9 Tips for Designers Entering the Field
Every so often, The BLÜ Group invites students to come visit our office and talk with us about working in the industry. A few weeks ago several students from Western Technical College joined our creative team to talk about what it’s like to work at BLÜ. This inspired me to write these 9 tips for new designers entering the field.
- Be confident in what you’ve learned so far and don’t be afraid to say you don’t know or don’t understand.
- Use good design basics in every project. Great design should be at the heart of each project.
- Pay attention to the creative brief. If you don’t get one with your project, come up with one yourself (and then get it approved to be sure it’s correct). You have to know the design goal, the target audience, any requirements for creating the work, and who you are competing against.
- Brainstorm ideas. Don’t settle for the first idea that pops into your head. Take a little time to sketch multiple layouts, talk with colleagues, list big ideas on a yellow pad, whatever is needed to come up with the best idea vs. the only idea.
- It’s okay to push design limits, blur the lines, or do something different. Just be sure you have solid reasoning to back it up.
- Be open to constructive feedback regarding your designs. Constructive feedback will help you become a better designer.
- Never stop learning – and not just about design trends and software. Learn as much as you can about marketing, account management – really any of the other areas in the creative agency. It will help you become a more rounded team member and a better designer.
- Don’t miss deadlines. Do whatever is humanly possible to have your design done on time (or early).
- Have fun. Life is short – so be sure to have fun at work and enjoy the design process.
We would like to give a big thanks to Western Technical College and the students that were able to visit us. If you have any tips to add to the list, please do so in the comments.
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