Now I believe that
inspiration is the strongest motivational force there is. An inspired person is
a motivated person. A motivated person is a creative person. A good designer
will always be seeking inspiration to fuel one's imagination and look for
creative opportunities. To stimulate your imagination and inspire your creative
career I would recommend a range of sources. So, the first inspirational source
is: Found objects. So, this is quite possibly the easiest and most cost-effective
source of inspiration. Collecting everything you find interesting and keeping
it in a print or digital scrapbook. By keeping your found objects, you will be
able to revisit them in future. Found objects are free sources of inspiration.
Next
is: Books and subscriptions. A good habit is to collect interesting books to
begin your own library. I would also recommend that they are not just about
design try books on photography, science, technology, illustration, fine art,
web design typography and so on. The idea here is variety. In a future I will attempt
to recommend some good books you can read to help you get started. As well as collecting
books you can subscribe to monthly creative magazines. These are great because
they will keep you up to date with what's going on in the creative industry.
Like with found objects you can refer back to these in future when you're in
need of some exploration. If you're not able to purchase your own books or have
subscriptions then you can always visit your local library. Next is: Online
inspiration. From google image searches to stock image web sites to creative
blogs that publish every day, to hundreds of free video tutorials. Today the
internet is one of the richest sources of inspiration and it's all at your
fingertips. Build yourself a good bookmarks library and visit your sources
frequently
Next is: Everyday
inspiration. Now there is a lot that can be read in books, seen and learned on
the internet. But I would also recommend you get outside. There is nothing more
refreshing than stepping away from your desk and clearing your head. Look and
observe the world around you. See graphic design in an everyday practical
context. See packaging and its design, see magazines, see interior design and
shops and stores, see street signs and shop signs, see advertisements and see
Branding and fashion. As you see practical design start to question it. Don't just
accept things for the way they are. Ask yourself why. Why was it presented like
it was? Try and understand. Ask yourself how do you feel? How was the
experience? Good, bad? What did the designer want you to think or feel? and how
did they do it? and did they do it well? Take pictures and make notes.
Next is:
Museums galleries and exhibitions. Try and visit art galleries or museums as often
as you can and this does not have to be about graphic design. This could be
about anything. Try and see graphic design working in a creative context. See
how an exhibit is presented. Look at what has been used to present that
exhibition. Study the installation aspect of the presentation. Study the print
aspect of the presentation and study the digital aspect. If possible, think
about the presentation and experience as a whole then ask yourself why? Why was
it presented like it was and try to understand? Ask yourself how do you feel?
How was the experience? and what did the artist or designer want you to think?
and how did they do it? Again, take pictures and notes.
Next is: Creative
agencies. To learn more about the industry and see what type of work has been
produced you only have to search online for some good design agencies. This
will give you a good insight and inspire you of which direction you may want to
take and what type of the agency would like to work with. This will give you a
good insight and inspire you of which direction you may want to take and what
type of agency you would like to work in. Agencies often post up job vacancies.
Here you can learn what design agencies look for and what it takes to work in
the design industry as a graphic designer.
Next is: Local colleges
or universities. Now look out for open days for drop-in days at your local
college or university. A lot of art schools have end of your shows. These are
great opportunities to see what creative courses are an offer and what kind of
work students produce. Seeing some of the work will get you
excited, inspired and
interested.
Next is: People. So, if
you are attending exhibitions, galleries, local colleges, universities and
looking up design agencies. There will be a good chance you'll get the
opportunity to talk to some really interesting people. If you get the chance to
visit any local colleges or universities try and talk to design teachers and
tutors. They will often have good advice about design education and ways into
the creative industry. If you don't get the chance to attend any open days then
you can always try and email your questions. If you can try and chat to
students, asked questions and seek to learn about their experiences on creative
courses, what they got out of it and what their plans are. If you decide to
drop into local design agencies try and talk to people who are already in the
industry. Ask questions and seek to learn about their experience as a designer
working in industry. There is a lot to be learned from creative people and
their stories can be inspiring.
So, the last inspiration source I have here is:
Literature. Now try and read as much as you can. Literature stimulates the
imagination which can trigger some really cool creative ideas. Read how authors
use words to describe and tell a story. Expand your vocabulary. This will help
you express yourself. So that's the third step on how to begin as a graphic
designer.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
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