What are the most valuable resources for graphic designers to learn from?

Attending design events, such as local meetups or international conferences like OFFF Barcelona and TYPO Berlin, exposes designers to cutting-edge trends, fosters networking opportunities, and sparks creativity through exposure to diverse design perspectives. These immersive experiences can significantly contribute to a designer's growth and inspiration.

Explore insightful blogs and podcasts that offer industry updates, design trends, and expert interviews. Websites like Smashing Magazine, A List Apart, and podcasts like "Design Matters" provide valuable content to keep designers informed and inspired.

Les graphistes peuvent bénéficier d'une variété de ressources pour enrichir leur travail, stimuler leur créativité et rester à jour sur les tendances de conception. Voici quelques-unes des ressources les plus précieuses pour les graphistes : Logiciels de conception graphique : Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) CorelDRAW Affinity Designer Sketch Banques d'images gratuites et payantes : Unsplash Pexels Shutterstock Adobe Stock Getty Images Outils de gestion de projets et de collaboration : Trello Asana Slack Figma InVision Blogs et sites Web de design : Behance Dribbble Awwwards Smashing Magazine Creative Bloq

Recently I attended a Professor Conference that was in conjunction with a Student Design Competition. The experience that the students gained from this regardless of the levels they were on help them learn quite a bit. They were able to see where they measured currently and where they needed to grow. I think this is a valuable resource even if you are not a student.

Graphic designers can gain valuable insights from specialized resources like the Adobe Creative Cloud tutorials for in-depth software mastery, design inspiration from Awwwards and Communication Arts, industry-specific blogs like Creative Bloq, and participating in design challenges on platforms like 99designs for practical experience and networking.

Courses and tutorials are no doubt one of the best resource for designers. People learn skills, technics and industry practices through these. However, it has pros and cons just like every other thing. Here are some tips to get the best out of it, 1. If you are a beginner, start with one single course or mentor or long composite tutorial. This will help you stay in track, stay focused and it will teach you a skill faster, 2. Be patient, don't rush it, 3. Right after learning the "very" basics, we can go for project based tutorials - it helps learning more effective, 4. Be good observer to follow rules, and be brave enough to go beyond 5. Have fun learning and designing!!

Online courses and tutorials are like guided lessons. They give you a step-by-step way to learn graphic design from experts. You get practical assignments and feedback, and you can interact with others. These courses stay updated, and you might even get a certificate when you finish. They're a good way to learn, and you can mix them with other resources for a complete learning experience.

I myself as a self taught graphic designer can tell that Online tutorial paid or unpaid courses are the best resource to learn skills. If you’re beginner first start with the one mentor’s course learn it’s theoretically first than start learning software tools it’s basic, then do practice as much as you can, do fake projects. Learn one software than come on other one. Don’t rush. Be consistent don’t stop practicing. When I learned graphic design I read somewhere that you should learn illustrator first than photoshop. I just do work on illustrator for a year. Then after an year I started photoshop then indesign. Still this is lifetime learning I learned regularly something new.

Online courses, tutorials, and books provide structured learning, helping you enhance your design skills and stay updated with industry best practices. Graphic design is a dynamic field; continuous learning is essential to remain relevant and produce high-quality, innovative work. By leveraging a variety of resources, you can build a strong foundation, nurture your creativity, and stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving graphic design landscape.

Online courses are fantastic material to learn how to use software, see how others work and, explore the world of design. YouTube has a lot of information and tutorials, I’ve been using it to learn how to use figma as an example.

"The Fundamentals of Typography", Gavin Ambrose. The Fundamentals of Typography offers an overview as well as an in-depth understanding of typeface use and stunning examples to inspire typographers and designers in the field. "Remote Work for Design Teams," Ben Goldman. This book is written by the InVision team, who have been working 100% remotely since 2011 - so in 10 years, they've had time to hit all the bumps and experience the ins and outs of remote work. "Tilings and patterns", Shephard, G. C. The book Tilings and patterns is the first truly authoritative, comprehensive, and systematic treatment of the subject.

Reading design books cannot help you out in practical skills but can be very helpful in learning theory. The first part of learning this skill is to understand the theory before anything. Graphic design has vast subject as theory too. It has its fundamentals, types and much more.

