In the United States, in 2022 there are 173,660 graphic designers. This seems like a big number but the reality is — the market needs more skilled designers.
If you’ve been playing with the idea of becoming a graphic designer, now is the best time to start. Most graphic designers get to work from home, open their own design agencies, or get a job at a big company. The possibilities are endless for talented, hardworking people.
Read on to discover the fundamentals of learning graphic design by yourself without having to go to school for that.
Research the History and Basics of Graphic Design
The history of design will show you how it all started and came to be. Don’t skip this step because you’ll learn from some of the best designers out there.
While you learn graphic design basics, you’ll come across some tools and graphic design software that’ll make your job easier. For example, if you want to try out different backgrounds on an image, first delete the existing background using this free background remover.
Learn About Typography and Fonts
When you teach yourself graphic design, typography is one of the first things you should cover. All designers work with fonts on their projects and some designers even make their own fonts from scratch.
You’ll learn how to combine fonts, how to choose the right font for a project, and what is difference between the font, typeface, and typography.
Read Graphic Design Blogs and Books
To learn graphic design at home, you need to read graphic design blogs and books from other graphic designers. This is the best way to pick up little tips and tricks but also huge knowledge that you can later apply to your own projects.
Learn About Design Principles
Design principles are essential for doing great work as a graphic designer. They’ll help you structure and organize your work in a professional way so you can avoid making beginner’s mistakes. The 5 basic design principles you should know about and always use are alignment, white space, repetition, contrast, and proximity.
Watch Video Tutorials and Take Free Courses
Now that you have the basic knowledge, it’s time to learn how to use the most important graphic design tools and software. You’ll find tons of free and paid resources, videos, courses, and tutorials online for learning graphic design.
Make a schedule for yourself and dedicate a few hours in the day to watching and learning. It’s best if you follow the tutorials step by step on the design software so you can learn as you go.
Learning Graphic Design Can Be Easy if You Follow These Steps
Whether you have a knack for the arts or want to explore your career options, following these steps to learning graphic design will help you get there faster.
From knowing the difference between fonts and typography to designing your first-ever project, graphic design can be a lucrative profession if you approach it the right way.
Discover more design tips and tricks over on our blog where we share the best trends in the industry!
