The design profession is multitasking, and almost no "casual" people get here. If you want to try your hand in this field, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the basic skills that will help you realize yourself in any design direction. This article will interest those who want to master the design profession but do not know where to start.

Basic Level: Theory

The first stage of training in design is the formation of a theoretical base. Before engaging in the creation of your projects, you need to master:

1. The rules of composition and color theory. Studying the basic principles of composition and learning to apply them in practice is enough.

2. Typography. This includes the classification of fonts, text layout, and work with text elements on the layout. It is also necessary to learn how to use font libraries.

3. Materials. To be a designer, one should know the types of colors and the peculiarities of media and understand the process of prepress materials.

4. History of design. The main design schools, trends, styles, names, and works must be known. Studying the work of experts enhances observation and develops professional erudition.

5. Fundamentals of advertising. Working with the target audience and marketing tools and influencing customers with the help of visual means are essential knowledge. This is necessary to develop a visual brand identity.

How do I get the basics? You can learn independently from materials on the Internet, books, and Studocu. But it's long, and you'll miss outside help and evaluation. You can get a higher education. You will have sound theoretical training, often disconnected from life and practice. The best option is to take online courses and start practicing. You will get to know the experience of experts, get feedback, and immediately apply what you are studying in practice.

Basic Level: Software and Practical Skills

To design, it is enough to master one basic editor (for example, Adobe Photoshop or CorelDraw), Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. Learning to use the constructor WP is desirable - this platform is convenient for creating a business website. But that's not all you need to know to become a designer - you need to be able to use libraries of mockups and fonts, find references, use CADdetails, and freely navigate social networks.

A designer performs many tasks, and they may need different editors. What kind of tasks can we solve with Adobe Photoshop? Creating illustrations and sketches, stylization, color correction, retouching, creating various collages from mood boards and rendering on mockups to realistic photo collages.

The main skills a novice designer needs to master are the following:

• Working with graphics: raster and vector illustration, image processing, retouching, collaging

• Creation of digital graphics for websites, social networks, presentations

• Development of layouts for printed products - business cards, flyers, brochures, posters, etc

• Design of souvenir products (T-shirts, mugs, baseball caps, etc.);

• Creation of outdoor advertising layouts - billboards, banners, signs

• Pre-printing preparation of layouts, selection of carriers, paints, and materials, drawing up the terms of reference for the print shop

• Development of corporate identity, logos, and brand books

Imagine how boring the world would be without the variety of colors. Colors manifest in the physical world in many shades, gradients, and combinations. It has been proven that some evoke pleasant feelings in humans, and some lead to emotional decline. To better understand all these features, it is necessary to know the theory of color.

In both painting and illustration, colors are of paramount importance. For the correct application of colors in practice, the future designer must become familiar with such concepts as complementary colors, split-complementary and triadic. All of these terms are studied with the help of color theory. Designers often rely on it and the color wheel to choose appropriate color mixes that can convey the message and emotions of a brand or people.

Advanced Level

To become a designer, basic skills are enough. But if you want to find clients willing to pay well for the work and engage in profitable projects, you must expand your competencies. There are several directions for development:

1. Master drawing. A designer does not have to have an art degree, but the ability to create images from scratch dramatically increases the chances of finding a good order.

2. Work with design systems. We mean creating a key image or a brand style. To develop in this direction, studying the basics of advertising and marketing and learning how to work with the target audience is necessary.

3. Studying additional programs. Mastering 3D animation, motion design, and web design brings great opportunities.

To enter the design services market, you also need to know about marketing and be able to competently lead projects, build your brand, present your services, and even be a salesman and negotiator. This allows you to move to the next level and make money with design.

3 Qualities of a Designer

Blatantly bad design is not difficult to identify. To work out your signature style in design and not copy other people's work, you will have to learn the basics and then look every day portfolio with the most successful works of colleagues. Only by being inspired by the works of masters, improving your creative thinking, and considering current trends will you be able to create something new. Here are 3 qualities every designer should have.

Desire to Create and Develop

Many people believe that the main initial skill for a designer is artistic talent. However, scientists have identified three factors that affect this skill. First, it depends on a person's perception of the surrounding reality. Second, it depends on how well he remembers visual information. Third, the skill depends on the elements of the object that are chosen to represent them on paper or canvas. 

And yes, these abilities can be developed with practice and persistence. The main thing in the design profession is your keen sense of the world and your desire to bring your beautiful ideas to life.

Empathy

Design is directly connected with information and human activity. When you create a design, you will encode the necessary message for the consumer in your work. And the finer you feel the world, read the emotions of those around you and know the main triggers that can trigger emotions, the faster you can create truly successful designs. Empathy will also help communicate with multiple clients and understand their main goals.

Focus and Discipline

The belief that designers are the kind of creators who hate pressure and for whom there is no frame or time is false. In fact, modern design is far from an ephemeral creation where you can do what you want. Today's designers must follow their clients' specifications, know their deadlines, and deliver projects on time. Of course, there is also a place for creativity, but no one abolished the responsibility.

Conclusion

The most important factor in any professional activity is a person's desire. If you are filled with a great desire to become a designer, there are professional courses today. The main thing is not to give up on the first mistakes and failures, believe in yourself, and everything will work out!

Author: Kevin White

Cover image by Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash