You're starting a graphic design career. How can you make sure creativity is your biggest asset?

Think of your specialization as your unique design fingerprint – distinctive and memorable. Delve into different design realms, from branding to web design, like a curious explorer. As you navigate through these diverse disciplines, pay attention to the one that resonates most with your passion and strengths. Picture your design niche as a canvas where you craft your masterpiece. Whether it's creating captivating brand identities or weaving intricate web designs, find joy in the details that make your work stand out. Just as an artist refines their signature style, let your specialization define your design legacy, ensuring that every stroke of creativity leaves an indelible mark on your evolving portfolio.

All design begins with solid fundamentals. As a hiring CD, before you pick a niche BE GREAT AT THE FUNDAMENTALS FIRST! As you develop your skills you will find which skills you love and want to pursue. But you will not be great at any niche if your design foundation is not solid. After that, find 2-3 niches that you really like and focus on developing those through fun projects, case studies, etc.

Embarking on a creative journey is akin to stoking the flames of a mighty furnace – it requires continuous fueling to keep the fire burning bright. Wander through digital realms like Behance and Dribbble, unearthing gems that resonate with your artistic soul. Don't shy away from real-world excursions to museums or galleries, where the strokes of others' genius can spark the embers of your imagination. Consider joining vibrant communities, both online and offline, to forge connections with kindred spirits, sharing insights, and learning from the rich tapestry of experiences that others bring to the table. Let inspiration be the compass guiding your creative odyssey!

Creativity is everywhere, and everything is designed, and has been for centuries. Look anywhere and everywhere--architecture, vintage shops, famous artists, etc.) for inspiration with the caveat that you can put "your spin" on it.

When learning a new design skill, find an example in the world that you really love--tv show intro, decades old advert, your favorite band tee, or even a terrible logo somewhere--and recreate it. Focus on the precise execution of something so you know when it's "wrong" or "right." When you have a stronger hold of skills, then you can riff!

Develop your personal awareness about time and project completion--you will likely need more time than you think when you first start. When working with teams and schedules, be communicative about how much time you need, if you need more, etc. You can also schedule it for yourself in a workflow app--which can be a bug plus with transparency, organization, and communication with your team.

We are not built to be creating designs all the time--like technology we have a battery. "Creative juice" does run low if not replenished, so learn when you need to take breaks, when to put your whole heart into a design (or just get it done well), and have a small set of things that reinvigorate you, like playing an instrument, going on a walk outside, talking with other creatives / friends, etc.