How To Become A Remote Graphic Designer In 2022
While some careers require official education, becoming a graphic designer is easier. It is similar to content creation which can be learned over time. In fact, graphic designers rely on practice and networking a lot. Hence, here’s how you can pursue graphic design without getting special education.
1. Understand What Path You Will Take
First and foremost, you need to understand what path you will take. Obviously, you won’t be getting any official higher education. However, you can still choose to enroll in relevant courses. Alternatively, you can study graphic design on your own. If you decide to enroll in courses, you can always find programs offered completely online.
This will allow you to study at your own pace while getting a “classroom” experience. If you decide to study on your own, you also get to set your pace while choosing what to study.
As a graphic designer, it’s good to specialize in a specific area rather than having general knowledge. For instance, you can focus on mastering web design as opposed to logo design.
You can also choose to focus on a field that intersects graphic design (e.g. marketing and sales graphic design).
2. Develop Hard Skills You Will Need
Once you have chosen how you will be studying graphic design, you can start developing the hard skills you will need for this job. These are mostly technical and usually include:
- Software Skills: Invest in a good program such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustration, or InDesign. Master your chosen program by learning how every feature works and
practicing regularly. - Design Theory: Learn the basics of design theory, including color, balance,
proportion, scale, typography, etc. - User Experience: Study user experience and how it is used in graphic design. It will help you create designs that are both visually appealing and practical.
3. Learn Valuable Soft Skills
In addition to essential hard skills, you will also need to learn some valuable soft skills. Soft skills are important for being a professional at your job. Here are some basic ones you need:
- Communication Skills: These are important for client management as well as networking.
- Time Management: To create a strategy, meet deadlines, and organize your day well,
you need to know how to manage time properly. - Problem-Solving: You need to be able to find solutions to different problems that
arise as well as be decisive. - Creativity: Creative thinking is essential for good graphic design. It helps you
innovate while also keeping the artistic side of design.
4. Start Building Your Portfolio
5. Utilize Your Network
Now you have a portfolio and you are ready to start looking for work. But how exactly can you find your first clients? One way to do this is by utilizing your current network. Get in touch with your friends, family, past or present colleagues, etc. Either they might need something designed or they know someone who is looking for such services.
As you get more and more gigs, your network will grow. Even if you worked with a client for a single project, don’t delete them from your database. You can contact them in the future to ask if they need something else designed. Always try to keep a good relationship with your past clients to work with them again.
6. Connect With The Community
Another thing you should do when you start getting clients (and even before that) is connect with the community. Being a freelancer doesn’t mean you need to isolate yourself from everyone else. In fact, freelancers usually know other professionals in the field and interact in the community a lot.
You can connect with the community by joining relevant graphic design groups on social media or by being active on forums. You can even attend online and offline events where you can network and gain more connections. Your graphic design colleagues, friends, and acquaintances could help you get new gigs and introduce you to new clients.
7. Get Referrals From Past Clients
Last but not least, try to get referrals from past clients. Rather than working with one person and calling it a day, ask them to refer you to other people they know. This way, you can get more clients without having to look for them yourself.
Moreover, it’s also a good idea to get feedback from your clients. By getting feedback, you will understand which skills you need to develop further and what strengths you already have. That being said, keep in mind that some people will hate working with you and will say mean or rude things to you. Don’t take them close to heart.
Conclusion
All in all, a career in graphic design is definitely possible, even without any special
education. As long as you are dedicated and work hard on your skills, you can achieve a lot.
Grow your network gradually and acquire more returning clients. Use the tips in this article to help you get started and become a successful graphic designer.
Visit our blog if you’d like to learn more about graphic design and its components.
Author Bio
Cynthia Young is an academic writer with a great love for business literature and
chamomile tea. She starts her day by reading articles in business magazines and ends up writing her own. She has been writing articles for blogs on marketing, business and self-education for several years now.
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