What do designers do?
- Design images that visually communicate something.
- Creating deliverables like: Posters, social media, business cards, publications/booklets,
What are some of the important things to know to do design effectively?
- File management and naming > Project (brief, brand guidelines, logos and client details etc), research, assets, working designs, output > print/web.
- IP and copyright – don’t use google, use unsplash and pexels or stock image sites.
- Fonts – google fonts, 3 max, use different weights, don’t use italic or underline.
- Print vs Digital – file/image formats, digital vs web, rgb vs cmyk, dpi 72 vs 300, pixels vs cm/mm
- Colours/Swatches – https://helpx.adobe.com/nz/photoshop/using/choosing-colors-color-swatches-panels.html and https://helpx.adobe.com/nz/illustrator/using/using-creating-swatches.html
Activity: Skills Comparison
Use job search websites to research roles that you’re interested in, and pick the top 3 roles that seem appealing to you, and pick one to use for this activity.
Read through it and highlight the skills and requirements that they are asking for.
Compare these skills to your current skillet, and make a plan on how you can attain the remaining skills.
What skills do you need?
Soft Skills:
- Strategic
- Creative
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Work collaboratively
- Self-directed
- Verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Willingness to learn
Technical Skills:
- Highly proficient in Adobe InDesign, Canva, Illustrator and Photoshop
- Typography, layout, colours
- Copyright and intellectual property
- Program shortcuts and ability to understand and follow brand guidelines
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment, and work with speed and proficiency
- Ability to work well under pressure and to strict deadlines
- Understanding of digital and print specifications – sizes, dpi, display, pre-print, margins/bleed etc
Bonus if you also have:
- Tertiary qualification in media or design.
- social media channels and content creation.
- Web and/or animation experience desirable although not essential
- Photography and videography experience.
- Mail Chimp and EDM – electronic direct marketing
- Able to present creative work effectively and persuasively and to debate it coherently and constructively.
- Tertiary qualifications in Graphic Art/Marketing
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar position.
- You have a great attitude and you’re a problem solver who attacks challenges head on with drive and passion.
Roles:
What types of jobs are there?
- Junior Designer (roughly 3 years experience)
- Intermediate Designer (roughly 5 years experience)
- Senior Designer (roughly 8+ years experience)
- Inhouse, Agency, Freelancer/Contract Designer
- Digital Designer, Teaching, Illustrator
- Web Designer, UX/UI/Interaction Designer, Social Media, Ecommerce
Activity: How do you pick a role?
Write down some key words about yourself and ask yourself these questions:
- What type of work do you enjoy doing, drawing/illustration, a variety of projects or more longer term ones?
- What sort of environment do you like – do you need a structured environment, or freedom?
- Are you someone who likes working alone, or in a team?
- Do you want to do more than just graphic design, or are you happy with designing things?
Where to from high school:
- Uni
- Gap year/travel
- Internships
- Other jobs
- Making your portfolio – passion projects, volunteering, doing work for friends or family
- Internships – working in exchange for experience, working with charities
- Keep learning – teach yourself online, join groups, go to MeetUps