So, you’re aiming to break into the world of design without the traditional design school route? That’s absolutely achievable. Just like I did, you can forge your own path to a design career in a matter of months, even while holding down a full-time job. When I started applying for design positions at startups, I didn’t feel fully prepared, but I landed a fantastic role at Exec.
Let’s be realistic, a self-taught designer might not instantly reach the level of someone graduating from a top-tier four-year program. However, you can definitely become proficient enough to excel in a design job. As the sole designer at Exec, I handle a wide range of projects, from visual and interaction design to print, web, and mobile app design.
Perhaps you’re considering a career change to graphic design full-time, or maybe you need to grasp the fundamentals for your startup or a personal project.
This guide is your roadmap to teach yourself graphic design effectively.
A Quick Update: Since I first shared this guide, I’ve received countless emails seeking more structured and accessible learning paths. I’ve discovered a fantastic resource: Designlab. While this course wasn’t available when I was learning, I truly wish it had been. It streamlines the learning process significantly. What sets Designlab apart is its project-based approach and access to design mentors, many of whom are industry professionals from companies like Facebook, providing invaluable feedback on your work.*
Step 1: Cultivate Your Designer’s Eye: Learning to See
A common pitfall for aspiring designers is diving straight into software like Photoshop. Mastering Photoshop alone doesn’t make you a graphic designer, just as owning brushes doesn’t make you a painter. Building a strong foundation is crucial.
Start with Drawing Fundamentals
- Forget the outdated image of formal art classes with life models.
- You don’t need to become a master artist, but basic sketching skills are essential for visualizing and communicating ideas.
- The key is to become comfortable translating your thoughts into visual form with a pen and paper.
- A highly recommended resource is the book You Can Draw in 30 Days. Dedicate just 30 minutes daily for a month to practice its exercises. It’s one of the most effective drawing guides available.
Grasp Graphic Design Theory
- Begin with Picture This. This engaging book uses the story of Little Red Riding Hood to subtly introduce you to the core principles of graphic design.
- Delve into the fundamentals of color theory, typography, and grid systems. Consider a local introductory graphic design class to solidify these basics.
- Explore free online resources like these tutorials and dedicate time each day to Learn Graphic Design principles.
Understand User Experience (UX) Basics
- User experience is integral to effective graphic design. Start with these highly recommended, concise reads to shift your mindset towards user-centered design:
Hone Your Writing Skills
- Placeholder text like Lorem Ipsum is a telltale sign of an inexperienced designer. A strong designer is a clear communicator, meticulously considering the entire user journey and carefully selecting each word. Write for real people, using clear and concise language, not overly academic or jargon-filled prose.
- Read Made to Stick, a personal favorite that teaches you how to craft compelling and memorable messages.
- Voice and Tone is an excellent website showcasing examples of effective writing in various contexts, helping you understand how to tailor your communication.
Step 2: Master Essential Design Software: Photoshop and Illustrator
Now that you’ve established a strong visual and UX foundation, you’re ready to learn design software. While Photoshop is widely known, I recommend starting with Illustrator before moving on to Photoshop. Illustrator is the industry-standard tool for creating logos, icons, and vector graphics, which are fundamental in graphic design.
Learn Adobe Illustrator
[Image of Adobe Illustrator interface or logo]
Alt text: Adobe Illustrator interface showcasing vector graphic design tools, essential software to learn graphic design.
- Focus on tutorials and courses specifically designed for beginners.
- Practice creating vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.
- Explore different tools and techniques within Illustrator.
- Consider online platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, or Coursera for structured Illustrator courses.
Learn Adobe Photoshop
[Image of Adobe Photoshop interface or logo]
Alt text: Adobe Photoshop interface displaying image editing tools, crucial software for aspiring graphic designers to learn.
- Once you’re comfortable with Illustrator, move on to Photoshop.
- Focus on photo editing, image manipulation, and creating mockups.
- Learn about layers, masks, and adjustment layers – core Photoshop concepts.
- Explore Photoshop tutorials and courses to master its vast capabilities.
Step 3: Specialize and Explore Design Niches
What areas of graphic design pique your interest? Mobile app design? Website design? Infographics? Explore a variety of design specialties to discover your passions and refine your skills in the areas you enjoy most.
