Crucial graphic design tips, tricks & advice from the experts

So, what do graphic designers think about graphic design? We asked the opinion of many of the best and most talented graphic designers in the industry to find out what it takes to be successful in the industry. Whether you’re starting out in the field of graphic design or you’re a seasoned professional, these tips, tricks and advice are crucial…

HOW TO LEARN THE FIELD

Continuing your education and always expanding your knowledge will make you a more flexible and versatile designer. Here is the average rating out of 10 for each educational opportunity according to the experts:

Portfolio School – 6.0
Graphic Design Books – 6.5
Online Tutorials – 7.5
Internships – 8.5
Graphic Design College – 7.0

WHAT DESIGNERS NEED TO KNOW

We asked the experts to rate the importance of having additional knowledge in the fields related to graphic design. Here is the average rating for each knowledge area:

Drawing – 6.7
Photography – 6.7
Copywriting – 6.0
Blogging – 5.2
Painting – 4.2

KEY SKILLS

Technical skills like typography, page layout and colour theory are crucial tools for graphic designers. Take a look at the percentage of people who rated these skills to be very important:

Typography – 64%
Colour Theory – 51%
Page Layout – 42%

WHICH TOOLS MATTER

All graphic designers agree that Abode is the way to go! The experts rated the most popular design programs:

Adobe Illustrator – 9.4
Adobe Photoshop – 9.1
Adobe InDesign – 8.5
Adobe AfterEffect – 5.4
Adobe Dreamweaver – 5.1
Adobe Lightroom – 4.6
Adobe Flash – 4.4

FAVOURITE TOOL

Every graphic designer should have tools to use for their daily designs. The experts revealed that these are the most important tools to have:

1. Adobe Creative Suite
2. Sketchbook
3. Mac Book Pro
4. Pencil
5. Font Doctor
6. Mouse
7. Pantone Book
8. Notebook
9. Critical thinking
10. A brain

MARKETING & SELF PROMOTION

The graphic design experts ranked how important it is to promote yourself as a graphic designer. Here’s how they ranked each opportunity:

Personal Website – 71%
Networking & Personal Connections – 67%
Online Portfolio – 49%
Printed Portfolio – 17%
Freelance Portals – 7%

What graphic design tips do you have for budding artists? At The Computer Guyz, we offer graphic design services, such as logo design, corporate identity, branding, business card design and so much more! Contact us or pop in at one of our branches in Cape Town or Centurion.