How to Improve Graphic Design Skills

A career in graphic design has great prospects. It is a highly sought-after skill by people who are looking to make career changes or those in other fields who want to learn an added skill. This makes graphic design a very competitive field, and to get real gigs, a designer must have those skills that are in high demand hidden up their sleeves.

Is graphic design hard?

Learning graphic design is not hard. It involves the use of graphic design tools and an application of the principles of design to make designs happen. However, it takes time, dedication, and commitment to have a full grasp of the tools used to bring designs to life.

Software used in graphic design

Using graphic design software to develop designs is a big element of what graphic designers do.
The Adobe Creative Apps are important tools, such as:

• Adobe Photoshop

• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe Illustrator

• Adobe XD - which is used especially by web and mobile designers,

• Sketch - which is used most especially by web and mobile designers, and

• Figma - which has become a pretty handy tool for graphic designers despite being popular among UI/UX/Product designers and UX researchers. This is partially because it is really simple to learn and partly because there is no cost associated with it.

These are some of the software used by graphic designers. Mastery of any of these tools aids the success and growth of a graphic designer.

What skills are necessary for graphic designers?

To succeed as a budding graphic designer or even an industry expert, a combination of hard and soft skills are required.
Soft skills includes:

• Excellent communication

• The ability to solve problems creatively

• A high level of curiosity

• An active imagination

Hard skills such as:

• Knowledge and application of design principles,

• Understanding and application of design elements,

• A great command of graphic design software such as the Adobe Creative Apps,

• The ability to conceptualize and present ideas.

How to improve graphic design skills

While the following tips are not exhaustive, they could be helpful to improve the skills a graphic designer needs, whether you’re a newbie or an expert.

Practice daily

This is an essential activity that advances the development of a graphic designer. A designer may use graphic design tools more effectively and efficiently by learning them and practicing, which helps to establish a pace for producing expert designs.
It’s a good idea to browse Behance and dribbble for ideas. With practice and the knowledge gained from utilizing a design tool, designers can duplicate some of the designs, and in no time, become a better designer.

Work on portfolio projects

Working on portfolio projects helps a designer hone already acquired skills. Portfolios are a great way to display skills and abilities. Creating one also increases the chance of getting a good job in the design industry.

Have a mentor

A graphic designer’s progress is greatly aided by having a mentor in the profession who analyzes portfolio work and designs in addition to offering helpful criticism on how to enhance designs. This aids a designer in avoiding errors made by the industry professionals when they were first starting out. This also helps a designer focus on the best way to go about designing by learning new techniques and concepts. This ultimately improves the efficiency and skill set of a designer.

Acquire job exposure and experience

This might be done through volunteer work or internships. They may be paid or unpaid, but they are an excellent place to start for those just beginning their careers in graphic design who want to learn more about how designers operate in work environments. Additionally, it is a fantastic setting for networking with senior industry peers who might suggest potential designers for upcoming positions.

Teach others

It is said that the greatest way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Sharing design solutions and thoughts with others on a regular basis helps a designer reinforce what they already know. A designer might get expertise, reputation, and credit by simply responding to issues about design difficulties on social media or well-known design blogs. A simple thread on issues surrounding design tools or concepts might just be the solution a designer somewhere might need, and while creating content, some ideas might stick for life. Creating threads on social media also helps a designer search for concepts they had no idea of earlier and learn better.

Learn daily and be curious

Keeping up with the most recent developments in the design field may be done by reading articles on design and watching videos. This is very necessary to skill up as a designer.

Join a design community

A designer’s career is enhanced by being part of a network of like-minded professionals. A vibrant design community aids the growth and success of designers by providing resources and other educational content for its members.

Pursuing a career in graphic design

The majority of what those who wish to start in graphic design need to learn focuses on the tools and design concepts. An excellent approach to start learning the basics is through online classes. Online learning sites Coursera and Udemy offer courses in graphic design. Some of the courses are cost-free, while others have a fee. It’s a great idea to study graphic design on Skillshare. Both free and paid courses are available.

YouTube contains a wealth of information about graphic design, from design concepts to how to utilize graphic design tools. All that is necessary is to simply search for the subject of interest, watch, and assimilate the information provided. The Adobe creative apps also have a ton of resources to make the learning process of these softwares easy. They come with a package of tutorials on how to get started and how to use the software.

Conclusion

Graphic design is a lucrative career for people looking to venture into the field. While learning graphic design is not hard, it takes months of constant practice to be a pro designer. Various tools can be used to create designs but selection of a particular graphic design software is according to the preference of a designer. The skills needed to be a graphic designer are soft and hard skills. These skills could always be improved upon for personal growth as a graphic designer which in turn results in a successful career.