What Does it Take to Become a Graphic Designer?
What does it take to become a graphic designer and sustain a long-term career in the graphic design industry? If you are looking to become a graphic designer I want to fill you in on a few key elements to achieve long-term success.
? Links for the Resources Mentioned in this video and show notes below!
? So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport
? Deep Work by Cal Newport
? Join The Design Brief Facebook Group to be a part of a community of designers looking to grow their careers and businesses! ( https://bit.ly/thedesignbrief )
It is crucial to consider long-term sustainability if you are looking to become a graphic designer. You need to daily get up and work to improve your skillset and mindset to be oriented around the work you are producing and want to be producing as a graphic designer. It is not enough to show up once a week, once every other week, or even once a month and expect to become a great graphic designer.
Quick story: Each work day I take some time at lunch to head up to our local park and use the outdoor "Cross-Fit" work out equipment to get a quick 15 - 20 minute workout. There are pull up bars, push up bars, boxes, benches, etc... I don't do anything crazy, like a 2 hour INTENSITY work out. I just get out, get my blood flowing and seek to build strength in my body. Now, the key is that I do this each and every day.
Almost on the daily I will see people randomly stop by the outdoor equipment to bet their buddy they can do 20, 30, 50 pull-ups. can they accomplish this feat? Sure, and most do, but at the end of the year let me ask you, who do you think will be strong? Me or the guy who shows up once a month and does 50 pull-ups.
ME! Why? Consistency!
[embed]https://youtu.be/afN2rr9-KqE[/embed]
Consistency will always outweigh a BURST of effort or a spark of creative genius. If you do not put in the daily work and effort to become a graphic designer you will NOT become the graphic designer you desire to become.
Now the question I will pose to you is this... what can you do each day to build your skills to become a graphic designer? Do you need to be learning the philosophy of design, following design trends, but more importantly foundational design principles? Are you reviewing and practicing with the latest products that Adobe is putting out to get an edge on the competition? All of these tools and activities will help you to establish yourself as a graphic designer and set you up for long-term success.
Another very important piece of learning is to set up specific times each day to work on those skills and grow in the areas you want to improve. If you are not intentional about your time it is so easy to get thrown off by texts, emails, phone calls, and invitations from friends to go hang out on the town. Be intentional and protect your time to learn.
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