6 answers
Smith
Student
Alaska, MI
1
Question
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How can someone be a professional designer?
How can someone be a professional designer in the field of graphic design, website development, application designer, and software designer
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6 answers
Stephanie Coe
Executive Concierge
5
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
Becoming a professional designer in the fields of graphic design, website development, application design, and software design requires a combination of education, skills development, experience, and a strong portfolio. Here's a roadmap to help you get started and succeed in these areas:
1. **Education and Training**:
- Obtain a formal education in design, computer science, or related fields. Consider pursuing a degree such as a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design or a degree in Computer Science with a focus on software development.
- Take courses and workshops specifically related to graphic design, website development, application design, and software design. Online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare offer a wide range of courses taught by industry professionals.
2. **Develop Technical Skills**:
- Master relevant software tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Sketch, Figma, or XD for graphic design.
- Learn programming languages and frameworks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and relevant back-end languages (e.g., Python, Ruby, PHP) for website and application development.
- Familiarize yourself with design principles, typography, color theory, user interface (UI) design, user experience (UX) design, and responsive design techniques.
3. **Build a Strong Portfolio**:
- Create a portfolio showcasing your best design work, including graphic design projects, websites you've developed, and applications or software you've designed.
- Include a variety of projects that demonstrate your skills and expertise across different mediums and platforms.
- Continuously update and refine your portfolio as you gain more experience and complete new projects.
4. **Gain Practical Experience**:
- Seek internships, freelance opportunities, or entry-level positions in design studios, agencies, or tech companies to gain real-world experience.
- Volunteer for projects or collaborate with others to build your experience and expand your portfolio.
- Take on personal projects to explore new techniques, experiment with different design styles, and showcase your creativity.
5. **Stay Updated and Network**:
- Stay informed about industry trends, new technologies, and emerging design tools by following design blogs, attending conferences, and participating in online communities.
- Network with other professionals in the design industry through social media, professional organizations, and local meetups. Networking can lead to job opportunities, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities.
6. **Continuously Improve and Adapt**:
- Keep learning and refining your skills throughout your career. Design is an evolving field, so it's important to stay curious and open to new ideas.
- Seek feedback from peers, mentors, and clients to help you identify areas for improvement and growth.
- Adapt to changes in technology and industry trends to remain competitive in the field.
By following these steps and staying dedicated to honing your skills, building your experience, and staying connected with the design community, you can become a successful professional designer in graphic design, website development, application design, and software design.
1. **Education and Training**:
- Obtain a formal education in design, computer science, or related fields. Consider pursuing a degree such as a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design or a degree in Computer Science with a focus on software development.
- Take courses and workshops specifically related to graphic design, website development, application design, and software design. Online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare offer a wide range of courses taught by industry professionals.
2. **Develop Technical Skills**:
- Master relevant software tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Sketch, Figma, or XD for graphic design.
- Learn programming languages and frameworks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and relevant back-end languages (e.g., Python, Ruby, PHP) for website and application development.
- Familiarize yourself with design principles, typography, color theory, user interface (UI) design, user experience (UX) design, and responsive design techniques.
3. **Build a Strong Portfolio**:
- Create a portfolio showcasing your best design work, including graphic design projects, websites you've developed, and applications or software you've designed.
- Include a variety of projects that demonstrate your skills and expertise across different mediums and platforms.
- Continuously update and refine your portfolio as you gain more experience and complete new projects.
4. **Gain Practical Experience**:
- Seek internships, freelance opportunities, or entry-level positions in design studios, agencies, or tech companies to gain real-world experience.
- Volunteer for projects or collaborate with others to build your experience and expand your portfolio.
- Take on personal projects to explore new techniques, experiment with different design styles, and showcase your creativity.
5. **Stay Updated and Network**:
- Stay informed about industry trends, new technologies, and emerging design tools by following design blogs, attending conferences, and participating in online communities.
- Network with other professionals in the design industry through social media, professional organizations, and local meetups. Networking can lead to job opportunities, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities.
6. **Continuously Improve and Adapt**:
- Keep learning and refining your skills throughout your career. Design is an evolving field, so it's important to stay curious and open to new ideas.
- Seek feedback from peers, mentors, and clients to help you identify areas for improvement and growth.
- Adapt to changes in technology and industry trends to remain competitive in the field.
By following these steps and staying dedicated to honing your skills, building your experience, and staying connected with the design community, you can become a successful professional designer in graphic design, website development, application design, and software design.
Julia Henderson
Director, Online Learning and Research
7
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Julia’s Answer
There are some amazing programs around the country that help you get the education needed to make you an attractive candidate for being hired as a designer. My own expertise is in user experience design and learning experience design. You might also consider taking a free or very reasonable online course from FreeFuse, Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, Lynda (now LinkedIn Learning), edx/2U, or ImaginXP to see what you like best and narrow your focus a bit before you look for programs.
