Graphic Designing...How do I start?

by **IlikefriendseverywhereespD** on Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:58 am

I attended and graduated from Business College. I also went to another 4-year university and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, and I have extensive employment experience in the media. I've done creative writing and freelance journalism, I worked in radio and television, and I also worked in Marketing Research and Sales Presentations and Sales Pieces.In the past couple of years, my work led into internet research and online sales. I would like to start my own Graphic Design and Web Design Business, but I don't want to start working on another Bachelor's Degree. I don't know where to start. I'm familiar with PowerPoint and Aldus Pagemaker, and I bought Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash 8. I also bought a Photoshop "Classroom in a Book," teaching myself Photoshop. I plan to do the same for the other two.What is the first thing I should do to start my own business? Do I need to go back to college? Are there any online guides that could help me?

by **TheBeast** on Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:05 pm

Graphic design isn't just about the programs. (And by the way Adobe Creative Suite is the industry standard - Illustrator, PhotoShop and InDesign. Other programs aren't very commonly used.)Graphic design is about visual art. You need to study art (even if on your own) and study past award-winning design to figure out what you like and don't, and develop your own style from there.Most successful design shops have designers to come up with the look and hire a separate team to make it into a website. It's tough to do both well.

by **friend2go** on Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:13 pm

Graphic design is a discipline all it's own that one needs to go to a good design school for. With that said there are no guidelines for who can open up shop and call themselves a graphic designer (like there are for architects). There's really more to it than knowing how to use certain software.

by **almighty_benny** on Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:20 pm

I have been a graphic designer for the past 15 years, I do web design as well but haven't been doing it as long. You need to know Photoshop, Illustrator (some would like Corell Draw as well), InDesign or Quark then also learn all the web design programs like Flash, Dream Weaver and know all the technical aspects.My suggestion, all the education you have, take that to run/own your business but hire or outsource the work to a designer(s).I hope this helps and best of luck to you.(it you want to know more go ahead and email me.)

by **ThatllbetheDay** on Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:27 pm

I would warn you against trying to be a jack of all trades. So I would say stay away from school for now. Find some creative designers around your current job and work / learn from them. Learn the language of a designer, how they think and communicate. You'll find it is very different that most people in communications.You have a business degree I say run a marketing company using your background and higher some designers to fill in that area. You your talents and be great at them. The world has too many people that are good at there jobs, and not enough that are great.Several art students I knew that were not great ended up doing something else and art just became a hobby.I have a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. I have a minor in Advertising.

by **godsmack_jenny** on Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:34 pm

I would not try to create a business doing both. I have great graphic designers who have been doing stuff for 10 years and the same for web designers, never the two types will know each others industry and will always rely on eachothers long earned skills.Find a good book on business and lean one skill in depth, then outsource the other.