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THE OFFICIAL⢠GRAPHIC DESIGN THREAD
- Thread in 'General' Thread starter Started by jimmybeanz,
- Start date
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Is this going to be the official⢠design thread now?
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I doubt there are enough enthusiast to make it happen. I remember we have tried this so many times yet it always fails.
Anyways...I don't keep up on the graphic news but a local design firm here in SF just redesigned their site:
http://www.ordinarykids.com
They have done stuff with HUF, Adidas Skateboarding, Aesop Rock and a bunch more. My friend did an internship there and he said they have a good operation.
And I have always loved these guys and share about them all the time. Probably one of the best flash website designers out there. There site is just crazy.Like being in an alternate world or something....very Halo-esque.
http://www.2advanced.com/
Peep there work. Some really wide range of great stuff.....all different budgets and all.
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Also I just found this out too. 10 best Flash Websites in 2009 on a blog. Pretty great sites:
http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/best-flash-sites
http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/best-flash-sites
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My experience is that most people out there dont know the difference between a good designer and a mediocre designer. A well rounded designer to me can alsodraw. That being said, some of the people i know that get the most work cant draw to save their life, and much of the time end up with more work then thepeople who are truly inspiring with a pen or a pencil.
Like others said, the best designers i know are also self taught. Now that doesnt mean dont go to school, because i think school is a wise step, and if nothingmore can lead to a lot of contacts. At the end of the day thats really what i think Art schools are, (prestigious one's even more so) a place to buildcontacts.
Definitely build an online portfolio and update it as often as possible, a blog or anything else to keep people coming back is also a good step. Network on allthe social networking sites, and never stop selling yourself. It takes a lot of work to become a household name, and even sometimes when you are work can beslow.
when doing freelance work realize the customer is going to want a ton of revisions, so try to find a way to convey what you are trying to sell them withoutgoing all out and spending countless hours on something they are just going to want touched up or tweaked. In the long run you will save yourself time and aheadache or too.
Like others said, the best designers i know are also self taught. Now that doesnt mean dont go to school, because i think school is a wise step, and if nothingmore can lead to a lot of contacts. At the end of the day thats really what i think Art schools are, (prestigious one's even more so) a place to buildcontacts.
Definitely build an online portfolio and update it as often as possible, a blog or anything else to keep people coming back is also a good step. Network on allthe social networking sites, and never stop selling yourself. It takes a lot of work to become a household name, and even sometimes when you are work can beslow.
when doing freelance work realize the customer is going to want a ton of revisions, so try to find a way to convey what you are trying to sell them withoutgoing all out and spending countless hours on something they are just going to want touched up or tweaked. In the long run you will save yourself time and aheadache or too.
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Definitely agree on the blog thing. I mean someone said it before but websites are no longer websites no more...they are all usually blogs. But blogs showspeople you are active...even if you aren't blogging about design all the time. Keep personal stuff out of it but then don't always just talk about yourdesign stuff cause it gives a lot more character when people know you are a normal human being too with other interests.
And yes.....very true on the revision thing. I think one of my teachers said don't give a client a lot of mock ups or ideas and most of the time, they willpick the one you hate the most. Sometimes it can be a game at times. Like present 2 (for example) logos that you just love, 1 that is sub par and another thatjust totally sucks. Pitch your ideas and give it the potential that it deserves and hopefully they will pick the one that you and the client likes. If you givethem 10 ideas or whatever, it will only fluster them to add more ideas into a project, which usually makes the outcome look like a hybrid of ideas that justdon't go together.
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haha, i just realized i wrote "a headache or TOO" instead of "two" oops.
1 more thing i would point out is while its important to be versatile its also equally important to have a "style" thats recognizable to others.Often enough if you have a recognizable style you will get sought out because of that style. That job will obviously be easier for you because its doingsomething you are familiar with and will further add to a cohesive portfolio that will look good to others when seeking out a freelance designer. Not onlythat, sometimes if you have a style that becomes sought after you will get jobs where they will just give you an idea and tell you to go for it because theyalready are a believer in what you create.
Anyways, hope i have added some more to an already informative thread, good to see other like minded individuals on here
1 more thing i would point out is while its important to be versatile its also equally important to have a "style" thats recognizable to others.Often enough if you have a recognizable style you will get sought out because of that style. That job will obviously be easier for you because its doingsomething you are familiar with and will further add to a cohesive portfolio that will look good to others when seeking out a freelance designer. Not onlythat, sometimes if you have a style that becomes sought after you will get jobs where they will just give you an idea and tell you to go for it because theyalready are a believer in what you create.