Corey Stone
Product Designer
5
Answers
Lawrence, Kansas
Updated
Corey’s Answer
Hi Smith!
Most colleges offer degrees in all those areas, and like Julia said, there are lots of free or cheap online courses in those areas that you could try to see which you like more. fyi, here's a bit of a breakdown of the fields you listed:
"Graphic design" usually means creating static (ie, non-moving, non-interactive) designs for either print or digital materials (eg brochures, ads, etc).
"Software designer" is usually called a Product Designer, or UX Designer ("User Experience"), or UI Designer ("User Interface"). This is what I do! These people are not programmers -- they create good-looking easy-to-use mockups of the software or app. Then, the mockups are given to the programmers (also called Software Developers or App Developers) who then build it to make it real. Most product/UX/UI designers use Figma.com, which has a nice free plan so you could try it out! These designers use graphic design principals to make the mockups look good, but also consider who the user is, what they know now, and what they are trying to accomplish in the app so that it's easy and efficient to use. They often might also do "usability testing" to make sure their designs are actually working as well for users. In my opinion, Product Design is a nice blend of creative and logical thinking.
"Website (or app) development" would usually be called a "Programmer" or "Software Developer" or "Software Engineer" (so many terms! LOL) These people are writing computer code to build what the designer mocked up. It's usually separated into:
- "Front-end" developers who are building what the designer mocked up, often in HTML, CSS, and Javascript
- "Back-end" developers who work on the databases (eg, SQL) that handle all the info stored in the application.
Anyone can learn to be a programmer, but it often helps to be pretty good at math.
Most colleges offer degrees in all those areas, and like Julia said, there are lots of free or cheap online courses in those areas that you could try to see which you like more. fyi, here's a bit of a breakdown of the fields you listed:
"Graphic design" usually means creating static (ie, non-moving, non-interactive) designs for either print or digital materials (eg brochures, ads, etc).
"Software designer" is usually called a Product Designer, or UX Designer ("User Experience"), or UI Designer ("User Interface"). This is what I do! These people are not programmers -- they create good-looking easy-to-use mockups of the software or app. Then, the mockups are given to the programmers (also called Software Developers or App Developers) who then build it to make it real. Most product/UX/UI designers use Figma.com, which has a nice free plan so you could try it out! These designers use graphic design principals to make the mockups look good, but also consider who the user is, what they know now, and what they are trying to accomplish in the app so that it's easy and efficient to use. They often might also do "usability testing" to make sure their designs are actually working as well for users. In my opinion, Product Design is a nice blend of creative and logical thinking.
"Website (or app) development" would usually be called a "Programmer" or "Software Developer" or "Software Engineer" (so many terms! LOL) These people are writing computer code to build what the designer mocked up. It's usually separated into:
- "Front-end" developers who are building what the designer mocked up, often in HTML, CSS, and Javascript
- "Back-end" developers who work on the databases (eg, SQL) that handle all the info stored in the application.
Anyone can learn to be a programmer, but it often helps to be pretty good at math.
Sobnom Mimi
Looking for work
8
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Sobnom’s Answer
Suppose you are interested in becoming a professional designer in graphic design, website development, application design, and software design. In that case, there are specific steps you can take to achieve your goal.
As a first step, consider pursuing a design degree that aligns with your desired field of expertise. This academic foundation will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills, making it a valuable asset in your future career.
Secondly, gaining experience through internships while in college can be extremely helpful. This will give you practical experience in the field and help you build a network of contacts that can be useful later on.
Thirdly, developing a solid portfolio showcasing your skills and creativity is essential. This is often the first thing potential employers will look at when considering you for a job.
Fourthly, landing an entry-level job and working for 3-5 years is a great way to gain experience and build up your skills. The more knowledge you have, the more likely you are to be considered a professional in the field.
As a first step, consider pursuing a design degree that aligns with your desired field of expertise. This academic foundation will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills, making it a valuable asset in your future career.
Secondly, gaining experience through internships while in college can be extremely helpful. This will give you practical experience in the field and help you build a network of contacts that can be useful later on.
Thirdly, developing a solid portfolio showcasing your skills and creativity is essential. This is often the first thing potential employers will look at when considering you for a job.
Fourthly, landing an entry-level job and working for 3-5 years is a great way to gain experience and build up your skills. The more knowledge you have, the more likely you are to be considered a professional in the field.
Zubair Ahmed
Graphic Designer
1
Answer
Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Updated
Zubair’s Answer
Practice as a graphic designer involves consistently honing skills, experimenting with design elements, and tackling real-world projects. It's about pushing creative boundaries, refining techniques, and adapting to industry trends. Through practice, designers develop their unique style, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency with design tools. It's a journey of continuous learning, growth, and striving for excellence in visual communication.
