How do I get started in design?
Design is a career field I may want to try out. I'm still in 8th grade, so I can't get a part time job yet. How can I get started in design, on my weekends? I like to read design blogs, and I capture things I like on Pinterest. Are there any really good starter books I can read or sites I can look at for getting started? #design #graphic-design
7 answers
Kelvin’s Answer
Hey Millie,
What you can do to get started is actually looking around your own community ex: libraries, community centers etc. and ask if they need some volunteer design done. They will be more then happy to get some help and this is where you can get some real experience. I personally started out in high school designing for my local library for speaker events. If you are interested in books or readings about design, some good books include: Making and Breaking the Grid and Designing with Type 5th Edition. Good luck with your start!
Thank you I will ask my library for sure. Maybe also my high school. And thank you for the book recommendations. I will ask for them in the same library :)
Millie
Alwyn’s Answer
Millie,
Steven’s recommendations are good. In addition to the many online sources, I urge you to read as many design tomes out there that you can get your hands on. These will parcel advice, help you build sensibilities in design and teach you about design as a discipline with a wide variety of niche practices.
I’d also download or subscribe to learn the many software applications that designers employ to perform their tasks and do project work. Work to a high-level of dexterity on both Macs and Windows computers.
Take classes in a formal setting (students, instructor and projects) as the interaction with a real instructor and fellow students and in particular your benefitting from design critique will be worth in value far beyond the financial cost to you.
Narrow your focus of interest (print, web, advertising, product design, etc.) so that you can devote your full attention to learning for where you want to be.
Shadow a designer to see how a typical day looks like and what problems designers solve. That shadowing could eventually become an internship (insist on being paid and make sure your tasks are design relevant) at a place where you can learn by doing under the guidance and tutelage of a practicing designer.
Learn color theory, layout, typography (shout-out to Steve), the business side of design (contracts, business ethics and marketplace), be diverse, love what you do and do lots of work even for free as that will feed the portfolio you’ll need to get a job )online of course). Best of luck!
sometimes you read a book like that and you really need to understand it so what i do is i buy the book off Amazon and highlight in it and put notes on it
but design is very fun i love it also if you can try Photoshop it is really fun and i love that you are interested in it
Mohammad
Thomas’s Answer
You are on a good start already. The best thing to do is just to start creating things. Design is something that the more you do the better you get. Start sketching in a notebook, napkin, anything. Some good websites to view for the design is www.dribbble.com. One of my favorite designs, and an even better guy is Sean Wes (www.seanwes.com), he gives podcast and videos on his experience as a design which have been very helpful for me.
Guys also like Rogie ( www.rog.ie ) and Trent Walton ( www.trentwalton.com ) also give good advice on design.
I hope this is helpful for you.
Thank you. I've been sketching a lot. Sometimes I just sketch things I see in magazines to try to improve my sketching. Thank you for the website suggestions. I'll definitely study them.
Millie
Also, what is an associate user experience designer? What do you design?
Millie
So "Associate" refers to the level I am in...pretty much starting out. and experience design or also known as UX Design is craeting the design of the website expierence so how many images are on the screen, their sizes, where they should go but also what happens when you clickmlinks and what that page looks like in reference to the page you just visited.
Thomas Ramey
I also do typography and other general graphic design after work on personal projects as well as for other opportunities that come my way. you can the work I do on my own personal website. www.tramey.com
Thomas Ramey
Cool. Thanks again for the help
Millie
Steven’s Answer
Hi Millie
It sounds like your off to a good start. There are tons of free resources out there that you can take advantage of such as http://lynda.com, http://hub.tutsplus.com, and http://tv.adobe.com
If your really interested in learning some basics of typography and design you can also check with your local schools or colleges. They often have weekend classes as well. If your interested in programming below is a free 30 day course:
https://courses.tutsplus.com/free
good luck
Neil’s Answer
Make things! I actually started creating website designs when I was in 8th grade, and there's nothing that will get you ahead quite like experience. You will learn what works and what doesn't, and there are plenty of people out there who will be willing to provide constructive criticism.
Joy’s Answer
Hi Millie,
It's great that you decided to get a start in graphic design!
Here's a blog where they swiftly cover some of the most influential graphic designers:
https://designschool.canva.com/blog/famous-graphic-designers/
And this link here provides key rules in the world of typography.
http://practicaltypography.com/summary-of-key-rules.html
Good luck.
Juan’s Answer
Keep reading design blogs but also keep a curious mind for other topics. I'd recommend Emotional Design by Donald Norman and A Type Primer by John Kane.