Books are grey for your bookshelf, as well as to read and learn, gain some valuable insights that you do not have to search for. I’ve found books to be highly useful, and always there for you as a reference, inspiration. They may become out of date at some point but, same with magazines - but they’re always a good break.

Books were a valuable way for me to take the profession seriously because they made me learn more than the tools and trends, they made me learn the fundamentals. Two good books to start with are: "Ambrose, Harris: Grids for Graphic Designers" and "What is Graphic Design" by Quentin Newark.

In addition to the mentioned platforms, platforms like GraphicDesignForum, DesignerHangout, and CreativeBloq's forums offer specialized discussions and industry insights. Engaging in these communities exposes designers to diverse perspectives, innovative techniques, and emerging design trends. It's also a space to troubleshoot design challenges, exchange tips and tricks, and learn about the latest tools and software updates.

Personally I believe this is what define, inspire and even create career path for many designers. It is not the only nor the best approach. But from my experience this is most common and also most influential one. Belonging to a community (whether directly or indirectly) help designers learn, share, explore and grow faster. It also give them confidence, and a platform to practice design with. Please note, online communities does not have to be a group, page or forum only. It can be build around prominent designer or design firm's pages/profiles as well. Here are some tips to get the best out of it, -Find and follow prominent designers -Interact with their posts -Learn from their designs, articles, talks -Join discussions and share thoughts

For graphic designers, the best things to learn from are graphic design tools and software. These are like special programs that help you create and edit your designs. Some popular ones are Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Sketch, and Canva. Inside these tools, you can find tutorials (like step-by-step guides), features (special things the tools can do), and templates (pre-made designs you can use or learn from). So, if you want to get better at graphic design, these tools are the way to go!

I personally use Photoshop for the majority of my day and honestly have found watching tutorials put out by both other designers and Adobe themselves to not only be hugely inspiring but also a valuable resource to continue growing my skills.

Graphic design tools and software aren't necessarily digital, to begin with. but the use of software is obvious for a professional result. There is no need to mention once again here the classics and essentials of the Adobe suit but I will gladely open the discussion to "open-source" solutions like The Gimp, Inkscape and Scribus. Of course, these solutions are not at the level of non-free solutions and offer fewer possibilities but they have the merit of existing and allowing a lot of things to be achieved.

Utiliser un logiciel est difficile, surtout la première fois, on a des idées mais pas d'aptitude pour la prise en main, avec les tutoriels et les didacticiels (disuasif si on se prend un didacticiel de 100 pages, ?a donne pas envie, les premières pages motiveront, le reste...) Les tutos en lignes mettront plus de punch à votre cerveau.

Beyond honing design skills, participating in competitions like Behance's Adobe Creative Jam, D&AD Awards, and the International Design Awards can help build a strong portfolio, gain recognition in the industry, and even open doors to potential clients or employers. It's a dynamic way to stay motivated, test your abilities, and showcase your talent on a global stage.

After learning and practicing skill you can jump in to participate in these design competitions and contest. It can also be a part of your practice you can learn many things while participating. Meet new people from your industry familiar with design trends by taking inspiration with others design.

Probably one of the most important resource for any designer is work of other designers. Trying to understand approach of other designers can help us go beyond our learnings and our own practices. From composition and layout to typography, color, ideation, execution - we can learn a ton of stuff from other designers' solutions to any design requirements. It also help us be well aware of trends and practices of today. Studying designs and artworks from past can also teach us how designs evolving over time and what the future of design industry might look like.

Another valuable aspect to consider in graphic design is the importance of mentorship and continuous learning. Having a mentor or seeking guidance from experienced designers can significantly accelerate your growth as a graphic designer. They can offer personalized feedback, share industry insights, and guide you in navigating the complexities of the profession. Additionally, staying updated with design trends, emerging technologies, and evolving client expectations through ongoing education and professional development is essential. Continuous learning can keep your skills relevant and position you as a competitive and adaptable designer in an ever-changing field.

Only two things matter they are: 1. You 2. Things around you.

Practice, look for exhibitions, look up and have fun spotting ghost type. Evaluate and look at the work around you, whether it’s architecture, printed material, posters and adverts. I found a lot of inspiration through music as well, so watch and listen I say.