In whatever industry you work, or in whatever position you are in, improving your skills and improving your skills is not only important for self-development but also for being able to keep your lead. This is what keeps you driven and on edge.
The same goes for a successful graphic designer. Moving into an industry that is moving fast and technologically driven can be a challenge, but a designer must constantly learn and develop to be the pinnacle of your game.
A designer cannot afford complacency or rest on laurels, even if you are skilled and knowledgeable in your market. Continuously driven, continuous learning and improvement are the keys to success.
There are many ways to improve yourself as a graphic designer.
Find out more
Go out and meet people, talk to professionals, and network. You will see that these are the best routes to get new ideas for your creative work. Attend roadshows, conferences and exhibitions and share your ideas with like-minded professionals. It will be invaluable in your learning curve and will also serve to blend in with more creative people. Attending seminars and workshops will also help you gain a better understanding of ideas and design concepts, including becoming familiar with new technologies and software.
Design collections
If you see an inspiring design, bring it along and add it to your collection. Over the years, you will keep hundreds of posters, brochures, and other items in boxes and folders. Keep it easily accessible and get inspiration whenever you need it.
Book collections
Books are a wonderful source of knowledge and are essential for an ongoing learning process. Develop an extensive collection that includes books from different subjects, which can be educational, inspiring, or technical.
Brainstorm on paper.
You will notice that some of the best creative designs and ideas come from nowhere in your head. Often when you least expect it or when you are in a relaxed state of mind. Grab a pen as you hit shine and explore this fresh creativity on paper. Sketch your ideas and explore them. Who knows, they may lead you to some of your best work. Remember that such inspiration needs to be captured and focused. Therefore, it is essential to have a pencil and sketch pad on hand.
Go over your rough work.
You may have some design concepts and ideas that are roughly drawn. Maybe it was created when you were relaxed, but returning to it can take your ideas to another level, and such ideas and designs can lead to a successful design project.
Tutorials and courses
You can sign up for courses in graphic design, whether general or more specific niches that will enrich your knowledge and help you develop new skill sets. Again, participation will also help you network and mingle with like-minded professionals.
Get yourself on creative forums.
Building new and new ideas as a successful graphic designer can come from interacting in forums and workgroups with members with similar business backgrounds, but you can be sure that they all think completely differently. Such a thought deviation will help you to analyze some excellent graphic design ideas and think more creatively. Blogging and commenting on the work of your fellow designers will also have a positive effect. You will also meet other designers from a leading graphic design company.
Read designer blogs
I learned so much by reading blogs by great graphic designers. I can not stress how important it is to utilize the invaluable source of knowledge on the internet. Also, remember to use what you learn in your work.
Start your blog
When you start a blog, you can connect with other members of the graphic designer community. You can get feedback for your projects and learn from others’ work. When writing articles for your blog, you will be aware of the most important topics and new technologies.
Be an active member of the graphic design community.
It’s essential for a freelancer to join an online community of graphic designers. It will keep you in touch with what’s happening in the design world and also an excellent source for criticism and feedback. One disadvantage of freelance is the absence of criticism.
Keep taking pictures
Take photos if you find designs that fascinate you that you can not take home. A camera phone is a handy device for this, so click and file it to use later. My collection has photos of shadows on walls, architectural designs, basically anything that stands out.
Create fake projects
When I have free time, I like to create fake projects for a fake company. I design the logo, brochure, stationery, and even the website. It is a great exercise for creativity and remains fun to design. I enjoy letting my creativity run completely without the limitations of a client or a boss.
Redesign other projects
This is a great alternative to designing fake brands. You can try your hand at redesigning graphic projects done by other designers as an exercise to see what they did wrong and how you can make it better.
Repeat previous designs
Go back and look at your previous designs. Your likely reaction is criticism and disbelief that you really did. Do not get rid of it, but you must redesign it.
Attend lectures
From time to time I make the actual effort to attend lectures by other leading designers at local colleges or universities, and I will always learn something new.
Network
While attending lectures, I am looking for designers who work for a graphic design company with more experience and skills than I do. Networking with designers of higher intelligence and expertise is motivating and pushes me to work and learn more.