Learn Graphic Design in 10 Steps?

Learn Graphic Design in 10 Steps?

This type of teaching requires even more involvement, more stubbornness, and a lot more attention than going to sit behind a table and wait for all the necessary leads to be provided. I admire those who succeed in becoming experts from scratch.

Whether you are a novice graphic designer or an experienced artist, you will undoubtedly find good reasons to draw from this list of best practices for training in design. Today is an open house in online training!

1. Table of Contents

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   Know your history

Everything and everything has a past. The drawing too. Having even a basic knowledge of art history allows you to understand how graphic design has evolved.

You have to know where you come from to know where you are going. You can carry out your research chronologically or on the basis of a work that seduced you and then look at the companions of the artist who created it.

It doesn’t matter. The point is just to see how art evolves (and also to be able to draw on research done long before you incorporate it into your own work).

2. Have a vocabulary

Do you know what vocabulary is used for? To communicate. You must be able to speak with other graphic designers or with clients. You have to understand them.

And this is only possible if you have a minimum of technical language. Some terms are specific to the printing, others are more related to the very profession of a graphic designer.

3. Follow the work of others

You always learn by observing what others are doing. And this is even more true in the graphics.

With the explosion of online galleries, you can follow multiple creatives up close and analyze their latest work with just one click.

4. Compare market places

Many graphic designers (and certainly not the least talented) offer their services or their creations on market places dedicated to design.

Seeing which jobs are the most popular is also a great way to train your eye.

5. Take online courses

The Moocs have the wind in their sails. And they exist in all possible sectors. You will be able to train yourself on the use of specific software, learn framing techniques, improve your knowledge of art history …

It must however be recognized that the French catalog of Moocs dedicated to graphic designers remains rare. This might be an opportunity to improve your English, to practice lettering or other techniques.

6. Attend conferences

TED talks offer the opportunity for many experts to share their knowledge. And many amateurs to watch these lectures whenever they want.

There is a lot of talk about TED talks on personal development topics… but there is also a considerable amount on design, creativity … or just about anything that might interest you!

7. Shell

Look at the work of artists who inspire you. And try to imitate them. Not just to know how to do like them. But to understand their way of working, to train you alongside them.

8. Practice

It is by forging that one becomes a blacksmith, the saying goes. It is by creating that you will become creative. Draw. Illustrate. Whatever technique you prefer, practice it.

Even just a little bit. Even just to perfect what you already did yesterday. But never let your tools rest. This is the best way to master them!

9. Save

Specialized hardware or software can be quite expensive. This is not a reason to deprive oneself of artistic work. The back of a cereal package can become a canvas to exercise your hand.

And there are computer alternatives that allow you to get started in mastering office tools while waiting to be able to afford the cream of the crop. Pixlr replaces Photoshop and Inkscape is a good substitute for Illustrator.

10. Create

Imitating, learning, observing is good. It is even more than good, it is essential. But don’t stop there. Training is also testing.

It is daring to exceed your limits or those that others have placed before you. Just to see if it works or just for fun. There is so that you will really learn!