How to Become a Graphic Designer

Graphic design is a diverse and profitable job, but there are  few things you need to know before getting started.

 

Graphic Design

Graphic design is concerned with visual communication and the ways in which a design can connect with people in order to reach a larger audience.

The goal of graphic is to make a message more powerful, whether it’s for a single person or a group.

Visual elements are important in today’s world, and they’re used extensively in graphic design. To create an engaging and insightful piece of graphic, you must use typography and color.

Typography is one of the most important aspects of design because it allows you to experiment with different fonts and styling techniques.

Below are top 5 steps that will help you get started as a freelance graphic designer.

1. Know the History of Graphic Design

Graphic design has a long history, dating back to 15,000 BC, when symbols were the primary means of communicating with a group of people; in 105 AD, this was replaced by paper/print.

The Industrial Revolution, which began in 1760, allowed machines to advance the way we communicate with people by using designs and words, with print design becoming increasingly popular.

In order to interact with people, media has evolved to include print and digital design. This exemplifies how far graphic design has progressed in recent years.

Understanding the history of graphic design allows us to see how social trends have changed over time and can also serve as a source of inspiration for you to draw inspiration from older designs, whether print or digital.

2. Understand the Needed Skills

When it comes to becoming a graphic designer, there are a variety of skills that would be beneficial to have, both technical and creative, but remember to start with the skills that are most important to graphic design.

3. Choose Your Design Style

It is critical to have a clear vision of your personal brand when deciding which type of graphic design style to use. If you enjoy bright colors, textile and surface design may be a good fit for you. If you have a keen eye for detail, illustration or web design could be the path to choose. Clients may request that you revamp their entire website or create an editorial design for a magazine; nevertheless, you must be clear about what you are giving and the benefits of hiring you as a freelance graphic designer. Show off your greatest work and use case study examples to accentuate this when reaching out to clients.

4. Understand  the Required Tools

It’s critical to understand what software you’re using and what it does when it comes to graphic design. Some examples of popular software used by freelance graphic designers are, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Sketch. It may also be advantageous to have some HTML knowledge and great IT skills, especially if you want to work as a freelance web designer.

5. Learn More

Take graphic design courses to enhance your knowledge and skill set. This is an excellent method to expand your portfolio and demonstrate to clients that you are multifaceted and capable of providing a wide range of services for their company. Make yourself available for new chances as they occur in order to stay current with industry trends and expectations. Why not take web design courses as well, so you can display your graphic ideas online? Remember that everyone starts at a different degree of ability, so moving out of your comfort zone and broadening your skill set may be a rewarding experience that will allow you to increase your freelance graphic design offering and grow your freelancing career.

As becoming a freelancer has grown in popularity, it is critical to understand what you need to know before embarking on a career in freelance graphic design in a competitive market. You will be on your road to becoming a freelance graphic designer if you follow these instructions.