Anyways, hope i have added some more to an already informative thread, good to see other like minded individuals on here
general johnson
Banned
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FeelMode is dead on about having a distinct style. Very important.
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This is a great thread. I work at a promotional company now, but I am trying to branch out into freelance. Working for an agency can really stifle yourcreative side..Good stuff to those who posted work in this thread
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Yeah...very true ion the style thing as well. You really have to be established to do so but that in a way tells you when you have made it. I mean just look atsome of the artists in this sneaker culture that is famous.....Kaws, Futura, Parra, Stash......they have all done corporate work but were allowed to dowhatever since it is there style that they want reflected in the result of certain products. It is a give or take though and you will have to hold back on alot of things when you initially do work but you have to create a balance....like some stuff can just be straight corporate work but some other stuff you cango off and be yourself whether it is stuff that is just coley for you or even some pro-bono work for friends or whatever.
And also another thing about doing freelance or even working at a graphics company, don't sell yourself short. This is a business after all. Don't dofree work unless it benefits you regardless if you are first starting out or not. You actually do nothing for the industry. I mean in general to people thathire designers for work don't know better and will just hire people cause they are cheap, regardless of the skill. Legit companies or freelancers alwayshave a hard time with this when finding work cause "why pay someone a $1000 for a logo when I can get some punk kid fresh out of college to do it forfree." That is why there is no money in the flyer industry for...say like clubs or whatever. So many people do that stuff for free that they are not goingto hire and pay anyone to do it.
Anyways....I guess what I am saying is being a graphic designer is being more then someone behind a computer. You have to be a manager and a businessman aswell.
And also another thing about doing freelance or even working at a graphics company, don't sell yourself short. This is a business after all. Don't dofree work unless it benefits you regardless if you are first starting out or not. You actually do nothing for the industry. I mean in general to people thathire designers for work don't know better and will just hire people cause they are cheap, regardless of the skill. Legit companies or freelancers alwayshave a hard time with this when finding work cause "why pay someone a $1000 for a logo when I can get some punk kid fresh out of college to do it forfree." That is why there is no money in the flyer industry for...say like clubs or whatever. So many people do that stuff for free that they are not goingto hire and pay anyone to do it.
Anyways....I guess what I am saying is being a graphic designer is being more then someone behind a computer. You have to be a manager and a businessman aswell.
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Damn I definitely need to make an online portfolio/blog. Will my drawings come out crisp if I scan it into my computer and put it online (via photobucket).I'm not to familiar with the blogging thing so I never really got into it. But I know it would be good for networking and everything.
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The way it worked for me was that i went to college, got my degree and learned the basics...then like 6 months to a year later i really started to kind ofdevelop my own style.
And its constantly evolving. I would say my style hasnt really changed since i started working, but its definitely evolved slowly.
And its constantly evolving. I would say my style hasnt really changed since i started working, but its definitely evolved slowly.
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Let's keep this going!
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I'd like to get further into design (deeper than PSing photos on NT
), but it seems much more of a riskier career than the avenues I'm currentlyexploring. Also, compared to the professionals, I'm hardly teetering on mediocrity.
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I agree, what schools did/do you guys attend?
I go to Academy of Art University in San Francisco btw and I love this school.
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Originally Posted by DaNiKeRhiNo
I agree, what schools did/do you guys attend?
I go to Academy of Art University in San Francisco btw and I love this school.Although I already mentioned this, I'm switching my majors from Graphic Design into illustrating though, Graphic Design is a little too rigid for me and involves too much computer work which isn't really my passion. But I still appreciate what Graphic Designers do, maybe I can try to get a Master's Degree in it after I finish this degree.
Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU
Why not try to take one design class a semester and then major in illustration. Thats what I did.
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That's exactly what I'm doing.Originally Posted by dwizard23
Originally Posted by DaNiKeRhiNo
I agree, what schools did/do you guys attend?
I go to Academy of Art University in San Francisco btw and I love this school.Although I already mentioned this, I'm switching my majors from Graphic Design into illustrating though, Graphic Design is a little too rigid for me and involves too much computer work which isn't really my passion. But I still appreciate what Graphic Designers do, maybe I can try to get a Master's Degree in it after I finish this degree.
Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU
Why not try to take one design class a semester and then major in illustration. Thats what I did.
How is it going by the way, and what classes are you specifically taking? Right now I'm taking figure drawing and Digital Tools (Basic functions inInDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop).
