What's the basic knowledge level or basic amount of education you need to be a successful graphic designer?

1 Answer

Answer :

If you’re going into business for yourself, then you can bypass college and just work your ass off on Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. I will stress the “work your ass off” part of that scenario. If you are ever thinking about looking for a graphic design job at someone else’s company, you should really consider a college degree. It’s a very competitive field. You will absolutely learn some good things about graphic design in college. Possibly one of the most valuable things about being in college is being in a ciriculum with a group of your peers. In that sort of environment, everyone’s creativity feeds off everyone else’s and it can become a very powerful and motivating factor in taking your work to the next level.

Related questions

Description : As a graphic designer, what should you do if you find your work in someone else's portfolio?

Last Answer : Have an attorney send him a cease and desist letter with a clear deadline in it. If he doesn’t comply, sue his ass for infringement of intellectual property.

Description : Graphic Designer for small job?

Last Answer : One slightly similar, yet largely disparate, place is Threadless. There's also Pixish , which seems to be more targeted towards illustrations and such. Some points of thoughts about this kind of places ... among them, but, 99designs and similar design contest sites) can be read here: NO!SPEC

Description : How to write a CV (or resume) like a graphic designer?

Last Answer : answer:Hmmm, a portfolio is a must. A web portfolio is best. Um, I’d make a 1 page resume to ship over in PDF format, then if they want to interview you they can see your portfolio on the web too. Really, it’s just up to you though :p Your style and flare.

Description : Need advice on picking a graphic?

Last Answer : The one in the middle.

Description : What's your favorite Graphic Design reference site?

Last Answer : A List Apart

Description : What's the best way to create 2D lighting effects for graphic art?

Last Answer : Do you mean the background light strikes? There’s a good ‘Aurora’ tutorial for Photoshop on Tutorial9 and I’ve also dabbled with the free light brushes list from PSDFan – There’s quite a lot of those. The combo should give you enough to play with!

Description : What's a good course book on graphic design?

Last Answer : Might be a little lighter than what you’re looking for, but The Non Designer’s Design Book by Robin Williams is pretty good.

Description : What's an online institute for learning graphic design?

Last Answer : Personally I don't know of any, but I cannot stress to you enough how much going to class, having your work critiqued and being able to learn from a professor helps. If you want to just ... . Without this, you will be doing yourself a disservice by not allowing yourself to be challenged to grow.

Description : Graphic Design Question: What should I charge!

Last Answer : I charge $75 an hour. No one has ever questioned that.

Description : What would you think are "sub-skills" of Graphic Design?

Last Answer : Good question. Great graphic design is one of those things like pornography- difficult to define, but I know it when I see it. That said, you're off to a good start listing ... intention, and being able to strike the delicate balance between the comfortably familiar and the provocatively new.

Description : Do you have a favorite graphic design theme that makes you buy stuff?

Last Answer : Something simple, bold, and interesting, with pleasing colors. No pastels. Unless I’m in a warm part of the world. Even then, I don’t like pink.

Description : Pro Graphic Designers: What blog topics would you find most useful in your job?

Last Answer : converting print publications to kindle.

Description : Appropriate attire for a graphic design interview?

Last Answer : Will you be having cool weather the day of your interview? If so, wear a jacket. If not, don’t. I think you will be fine in what you are wearing.

Description : Are there any places in Central Florida that are hiring graphic design interns?

Last Answer : answer:How have you managed to get to the end of your college career without meeting anyone that is involved in your field, or researching any related businessed in the area? I have a feeling you ... your professors - maybe they could give you a letter of recommendation and provide you with a lead?

Description : Any graphic designers going from print to interactive?

Last Answer : When you say interactive design do you mean web site creation, or something more specialized?

Description : Good, cheap graphic designs?

Last Answer : answer:Please remember what you're asking for. Creativity takes time. I used to be in advertising and it's amazing how people want to use you for little or no pay. I'm not suggesting that you are ... side. Some people even think that they're giving you a chance for more experience. What a load of

Description : What is the super fund that graphic designers should use in Australia?