Learn Logo Design
- Logo design is a fundamental skill in graphic design.
- Study successful logos and analyze their design principles.
- Practice creating logos for fictional brands and businesses.
- Explore resources specifically focused on logo design theory and techniques.
Learn Mobile App Design
- Get started with this tutorial to dip your toes into visual design for mobile apps.
- Read Tapworthy, a concise yet comprehensive book on iPhone design principles, focusing on both aesthetics and usability.
- Become a critical user of mobile apps. Analyze the apps on your phone – what works well, what doesn’t, and why?
Learn Web Design
- Revisit Don’t Make Me Think to understand the principles of user-friendly website navigation and design.
- Study The Principles of Beautiful Web Design for guidance on creating visually appealing websites.
- Curate a list of websites you admire for their design. Identify common design patterns and elements that contribute to their aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Do you need to learn HTML/CSS as a graphic designer? It depends on your career goals. While not always mandatory, knowing HTML and CSS gives you a significant advantage in the job market, especially in web design roles. Even basic knowledge helps you understand the technical feasibility of your designs and improves collaboration with developers.
Numerous excellent resources are available for learning HTML and CSS online.
Step 4: Build a Compelling Design Portfolio
A formal design degree isn’t essential to land a design job, but a strong portfolio is non-negotiable.
How do you build a portfolio when you’re just starting out and lack real-world client projects? Create your own projects! Here are some portfolio-building ideas:
- Design creative t-shirt graphics based on quirky concepts.
- Identify poorly designed websites and redesign them, focusing on UX and visual improvements.
- Develop mockups for an iPhone app idea you have.
- Participate in Startup Weekend events and contribute as a designer on a weekend project.
- Enter design contests on platforms like 99designs to practice designing to specific briefs and gain experience working with design prompts.
- Work through the graphic design exercises in the Creative Workshop book.
- Offer your design services pro bono to local non-profit organizations to gain practical experience and build your portfolio.
Be selective when curating your portfolio. Include only your strongest and most representative work. Quality over quantity is key.
In the initial stages, embrace inspiration and learn from existing designs. Don’t fixate on originality immediately; that will develop as you become more proficient. Just as musicians learn to play existing songs before composing their own, designers learn by studying and adapting existing designs. Steal Like an Artist is a great book to inspire this approach.
For design inspiration, explore platforms like Dribbble to see work from top designers. Check out pttrns for iOS design inspiration and patterntap for website design inspiration.
Step 5: Land Your First Graphic Design Job
When I began my design learning journey, I attended a job search workshop for designers. I found myself in a room filled with experienced designers with 5, 10, even 15 years of experience, all seeking new roles. It was daunting. Here I was, a self-taught novice, competing with seasoned professionals.
Yet, within six months, I secured a design job. One key differentiator gave me an edge: my ability to collaborate effectively with developers.
A crucial factor in boosting your employability as a graphic designer, particularly in the tech industry, is understanding the development process and being able to work seamlessly with developers. Learning interaction design principles and basic HTML/CSS is highly beneficial. Interaction designers, web designers, and app designers are in high demand in the tech industry and command competitive salaries. This is where the job opportunities are abundant right now.
If you lack experience working with developers, seek opportunities to gain some. Participate in Startup Weekend events, attend hackathons, or connect with developers through project collaboration sites.
Create a personal website with your portfolio as the centerpiece.
Be proactive in your job search. Inform your network that you’re seeking graphic design roles. You never know who might have a connection.
Research companies and agencies that interest you. Utilize LinkedIn to find second and third-degree connections to people working at these organizations and request introductions. Networking is often the most effective way to secure a job. Even without direct connections, there are strategies to enhance your job application’s visibility.
Continuous Learning: Your Lifelong Design Journey
Since joining Exec a year ago, my on-the-job learning has been immense. I actively seek out designers more skilled than myself to learn from their expertise. I participate in design courses (excellent online options include Skillshare, General Assembly, Treehouse, and TutsPlus). I engage in side projects and explore design resources at bookstores. The field of design is constantly evolving, and there’s always more to learn and refine.
Maintain your skills, stay curious, and embrace lifelong learning to thrive as a graphic designer.