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i got some randoms....
Im trying...
Im 17 btw
Im trying...
Im 17 btw
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Your graffiti is good. For some reason, I could never really get good at that.
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i like all of your work, but I REALLY like the one above.Originally Posted by Drameezy
i got some randoms....
Im trying...
Im 17 btw
btw, i will change the name of the thread to the Official Graphic Design Thread
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^ Thnx imma tryna progress from graffiti though into more illustration... You know.
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What type of industry related/inspired magazines are you guys reading? What do you think about Juxtapoz and Wallpaper?
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no thread jack...but is anyone in the industrial design field?
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ill chime in with my 2 cents. i've been in the creative world for about 5 years and its tough.
quick career rundown
location: nyc
sector: fashion, ad agency, small business
My biggest suggestion to any young designer is this, learn as much as you can about the business. learn how campaigns are really put together, how variousdepts interact, what clients look for and most importantly what clients are willing to pay. no matter how creative you are its no fun working hard when peopledon't value what you do. after most client meetings its amazing/sad how little creative input most designers have, especially at mid-large agencies. theseplaces just want you to execute the idea that they already have.
there's no barrier to entry in this business. so any and everyone who has stolen adobe creative suite swears they can do it. as a result i've seen atrend of small clients wanting you to do everything for nothing, ie websites for 500 bucks. on the larger agency side the money is ok but is really reservedfor web designers who have experience in User Interface Design. Programers and developers who are good are never wanting for work for too long. In nyc everyonewants to design but very few want to program and salaries and rates reflect this.
I'd encourage you to get as much real world experience as possible in your portfolio. almost everyone coming out of school has that class projectportfolio, don't be that person. intern at a mid sized firm. get a linkedin account and reach out to art directors, account execs and talent agents. readmagazines and when you read about a player in the game write him an email or snail mail...AND THEN FOLLOW UP. people love helping young people who work likehell. you'll seperate urself from 98% of the pack.
as for technical skills i can't say. if your young have as broad as a scope as possible but realize that you have to specialize in something eventually. asyou progress through the ranks you'll be slotted into very defined roles. while agencies want to see this, ie candidate with X years in Flash Development,i think its dangerous as you limit your ability to make career moves. i had a print manager once who was absolutely horrible in PS and only marginally betterwith InDesign. he progressed through the ranks and never had to learn. he's chillin but should he ever get laid off, who wants a candidate that knowsnothing about PS or InDesign?! thats scary to me.
hope this helps and good luck.
quick career rundown
location: nyc
sector: fashion, ad agency, small business
My biggest suggestion to any young designer is this, learn as much as you can about the business. learn how campaigns are really put together, how variousdepts interact, what clients look for and most importantly what clients are willing to pay. no matter how creative you are its no fun working hard when peopledon't value what you do. after most client meetings its amazing/sad how little creative input most designers have, especially at mid-large agencies. theseplaces just want you to execute the idea that they already have.
there's no barrier to entry in this business. so any and everyone who has stolen adobe creative suite swears they can do it. as a result i've seen atrend of small clients wanting you to do everything for nothing, ie websites for 500 bucks. on the larger agency side the money is ok but is really reservedfor web designers who have experience in User Interface Design. Programers and developers who are good are never wanting for work for too long. In nyc everyonewants to design but very few want to program and salaries and rates reflect this.
I'd encourage you to get as much real world experience as possible in your portfolio. almost everyone coming out of school has that class projectportfolio, don't be that person. intern at a mid sized firm. get a linkedin account and reach out to art directors, account execs and talent agents. readmagazines and when you read about a player in the game write him an email or snail mail...AND THEN FOLLOW UP. people love helping young people who work likehell. you'll seperate urself from 98% of the pack.
as for technical skills i can't say. if your young have as broad as a scope as possible but realize that you have to specialize in something eventually. asyou progress through the ranks you'll be slotted into very defined roles. while agencies want to see this, ie candidate with X years in Flash Development,i think its dangerous as you limit your ability to make career moves. i had a print manager once who was absolutely horrible in PS and only marginally betterwith InDesign. he progressed through the ranks and never had to learn. he's chillin but should he ever get laid off, who wants a candidate that knowsnothing about PS or InDesign?! thats scary to me.
hope this helps and good luck.
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I will be getting my degree in web design at the end of the year. I feel that graphic designer should also work with adobe dreamweaver and flash to make theiroptions wider for a client.