Last Answer : You are probably going to have to talk with a financial adviser and spend some time comparing different fund type performance. There appears to be industry funds as well as broader market funds. Check out www.industrysuper.com to get more information about industry related funds.

Description : What are the major file formats that most graphic designers would require to make letter head, business cards, t-shirts and the like from your images?

Last Answer : answer:found this, it seems like the main types are vector, and pixel. Corel (.cds) being the chief example of vector I think, and pixels as .jpg

Description : How is math used in Graphic Design?

Last Answer : I studied graphic design when I was in college and we didn't really use any math except learning about picas and points when I took my typography class. Also just knowing dimensions for layouts but other ... at math so I tried to go a route that used it minimally haha. I love graphic design though

Description : How do graphic artists keep image notes? Is there any way to add notes in Photoshop? (see details)

Last Answer : I’ve always used a separate layer for notes, then just turned those layers off when exporting the image. Since the jpeg doesn’t support layers, anything that’s hidden will not appear in the final image nor be retrievable from the jpeg file itself.

Description : I have heard graphic designers have a personal book, which I think is a kind of portfolio. Does anyone know more about this personally designed book?

Last Answer : It can be online, a physical book, etc. To some extent, it depends on the media you create for, and/or the job you're looking for. Do you have any friends who are graphic designers? they ... probably go over how to put one together. this article goes over some of the basics and gives some examples.

Description : In your Graphic Design Portofolio is it okay to make example pieces for existing companies?

Last Answer : Yeah, it's okay, as long as your tell the person interviewing you that they are conceptual pieces, and are in no way affiliated with the company. In fact, a lot of my school ... get real world experience in the field, a lot beginning graphic designers have conceptual pieces in their portfolio.

Description : Freelance graphic designers...what do you write-off on your taxes?

Last Answer : Internet connection (everyone's got to have one to do business). You can write off computers, cameras, milage, the price of the programs to do you designing. You can write off part of your ... of your apartment for only buisness, you could techinally subsidize part of your rent for your work area.

Description : Graphic Design: Client wants too many pictures, what to do?

Last Answer : Sometimes it's just best to do what the client wants, the best you can and let them decide if it works or not. Of course make sure you get paid for the extra work if they decide the don't like ... to a collage? Maybe on the last page of the booklet? Oh, and definitely go with the largest booklet.

Description : What is the industry standard for web graphic creation?

Last Answer : Sorry I don’t have a fix but I use Photoshop for graphic creation all the time and it’s also great for that.

Description : Good book on graphic design?

Last Answer : answer:Here are a few that might interest you as far as the technical "how to's" of graphic design: "The Elements of Graphic Design: Space, Unity, Page Architecture, and Type" - by ... of Creativity: The Complete Guide to Running a Small Graphic Design or Communications Business" - by Cameraon Foote

Description : What course should one take when interested in graphic design?

Last Answer : answer:Do you want to learn graphic design or Photoshop? Not knowing the course outline, computer graphics is different then graphic design. You might need an introductory course before GD I. What is your current skill set? What is your objective.

Description : Glossy or matte display on a MacBook Pro for a graphic artist?

Last Answer : answer:both are high res and while the glossy has the apparent perception of blacker blacks, most graphics pros go with matte. The glare from the highly reflective glossy surface is a big ... your specific lighting conditions. Otherwise web graphics shouldn't be a problem for either display choice.

Description : What are the different printing methods used in graphic design?

Last Answer : answer:from my perspective, graphic design describes the process that happens before printing. and so to me, the printing isn't really part of the graphic design. that is to say, doing the work of ... variations on these ideas, but hopefully you're now able to get the gist of how printing works

Description : Graphic Designers... When you export your artwork to PDF, does this automatically make the images CMYK?

