Maybe you just finished school or want to study something new, creative, challenging and interesting. If so then graphic design might be for you. Your first question might be: "How do I become a graphic designer?" I wrote this article to give you a glimpse into what it takes to become a graphic designer, so you will know if you've got what it takes to become a graphic designer and how to go about becoming a graphic designer.
To become a graphic designer you don’t necessarily have to be artistic. If you are it will be an advantage, but you will need to have an interest in art and computers. You will also need to be a deadline driven person - a graphic designer's life revolves around deadlines. Problem solving is also involved in graphic design, so if you enjoy problem solving and have the qualities above then you are halfway there.
Where or how can I study to become a graphic designer?
Well there are two options and it all depends on what you prefer. Firstly you can choose to teach yourself or secondly you can do a course or get a degree. If you are planning to teach yourself here is a list of books you might want to give a read, they all contain valuable information about graphic design and becoming a graphic designer.
- Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design
- 2008 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Guide
- Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines
- Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer
- The Savvy Designer's Guide To Success: Ideas and Tactics for a Killer Career
What if you don’t want to teach yourself and would rather prefer getting a degree or doing a course? Well that is not a problem, I made a list of online graphic design schools that I would highly recommend.
- The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
- Westwood College Online
- IADT Online
What do you do after you’ve studied or taught yourself? Then you need to decide what field you want to work in or specialize in. There are a variety of fields: these include print design (magazines, newspapers, posters), web design, advertising, logo design and even sign-making.
After you have chosen a field you need to decide if you want to work for yourself as a freelance graphic designer or work for a company as an employee.
In summary if you want to become a graphic designer you need to have an interest in art, computers, be a deadline driven person and enjoy problem solving. Graphic design is a very interesting and exciting career. If you think you’ve got what it takes, go for it and enjoy!