steps to becoming a professional designer web

7/31/2019 Steps to Becoming A Professional Designer WEB

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10 Steps to Becoming a

Professional Designer (Graphic, Web & 3D)

Written & Compiled for iD Tech Camps by Audrey Van Nor


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10 Steps to Becoming a

Professional Designer (Graphic, Web & 3D)The intersection between art and technology is becoming busier and busier, and nowhere is this

more apparent than in the world of design. The Arts have experienced a 21st century renaissance,

and designers are turning to technology as both a means and a medium of self-expression.

STEM to STEAMThe STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields are booming, and they have come to

dominate todays job market. But theyre heating up even further with one additional element the

Arts. Design is becoming an increasingly important and cutting edge 21 st century career.

Occupations from website design to user interface design to graphic design and animation fields

with roots in the fine arts are gaining steam. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the

graphic design occupation will grow 13% between 2008 and 2018, on par with the average for all

occupations. Moreover, they add that:

graphic designers with Web site design and animation experience will especially be needed as

demand increases for design projects for interactive mediaWeb sites, mobile phones, and other

technology. Demand for graphic designers also will increase as advertising firms create print and

web marketing and promotional materials for a growing number of products and services. Growth

in Internet advertising, in particular, is expected to increase the number of designers.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics

2008 2018

occupation growth

13%GRAPHIC

DESIGN

CAREER

OUTLOO

K

graphic designers with web site design

nd animation experience will especially

be needed as demand increases for

design projects for interactive

mediaweb sites, mobile phones,

and other technology.

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In our increasingly visual world, presentation is everything. Take Apple. The tech industry giant has built a way of life around the iPhone, iPod,

iPad, Mac, etc. products all known for their sleek designs and simple user interfaces. They have become one of the worlds most valuable

companies, reaching the top not just by having great technology, but by combining great technology with great design. As Steve Jobs famously said

of a new user interface, We made the buttons on the screen look so good youll want to lick them.

Think about how design is present in your everyday life. How has it impacted you? How has it aected your decisions? How has it impacted the way

that you interact with games? Websites? Media?

The opportunity to share your vision of the world, and impact others, has never been greater. There are many options for students interested in

design. Web designers and graphic designers have a big portion of the spotlight, but a 3D modeler or animator also shares in the design aesthetic

and guides the look and feel of projects like video games and films.

1. Build a foundation in fine arts.

2. Expand your foundation to include essential software skills.

3. Choose a field. Or two, or three.

4. Experiment with dierent styles until you find your own.

5. Build a portfolio, and keep adding to it.

6. Stay connected with the latest happenings in the design world.

7. Look everywhere for inspiration, and collaborate with your peers.

8. Reexamine and evolve your style.

9. Get your feet wet with professional projects.

10. Earn a degree.

Read on to find out 10 steps to becoming agraphic designer, web designer, or 3D modeler:


An electrician isnt an opinion former, but a graphic designers is. My argument is that all

graphic designers hold high levels of responsibility in society. We take invisible ideas and

make them tangible. Thats our job.- Neville Brody

Head of the Communication Art & Design department, Royal College of Art
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Step 01:Build a foundation in fine arts.

Everyone has to start somewhere. Take classes in art, learn the basics, and build a strong foundation.

iDs own Lead Designer Marta Carden explains the importance of a background in the arts:

Something I never realized when I knew I wanted to major in graphic design was all of the fine art

basics that go into the degree. I imagined just going to the computer and creating something

fantastic, but the first two years in any sort of design school will include fine arts such as drawing,

painting, art history, etc. At first I didnt know why I needed to do that, but these kinds of classeshelp teach you about positive and negative space, how everyday things are formed in terms of

space, light, shadows, texture. If youre in high school, its important to try to take some art or fine

art classes, especially if you plan on applying to a major design school.

Step 02:Expand your foundation

to include essentialsoftware skills.

You can take classes in graphic arts, web design, photography, modeling, Flash animation, and

more. Take them as electives in school, or seek out specialized summer camp and teen summer camp

classes. Good software to learn as you build a broad base for yourself include the industry-standard

Adobe Creative Suite (programs like Photoshop and Illustrator) and Autodesk Maya.

Marta explains the importance of STEM for the Arts:

Sometimes when you think of art and photography, 3D modeling, or design, you think of just

being creative. But its good to note that science, and math (STEM!) can come into play a lot in

these professions.

