The Skills You Never Knew You Needed To Be A Graphic Designer
If you search the internet for tips on how to be a graphic designer, you’ll find no shortage of Adobe tutorials. From Photoshop to InDesign, there are millions of resources and quick tips for learning to use the most popular graphic design applications currently on the market. In addition to all the resources on using design programs, you’ll find plenty of information on color theory, layout, typography, current design trends and so much more. With so much information on graphic design, one might assume that once you learn the principles of graphic design, and have a working knowledge of Photoshop that you’re ready to be the next famous designer. Who knows, you might actually be ready, but I’m willing to bet there are a few skills you’ve overlooked on your journey of becoming a graphic designer.
1. You Need To Have A Knack For Knowing What Works Well Together
Great design goes far beyond knowing how to use Photoshop. You need to know what looks good together. Learning the principles of good design can help to develop this skill, but ultimately, you need to be able to identify what looks good and what doesn’t. Knowing how to use a sewing machine won’t make you the next hit runway designer. Similarly, having some technical skills in programs created for graphic designers doesn’t guarantee you’ll be the next famous graphic designer.
2. You Need To Have Some Basic Math Skills
I know you’re probably thinking, “Why would I need math to be a graphic designer? I’m supposed to be good at design, not numbers.” Having some basic math skills will serve you well when it comes to creating layouts that need to be symmetrical and proportionate. Most design programs can handle some pretty complex mathematical equations, but you’ll often find yourself in one of two situations. In the first situation, you need math because it’s easier to do the math yourself rather than entering in the complicated formula that design programs need to do that exact same problem. Situation two is that you need to do math because the design program can’t perform that type of equation. In some cases, you’ll have to do some basic math to get the numbers that can be inputted into the design program. An example of this is trying to get some objects to line up and repeat evenly around a circle in Illustrator. Illustrator can figure out the radius and center point of a circle, but you’ll need some division to get the numbers of the amount of rotation each object needs to have to keep everything spaced evenly along that circle.
3. You Need To Have Logic And Problem Solving Skills
It’s true, there are millions of graphic design tutorials online. Even with millions of tutorials, there are still tons of things you will encounter during your design career that there is no tutorial for. Remember, tutorials don’t exist until someone creates them. Sometimes you’ll find a tutorial for what you’re looking for, but there might be something about that tutorial you want to change. No matter the case, you’ll want to develop your problem-solving skills to tackle these types of issues. A client may present you with a completely unique problem. It’s your job to provide them with answers and workable solutions. If you don’t have problem-solving skills, you can do your job effectively. You can’t always rely on being able to find a solution to every problem online. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and find exactly what you’re looking for, but most of the time you won’t find anything at all. Then, there’s the matter of reliable information. Some information is unsourced, outdated or even just plain wrong. Whether or not you have a tutorial for something, you should still do your own research and problem-solving.
Graphic design requires many different skills. You need to understand the principles of graphic design, have technical skills in your design software, have a knack for design, know some basic math and have the ability to problem solve effectively. One of the most important skills as a graphic designer is flexibility. If you’re able to adapt to new trends and changing circumstances, you’ll be poised to be an excellent designer.
