I'm a freelance graphic designer who wants to help other people learn how to break into graphic design and have a good time doing it as well as learning how to think in terms of design.
Definition of graphic design:
Graphic design is the process of turning marketing ideas into a printed or digital tool such as logos, business cards, stationary , and other things of that nature.
Elements of good graphic design:
- The ability to convey information in a understandable and attractive way.
- Finding original ways to convey a message through design.
- Remember your audience: Who are they?
Tools of the trade:
- Digital camera
- Vector and/or layout software
- Design skills (which you can learn)
- Ideas to design
- Desktop computer or a laptop
- Printer, copier, and scanner
- Maybe a digital tablet
- Gel Pens and Pencils
- Colored markers
- Paints-watercolor and paint brushes
Usually the old paper and pencil idea works well but if you have the ability to use a tablet for this step then go ahead.
There are other brainstorming ideas like using stick figures and start by working backwards to get the idea that you have in your head out on paper by using basic shapes.
Another way to get ideas is looking for inspiration online if you're stuck in where to go. But DO NOT COPY FROM OTHER DESIGNERS OR PEOPLE! It's wrong.
Drawing out thumbnails is a great way to see how a design would look. Nothing fancy just a little sketch.
Elements of design:
Point: could mean punctuation as well as circles
Line: Anything linear-sticks, actual lines
Shapes: circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles
Form: Depth of perception- 3-dimensional by using tones and shadows or 2-D
Tone: Using tone means you're utilizing lightness and darkness as well as conveying depth
Color: Primary colors and more
Letter form: Text and fonts
Contrast: You have to have good contrast to maximize readability
Lesson 2: Actual design elements:
Below are some business cards that I made in CorelDRAW:
A bakery business card, a landscaping business card, and a furniture business card. All the business cards are copyright protected to me. Do not copy them or use them in any way.
A.
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| (c) Latasha Martin |
B.
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| (c) Latasha Martin |
C.
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| (c) Latasha Martin |
Each of these card utilizes some of the elements of graphic design.
A: Utilizes letterform, Color, Shape, Tone, and Form
B. Utilizes letterform, Color, Line, Shapes
C. Utilizes Letterform, Color, and Shapes
A: Shows creativity in the usage of the colors and visual idea of the store selling cookies. So the word "cookie" is written out using chocolate chip cookie pattern
B. The landscape card uses the simple twig design to convey the actual landscape idea of the card and the three brush strokes are just something to add muted colors to something that just would have green in it as a main color palette.
C. There is a simple green palette to show a furniture store. I used a couch because I find that a couch seems laid back.