For example, I was a photography minor and one of our required classes was a physics class about

light. There are moments when Im taking a photograph or when I read about something in

photography and my physics class curriculum just clicks and I think, Oh, I get it now. I see why I

had to take that class.

If you know the science behind the art, youll have a better understanding of how to get certain

eects that you want to achieve.

- RPG Game Design & Graphic Arts Hybrid

- Intro to Web Design & Photography

- Web Design & Flash Animation

- Autodesk Maya - 3D Modeling & Animation

Some iD Tech Camps classes that offer a thoroughintroduction to the world of design and design software include:

Sometimes when you think of art and photography, 3D modeling, or design, you think ofjust being creative. But its good to note that science, and math (STEM!) can come intoplay a lot in these professions.

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Step 03:Choose a field.

Or two, or three.

The good news? Designers have a lot of career choices. Even better news? Designers dont have to

choose just one!

Web design, graphic design, modeling, and animation all fall under the purvey of design. Within the

field of graphic design, you can specialize even further to focus on print, identity, packaging, or web

design. Real-world projects often involve multiple categories, so most designers dont stick to justone specialty. Its a definite career advantage to have multiple fields and backgrounds to draw from.

Still, when youre first starting out, its best to focus on one area of study. Once youve refined your

skills for that specific area of design, youll be much better equipped to diversify and learn the ins and

outs of another field of design. Start out with web design classes, photography lessons, a graphic

arts classwhatever strikes your fancyand work from there.

Step 04:Experiment with different

styles until you find your own.

Show the world your own unique perspective. Its essential that every artist find their voice, and your

work will be much more compelling when you solidify your style. Dont worry about creating some-

thing that you dont like a process of trial and error is inevitable. But dont let that stop you from

starting. The process of editing and revising is essential for any designer to master their trade.

As designer Scott Adams said, Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing

which ones to keep.

Step 05:Build a portfolio,

and keep adding to it.

Gather all of the work youve done, and keep a running collection of projects that make you proud.

Include drawings, sketches, mock ups, animations any projects that youve completed. And dont

feel like you need to wait until youve started college. You can and should start your portfolio as

soon as possible. Its a great way to stay on track and give yourself a goal.

Refine the skills you already have. Are you really proud of certain web designs or a few of your

logos? Dont rest on your laurels build on what youve done, and see if you can get more

innovative.

Diversify and add variety. If you have a lot of graphic design experience, try your hand at a web

design project. The skills in dierent design fields often overlap, and being able to draw from

multiple disciplines is a valuable professional ability. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics pointed

out, cross-field skills between graphic design and website design will be very helpful in the

future job market. Try to do a little bit of everything, and then work on a project that showcases

all of your dierent skills.

- Scott AdamsCreativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep.

Creative Portfolio Tips:


1

2


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An important thing to rememberboth for design in general and for your portfolio in

particularis the importance of editing. Keep track of all of your work, and save copies of

everything. You never know when you may want to reference or repurpose your old work. But when

it comes to showing your portfolio to prospective employers or admissions offices, only show your

best work.

Design guru Milton Glaser the man behind the famous I Love New York logo said, There are three

responses to a piece of design yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for. Its also the one to

include in your portfolio. Always choose quality over quantity, and show a few truly impressive

pieces over many mediocre pieces.

Step 06:

Stay connected with thelatest happenings in thedesign world.

Sign up for design newsletters and look into professional trade organizations. You may not be able to

join just yet, but you can stay abreast of important industry news and keep up to date with new

technology developments.

If there is a designer or a company aesthetic that you particularly admire, then follow their work and

take their advice. Take Jonathan Ive and Steve Jobs, the design geniuses behind so many of the

recent Apple product successes. Read interviews to get their perspective on design and learn from

their experience. There are nuggets of design advice gold floating around the internet.

It comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we dont get on the wrong track or try to do too

much.

- Steve Jobs, The Seed of Apples Innovation, businessweek.com

On innovation:

Weve gone through the operating system and looked at everything and asked how can we simplify this

and make it more powerful at the same time.

- Steve Jobs, Mac OS X Beta Arrives, abcnews.com

On the Mac OS X Beta:



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Step 07:Look everywhere

for inspiration, andcollaborate with your peers.

Youd be surprised where you can find inspiration. A really great way to keep your perspective fresh

and relevant is to work closely with peers. You not only get support and encouragement, but you get

a sounding board for your ideas and designs. Constructive criticism can be your best friend.