Last Answer : I've been told by prepress to always convert the images to CMYK before creating the PDF - I think the PDF itself registers as CMYK, but the image still reads as RGB, thus creating problems. I've had printers call ... useless. So while it seems like a pain in the arse, I don't think it's a waste. :)

Description : What is graphic design to you?

Last Answer : when i hear the word i think…indesign…photoshop…and most of all…good customers!

Description : Good graphic design program?

Last Answer : answer:inkscape! http://www.inkscape.org/ my friend used it for his art class last semester and loved it, he said he would have preferred illustrator, but what student has $600 to spend on something like that ? ... 't as UI friendly, but not 100% sure. Check it out! Oh, forgot to mention.. its free!

Description : How unrealistic is it to become a graphic designer in NYC , with no former art education ?

Last Answer : Very.

Description : How unrealistic is it to become a graphic designer in NYC , with no former art education ?

Last Answer : Very.

Description : How unrealistic is it to become a graphic designer in NYC , with no former art education ?

Last Answer : Very.

Description : How unrealistic is it to become a graphic designer in NYC , with no former art education ?

Last Answer : Very.

Description : How unrealistic is it to become a graphic designer in NYC , with no former art education ?

Last Answer : Very.

Description : How unrealistic is it to become a graphic designer in NYC , with no former art education ?

Last Answer : Very.

Description : How unrealistic is it to become a graphic designer in NYC , with no former art education ?

Last Answer : Very.

Description : I want a portfolio site. Bt I am a total noob when it comes to web knowledge. What do I need to contemplate?

Last Answer : answer:I’d recommend that you get your own domain, perhaps http://yourname.com if it is available. Check out this thread for more information about web hosting. Any host worth their salt will have little to no downtime. What is going in your portfolio? What are you planning on putting online?

Description : I need custom T-Shirts, but which website is the best?

Last Answer : answer:Which country are you in @Seth? Streetshirts.com have the best online designer in the UK (I should know, I used to work for them)... Generally speaking, most t-shirt printers use either Gildan, or in ... question) Fluther has used zazzle.com and if it's good enough for Fluther ..........

Description : Need help with a design assignment designing a alcohol beverage label?

Last Answer : First, you need to do a better job defining what the product is. Beer? Wine? What does alcohol range mean? Before you design anything, the first step is to understand how your client sees ... porter, etc.? How? What language would describe beers? Write a creative concept brief first, then design.

Description : I need advice on answering clients requests on last minute work or even asking for creative work done over the weekend?

Last Answer : First, when someone first comes to you with a project, give something with your process on it in writing and your boundaries. Example (Not to meant to be comprehensive, just to give you the idea.): How ... say (and repeat as necessary), I'm sorry that's not possible. Never get into explanations.

Description : What's the name of this circle-based art style?

Last Answer : It’s called “dot art”.

Description : What's a good layout for my tumblr page?

Last Answer : why don’t you try a layout where you can change the background? seems much better though

Description : What's the best setting on a digital camera to take pictures with for some photoshop work?

Last Answer : I would use full manual or variable aperture so that you get the fastest shutterspeed and, more importantly, the lowest aperture setting. The effect will be a decreased depth of field. Hopefully this will ... an out-of-focus background. This way it will be easier for photoshop to determine the edge.

Description : What's your favorite unknown, (or less known) font?

Last Answer : Sick of Arial, but I love Georgia. I use it as much as possible :)

Description : Can you help me with some ideas please?

Last Answer : I would base the image on the Pied Piper of Hamelin leading the people of the town away from their burning houses. The people could be shown gossiping to each other in twos and threes as they hurry along.

Description : Work emergency! Can you help me find an image?

Last Answer : Just went into “Google images” and did a search for “Be Different.” I don’t see your Dalmatian but there are plenty of similarly themed posters to choose from.

Description : What red pen should I use to write on black paper?

Last Answer : You might consider a ultra fine point Sharpie in red.