If you want to enter the creative and hip world of graphic design, you’re going to have to master a few essentials. Here are some of the best tools and ideas to help you on your way.
The basics
First of all invest in an iMac or MacBook – this nifty piece of hardware will make your life as a graphic designer a whole lot easier. You could stick with a PC, but Apple has the upper edge when it comes to its history and its support for peripherals. Their machines are fairly pleasing on the eye too – and image is everything in the creative world.
Many of the best courses in the UK are based in London, where budding designers are likely to benefit from working within a large community of fellow creatives. You’re going to have to learn about the software. Going on a course is a fantastic way of getting to grips with the different types of software on the market and learning which are best for you.
Adobe Creative Suite is a no brainer and Photoshop is still the standard for image editing and working with 3D artwork. Adobe InDesign will help you with the basics of magazine design, layouts and composition and will make your work look professional. Pixel control is a key element of this piece of kit.
Using a stylus
Designers have always used pencils and notebooks to jot down ideas and images. The pencil has come of age and the stylus will be indispensable tool in your armoury, working in tandem with your iPhone or iPad. You can draw, shade and erase with this gadget and it’s remarkably easy to use. While old school notebooks might not be a thing of the past just yet – working with a stylus is as easy and effective as more traditional methods of drawing.
The perfect font
Whichever aspect of graphic design you eventually decide to follow, you’re going to have to get to grips with the thousands of different fonts that currently exist. An invaluable tool is Fontsquirrel. This application will help you in the search for a font, and many of these will be free – always an added bonus!
The power of networking
One of the easiest ways of keeping up to date with all of the latest developments in the graphic design world is to join an online forum. If you’re thinking of investing in some expensive software, a forum is the place where you’ll discover if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. Design Forums Community is one such group, though there are many others.
Sources of inspiration
Graphic design trends change with frightening regularity. One way of keeping on top of these is to read an authoritative creative magazine in order to detect any new style that look set to be the ‘next big thing.’ Take notes and photographs – you’ll never know when your own personal portfolio will come in useful. Most of all, actively maintain your passion. Whether it’s by sharing ideas, going to exhibitions, or simply mastering the complexities of a new piece of design software, you’ll never tire of finding new things to learn.
