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How to become a Graphic Designer?

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Top Answer
Talent.com talent.com
Answered April 23 2021
Career Expert at Talent.com
Like many fields in the arts, you can go to school for graphic design, or you can teach yourself (aka be self-taught). There are pros and cons to both approaches, notably the cost of education and the risk of learning gaps in being self-taught. Think about your goals and your situation before deciding. Maybe you can take a short online course and see if the formal education route is something you respond to or if you prefer to teach yourself. 

If you choose to go to university, you will take courses in design fundamentals, typography, color theory, and web design. 

Another advantage of university instruction is the opportunity to build a portfolio. Of course, you can do this on your own, but the structure of formal instruction will provide you with great prompts and different exercises to grow as an artist. Your portfolio is very important as a Graphic Designer because it allows prospective clients to review your work and see if your skills and style align with their vision. 

Once you leave school or you feel ready to enter the job market, you should decide if you want to specialize in a niche field or if you want to market yourself as a design generalist. Both of these approaches offer advantages and disadvantages, so consider your interests and goals when deciding to specialize or not. 

What Can Help You Become a Graphic Designer
Graphic design requires a combination of many different skills, and while not all of them are mandatory for success, these extra skills can set you apart from the competition and make your work stand out.

  • UX/Copywriting

    Users often skim content. Layouts, headers, and CTAs need to be visually appealing, grammatically correct, and logically placed. If you work for a bigger company, there may be UX researchers and copywriters on staff who can help you, but you need a working understanding of these concepts if you're self-employed.

  • Design software

    Most designers have a preferred software or software suite that they use for projects. The Adobe suite is very popular and is considered a gold standard in the industry. Learning all the functions of the software will allow you to accomplish anything a client may ask. 

  • Basic drawing skills

    Most Graphic Designers start by sketching out their ideas as thumbnails. You need foundational drawing skills for your sketches to be legible and sellable to clients.
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