“A designer does not begin with some preconceived idea. Rather, the idea is the result of careful study and observation, and the design a product of that idea.”

- Paul Rand

So you are looking to make a career in graphic design. Great!

Technology has become an integral part of most professional profiles today. And, while taking up a creative field – such as graphic design – as a profession can be exciting, it demands knowledge and skills to execute creative thinking with the help of technical tools.

The field of graphic design has attained enormous popularity in the last decade and is only going to increase in the future.

So, whether you’re a fresh graduate, seeking your first graphic design job, or are more advanced in your career and looking to climb the ladder, this post will give you some very important pieces of expert advice to help you progress as a graphic designer.

Pursue formal study

Yes! Learning comes with experience but, the importance of a formal degree from a university can give you that launchpad to have a solid beginning of your career in graphic design.

It’s not just about getting a job but, also getting the basic fundamentals of graphic design strong in order to make your resume look acceptable.

Hone your software skills

As mentioned earlier in this article, to be a successful graphic designer, you need to have a stronghold on the commonly used design software.

Most design jobs demand that you be skilled in specific design tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or InDesign.

The good news is that there are countless ways to get up to speed with these tools; quickly and easily.

With so many tutorials available on the internet, practicing your skills on these common graphic design tools shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Get some projects

Graphic design, or any other job profile for that matter, is all about practicing your skills. The more you design, the better you become.

So, it is always advised that even while you are looking out for a permanent job profile as a designer, you should try and get some freelance work and create a portfolio for yourself.

Taking on real-world projects will help solidify everything you’ve learned, and start translating your theoretical skills into more meaningful, practical ones.

Additionally, this will give you more to talk about at interviews.

Internship can help

In addition to the last point, taking up an internship with a design studio or an in-house team of a corporate can be of great help to your career in graphic design.

Not only will you learn about the work ethics of operating in a professional setup but, also if lucky (and we mean REALLY LUCKY) with your commitment to work and passion for design, your internship might turn into a full-time job.

Stay up to date with latest trends

Ours is a tech-driven world, with visual graphics becoming a major source of engaging content. While this certainly makes the job of a designer more exciting, it also makes it highly demanding at the same time.

So, in order to sustain in this field, you need to stay updated with the latest trends in the field of design.

However, having said that, it doesn’t mean you sacrifice your design style merely to follow the latest trends. You need to follow your creative instincts to be unique and different from the rest to stay ahead of the curve.

The trick here is to adapt – and not adopt – trends that complement your personal style; as well as your client’s needs, in an individual way.

Establish a solid online presence

As explained in one of our career tips earlier, a graphic designer is not considered professional unless they have a decent portfolio to showcase.

There are plenty of platforms available online which can be used to create, manage, and share your design portfolio with potential clients or employers.

No, we are not talking about simply creating a Facebook or Instagram profile.

If possible, make a website on WordPress or a portfolio on online platforms such as Behance.

To conclude…

Making a career in graphic design can be a very exciting thing but, like every other job profile, this too is not a ferry ride. You very well might face rejections and roadblocks on the way but, if you are really passionate about this field you’ll sail through it all.

Simply stick to your skills and don’t let any learning opportunity go by. Remember, graphic design is an ongoing field of learning and executing. Keep designing!