDF of your portfolio. There is nothing costly in creating your own website, there are many free hosting services where you can create your website for the first time.

4. Build Your Portfolio

Works can be received at Freelance, 99designs.com, you should also pay attention to these sites:

dlance
russiancreators ru
Russian designer

Design forums also have permanent orders:

deforum ru
zastavkin com
artnow ru

The Internet niche - earnings are available to absolutely everyone, and earning a student is one of the opportunities. In general, absolutely everyone can earn money on the Internet, from schoolchildren to professional workers who are well versed in certain processes. Naturally, depending on the skills and abilities, the amount of earnings can vary significantly, the main thing is to find the optimal place of work and be active in your endeavors.

To start making money, you need to think carefully about what skills and knowledge you have, in which area you could apply them with maximum results. If you don't have knowledge yet, then it's never too late to develop, learn to work with graphic editors and layout, which will definitely come in handy. I wish you success in all your endeavors.

We offer you the following directions in graphic design:

Classes are held in 2 shifts: day and evening group

People who want to work as a designer simply must know, and cannot work fully without knowledge and ability to work in Corel Draw.

3. If you are a photographer, designer or want to learn how to use for yourself, then this course is right for you!

Promotion!!!by signing up before January 26 instead of 7000 rubles in total3500 rubles

The designer is a specialist in decoration and the design of all sorts of objects. The areas of application of the designer's talent are very diverse: it is fashion, and industrial or architectural design. The profession of a designer is one of the most fashionable today. The benefits of working in design are good earnings, the possibility of creative self-realization. This article covers how a graphic designer works, the programs required for mastering, the issues of building a successful career.

The essence of graphic design

Currently, the profession of a graphic designer is in great demand. What a graphic designer does is clear from the very definition of this specialty. Graphic design is the art of designing objects using graphical representations. A graphic designer is a specialist in the design of various types of printed and poster products, the creation of brand signs and labels. Separate direction graphic design is web design - the design of websites on the internet. A graphic designer is a creative profession, close in meaning and philosophy to the work of an artist who creates paintings.

Professional skills of a graphic designer

A graphic designer-illustrator must have knowledge of typography (know the types of fonts, represent technical process creation printed matter). The main professional skill of a specialist in this area is the ability to draw well and use visual means, master the basics of composition, color. He must understand the basic current trends in his professional field and constantly improve their professional skills.

A prerequisite for successful activity in the field of graphic design is knowledge of basic computer programs for creating all kinds of graphics and the ability to work on a personal computer.

The specifics of the work of a web designer

The difference between web design and graphic design is mainly due to technical issues. A graphic designer specializing in creating websites must understand the technical aspects of user interface design (know the principles of a programmer and coder, understand the features of viewing computer graphics on monitors with different resolutions). He is faced with the task of making browsing the site's pages easy and enjoyable. A graphic designer of any specialization must know in general terms the principles of creating advertising products and possess the skills of industrial design.

How to become a graphic design professional

The path to the profession of a graphic designer lies through study in educational institution... Design specialists are trained in higher and secondary educational institutions vocational education... These can be educational institutions of art, architecture and construction, technical profile. Studying in specialized educational institutions, in addition to teaching the basic skills of a designer's work, also contributes to expanding horizons, obtaining necessary connections in the professional community (for example, during an internship). In addition, studying in an educational institution provides skills independent work searching for the necessary information.

The professional skills necessary for work can also be obtained by enrolling in various types of courses. Unlike higher or secondary vocational education, studying at the courses will allow you to get only the necessary set of knowledge, sufficient to start working in the profession. The courses are usually practical in nature. This, on the one hand, is their positive property. The negative aspect of studying on the courses is the student's lack of the necessary theoretical knowledge, without which it will not be possible to achieve great success in the profession.

A graphic designer is a creative profession. You can master it yourself, if you wish. Many well-known graphic designers (like Karen Cheng) have acquired the necessary graphic design skills on their own. However, they all had higher education in different specialties... A beginner graphic designer still cannot do without the basic skills that a specialized education provides.

When choosing a graphic design profession, it should be borne in mind that it is not an essential profession, and in an economic crisis there is a risk of losing your job.

Computer programs in the field of graphic design

A modern graphic designer must be proficient in the use of computer programs in his work. Compulsory learning is Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. It should be borne in mind that professional versions of graphics programs are quite expensive. In order to understand the basic principles of their work, a novice designer can start by studying free analogs.

How to build a career as a graphic designer

For successful work in the field of design, it is important to correctly choose a specialization and constantly improve your knowledge. In order to keep abreast of modern trends in the world of graphic design, to acquire useful contacts in a professional environment, it is important to regularly follow the latest developments in the field professional activity attend themed events.

Communication with professionals will help to avoid mistakes and blind copying of other people's ideas. Their advice will help you build a portfolio of a graphics editor. Freelance - remote work using the Internet provides ample opportunities in the field of professional self-realization in the field of graphic design, and especially web design.

Where to get skills?

Currently in The world wide web there are many specialized electronic portals providing remote work. Designing a graphic designer's portfolio plays an important role in obtaining lucrative orders. It should be as informative as possible and contain the most striking examples of work.

In the field of freelancing, the condition for success is business reputation... It is difficult to earn it, but it is easy to lose it. Therefore, the main rule of a novice graphic designer should be the execution of an order in deadlines and high quality. At first, you should not count on high earnings. Gradually, over time, the number of customers will increase. Consequently, incomes will also increase. It's important to remember that a graphic designer's portfolio plays a big role.

How to learn creative design

The task of a designer of any specialization is to meet the customer's requirements as much as possible. Of course, here, as in any other area, is welcomed creativity... However, a graphic designer in his daily work is limited by the scope of a technical assignment, and does not solve the problem of creative self-expression. Therefore, creativity in this professional area is discouraged.