Susan Stout
Senior Graphic Designer
4
Answers
Thousand Oaks, California
Updated
Susan’s Answer
I highly, highly suggest getting a Bachelor's in Graphic Design or Marketing. In the modern job market, it is VERY difficult to land a decent graphic designer job without this. While the cost and time investments may seem huge at first, believe me, they will pay off in terms of the number and quality of opportunities that you will enjoy versus a designer without this piece of paper. Many community colleges offer this degree at a very reasonable cost.
Also, learn as much Adobe Creative Suite software as you can, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and After Effects/Premiere. There are excellent tutorials on the Adobe Cloud website once you've subscribed to their software, as well as YouTube (Phlearn is awesome for Photoshop), and newsletters with tips and tricks (Photoshop Roadmap is great). Udemy.com has fantastic courses on pretty much any software or technique you want to learn and they are only about $20 per month. They also offer related courses such as prepress and production, HTML and CSS, and Microsoft Office software. Udemy is a great "bang for the buck".
It's amazing how many things that employers want you to know these days in order to be considered for a job. Adobe Creative Suite and motion graphics are what I am seeing a LOT of these days, plus most want you to have at least some basic video and web design skills. It is a lot to learn but you absolutely can do it, and once you've mastered the basics of these things, you can start applying for jobs and continuing to learn as you work. Please do be aware that new software, trends and concepts are constantly changing, so you will be learning new things constantly for the rest of your career. That's part of what makes it fun. :)
As you learn, build your portfolio because you will absolutely need this. If you don't have paid gigs to start, you can always do a few pieces as a volunteer and start sharing your design work on your website. Also, get references from everyone you work with/for that will recommend you to potential employers and clients.
And lastly - this is important and VERY overlooked - learn to accept feedback and criticism on your work without taking it personally and letting it hurt your feelings. It can be very painful to pour your heart and soul into a project only to have someone pick it apart, but this is ABSOLUTELY part of being a professional graphic designer. Even if you feel that your ideas are better than theirs, you will often find that the employer or client has the last word, since they are the ones who are paying for your work. So be sure to be professional, take their comments into account, and do an amazing job on the next revision. This does not mean that you can't also provide your own counter-views to their comments if you feel strongly that your ideas make the piece or project more effective. Just be calm, objective and present your reasons clearly and logically, and listen to their replies. Together you will make the best result for their purposes, as long as you view everyone as team mates and not bullies who are picking on you. I know that this sounds dramatic, but it can be really challenging at times to deal with contrasting opinions which seem like a personal attack on your creativity. Remember at all times that you are great at this (or they wouldn't have hired you in the first place, right?), and don't let a few comments shake your faith in yourself and your abilities.
Good luck! I know you're going to do great. Have so much fun learning this amazing career and enjoy every minute!
Also, learn as much Adobe Creative Suite software as you can, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and After Effects/Premiere. There are excellent tutorials on the Adobe Cloud website once you've subscribed to their software, as well as YouTube (Phlearn is awesome for Photoshop), and newsletters with tips and tricks (Photoshop Roadmap is great). Udemy.com has fantastic courses on pretty much any software or technique you want to learn and they are only about $20 per month. They also offer related courses such as prepress and production, HTML and CSS, and Microsoft Office software. Udemy is a great "bang for the buck".
It's amazing how many things that employers want you to know these days in order to be considered for a job. Adobe Creative Suite and motion graphics are what I am seeing a LOT of these days, plus most want you to have at least some basic video and web design skills. It is a lot to learn but you absolutely can do it, and once you've mastered the basics of these things, you can start applying for jobs and continuing to learn as you work. Please do be aware that new software, trends and concepts are constantly changing, so you will be learning new things constantly for the rest of your career. That's part of what makes it fun. :)
As you learn, build your portfolio because you will absolutely need this. If you don't have paid gigs to start, you can always do a few pieces as a volunteer and start sharing your design work on your website. Also, get references from everyone you work with/for that will recommend you to potential employers and clients.
And lastly - this is important and VERY overlooked - learn to accept feedback and criticism on your work without taking it personally and letting it hurt your feelings. It can be very painful to pour your heart and soul into a project only to have someone pick it apart, but this is ABSOLUTELY part of being a professional graphic designer. Even if you feel that your ideas are better than theirs, you will often find that the employer or client has the last word, since they are the ones who are paying for your work. So be sure to be professional, take their comments into account, and do an amazing job on the next revision. This does not mean that you can't also provide your own counter-views to their comments if you feel strongly that your ideas make the piece or project more effective. Just be calm, objective and present your reasons clearly and logically, and listen to their replies. Together you will make the best result for their purposes, as long as you view everyone as team mates and not bullies who are picking on you. I know that this sounds dramatic, but it can be really challenging at times to deal with contrasting opinions which seem like a personal attack on your creativity. Remember at all times that you are great at this (or they wouldn't have hired you in the first place, right?), and don't let a few comments shake your faith in yourself and your abilities.
Good luck! I know you're going to do great. Have so much fun learning this amazing career and enjoy every minute!