With the growth of the tech business, graphic designers can develop in various ways. Some of these visual artists become UX designers, while others turn to UI design, packaging design, motion graphic design, and other types of design. Each of these branches of design includes the use of technology in some way.
Whenever your profession depends on technology, it’s important to keep improving your existing skills and acquiring new ones. No matter what branch of design you belong to, the following tips will help you extend your knowledge and become a better professional.
Join designers’ groups
Learning from others is one of the most efficient ways of improving your skills. Designers can learn from their colleagues in several different ways. For starters, they can join various designers’ groups on social media. Every kind of graphic designer can find a variety of groups on Facebook and Instagram. Becoming a part of such groups is sometimes equal to joining professional associations. You can learn a lot of tips and tricks daily, which is beneficial for graphic designers of all levels and backgrounds.
Another option is to register on social media for artists and keep learning new things from other fellow artists. Even you’re more into practical graphic design in technology, these networks will give you a chance to get more inspiration.
Accept various jobs
Regardless of your preference as a graphic designer, don’t restrict yourself only to one kind of design. Of course, perfecting your skills in one aspect of design will eventually make you more competitive in one narrower field. However, if you want to develop and grow in terms of your graphic design skills, it’s important to expose yourself to a variety of design styles. In line with that, it would be wise to accept various design projects. From logos and brand colors to UX design and textile illustrations, you can try your luck in different fields and see how well you perform in each of them.
According to a progressive master’s course in visual design and communication, professionals in this line of work can land jobs in various businesses, from product companies to newly launched startups. By changing your jobs or companies, you’ll learn how different systems function. As a result, you’ll be able to apply these skills in your work, which will make you a more experienced graphic designer.
Learn from relevant artists
We’ve already pointed out that joining groups and associations of professional graphic designers is beneficial for designers. In addition to that, graphic designers who want to grow and develop should follow what more experienced colleagues do. On the one hand, you should follow design experts on social media and pay attention to their posts. You can never tell when such a post will inspire you to create something original and unique.
In line with that, you should read as many books on graphic design as possible. For starters, you can read the quintessential graphic design books to understand what you can expect in years to come. Apart from that, reading design encyclopedias, guides, and guides on famous designers from your niche is a must.
Mix theory and practical work
If you just work on design projects and don’t read books or other materials, your progress will be slow. On the one hand, repetitive practical work will make you both proficient and efficient in a specific graphic design niche. On the other hand, a lack of theoretical knowledge will stall your professional progress.
As opposed to that, theoretical learning without practical projects will lead you nowhere. While art historians might find a job doing that, graphic designers need a mix of theory and practice. Only that way will you be able to take the best from both worlds and keep improving your work. In that light, it would be wise to attend some online courses, especially in the trendy branches of graphic design, to make sure you stay competitive in the labor market.
Like any other professional, graphic designers need to keep improving their skills all the time to ensure professional progress. From following fellow designers to joining professional groups and associations, you can do a lot to stay in touch with the current trends of the industry. In addition to that, reading relevant materials written by experts combined with practical work will give you enough input materials for steady and continuous professional development as a graphic designer.
Author’s bio: Jennifer Hahn Masterson is the Lead Content Strategist at Spread the Word Solutions, holding an MA degree in business communication. She is always doing her best to help her clients find their place in the ever so competitive business arena, insisting on long-term sustainability rather than on some questionable get-rich-fast scheme. You can check her out on LinkedIn.