If youre in school or taking summer classes then it should be easy to organize peer review sessions.

Even if your school or summer class isnt in session, many courses oer forums and online options to

stay in touch and keep learning.

From a designers point of view, its not an appearance game were playing. It is very utilitarian. Its the

use of material in a very minimalist way.

- Jonathan Ive, Design According to Ive, wired.com

On the Power Mac G5:

I figured out some basic stu - that form and colour defines your perception of the nature of an object,

whether or not it is intended to. I learnt the fundamentals of how you make things and I started to

understand the historical and cultural context of an objects design.

- Jonathan Ive, Design Museum Jonathan Ive interview, designmuseum.org

On getting interested in design:

- SmashingMagazine.com

- Inspired Magazine

- You The Designer

- LogoDesignLove

Check out these great design blogs for the latest technology,trends, and to see what other designers are up to:

iDTech365.comhas community forums

where you can connect with other iD

students who share your interests.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/http://inspiredm.com/http://www.youthedesigner.com/http://www.logodesignlove.com/http://idtech365.internaldrive.com/?utm_source=library&utm_medium=ebook&utm_content=designhttp://www.internaldrive.com/?utm_source=library&utm_medium=ebook&utm_content=designhttp://www.internaldrive.com/?utm_source=library&utm_medium=ebook&utm_content=designhttp://www.logodesignlove.com/http://www.youthedesigner.com/http://inspiredm.com/http://www.smashingmagazine.com/http://idtech365.internaldrive.com/?utm_source=library&utm_medium=ebook&utm_content=design


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Step 08:Re-examine and

evolve your style.

Stay dynamic. Its important to stay up to date with new software tools, as hiring managers look for

well-rounded, knowledgeable employees. One way to do this is to continue your education and take

more design classes through school, outside programs, or even online. Aim for project-based

classes, like those oered at iD Tech Camps and iD Visual Arts Academy, so you can kill two birds with

one stone and create portfolio pieces through the class.

Step 09:Get your feet wet

with professional projects.

Start out by taking on a few projects for your school. iD alumni and do something BIG student

Andrew did just that, and graduated from high school with an impressive portfolio of playbills,

programs, websites, and logos.

Another option is to volunteer your services at a local nonprofit. It will do some good, get your nameout, and build your confidence as a designer. Taking direction from a live client is very dierent from

coming up with your own projects, and the freelance experience will look great on your resume.

An important step in the evolution of your style is, as we mentioned before, editing. Constructivecriticism is an integral part of the editing process. It allows you to see your work with fresh eyes, and

helps you anticipate your audiences perspective. Designers have to deal with a lot of client back and

forth over the course of a career, so learning how to use constructive criticism early on is invaluable.

iD Visual Arts Academy students even build online portfolios

during their sessions, an industry-standard tool thats easy to

add on to as you keep learning and designing.

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Step 10:Earn a degree.

The right school can help you build connections and networks as much as skill sets. The name is not

everything, but some highly respected schools include the following. Be sure to check out the

corresponding iD Tech Camps locations to explore areas near (or at!) these schools:

Many iD instructors come from these schools, and many iD students go on to attend these colleges

after experiencing the campuses through summer programs.

The most important thing to remember is persistence. As Milton Glaser put it: The real issue is not

talent as an independent element, but talent in relationship to will, desire and persistence. Talent

without these things vanishes and even modest talent with those characteristics grows.

Stick with it, take classes, find your style, and evolve. Design is a fun, rewarding and in this

economy a stable career choice for the future. Full STEAM ahead!

- Millton Glaser

The real issue is not talent as an independentelement, but talent in relationship to will, desire

and persistence. Talent without these things

vanishes and even modest talent with those

characteristics grows.

Parsons School of Design: NYPratt Institute: NY

DESIGN SCHOOLS NEARBY iD TECH CAMPS LOCATIONS

NYU (also iD Visual Arts Academy)NYIT

Columbia

Rhode Island School of Design:

Providence, RI

Brown UniversityRhode Island School of Design:

Providence, RI

Brown University

ew York

ode Island

CalArts

UCLA School of Arts & Architecture

Cal Lutheran University

UCLA

alifornia

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh Area, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

enns lvania

Yale University School of Art Sacred Heart University

onnecticut

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internalDrive Inc and internalDrive International Inc All rights reserved

For more information about our Design courses, visit internalDrive.com.
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