Design tips for all of you who are new to the design world from yours truly Isaac Ashworth.
- Never fear white space. Always remember to keep things organized and clean.
- Never give a quote on the spot or even an estimate. Take the time to study the project and understand all it entails.
- Know your CMYK from your RGB. Know what color protocols to use for your print and web jobs.
- Believe in your work. Have the confidence to tell the client what you actually think to the work you have presented.
- There is no such thing as creative block. When ideas don’t come easily then work, work, work until the answer comes along.
What would you recommend to a new designer?
Totally agree with all these points. I’ve thought of a couple more which I hope may be useful:-
• Make sure the brief is written down and signed off by the client so both parties fully understand the scope of the task.
• Before the project starts, let your client know what to expect and explain the process. I’ve found the easiest way to do this is by creating a clear list http://www.brightsparkcreative.com/blog/main/my-design-process
• I would suggest using a pad and pen to conceptualise and order your thoughts for a project before starting anything on your mac.
• Let clients see the rationale behind your design choices. Explain the ‘why’ don’t just present the finished result.
• Care about each project as if it were your own business. This will translate to happy clients which will result in referrals and more work.
• Keep on top of your finances! Make sure you have a good system to track invoices.
• Have an automatic foolproof back up solution for all your work. You don’t want to learn this lesson the hard way!
• If you’re starting out as a designer you need work. The best way to do this is word of mouth. Write a list of all your friends, contacts and acquaintances Make sure EVERYBODY you know is aware of what you are doing and how to contact you.
• Get a solid online portfolio and display the kind of work you hope to continue doing in the future.
Good luck!
Hi David. Nice to meet you. These are all great points for new designers and even established designers for that matter! I like your project approach. Caring about projects as if it were your own business is so important. This really puts things in perspective and motivates you to do the best you can on a given project. This in return will build strong client relationships, which in return will give you credibility. Thanks for stopping by.