The Internet turned our whole world upside down, especially in the past decade, when high-speed Internet changed the way we view data. On a daily basis, we go through more information than a person living in the 1800s would have learned in a year. It is no wonder, then, that trends change incredibly fast. However, if you are a graphic designer, it is crucial to be aware of the changing trends if you want to stay relevant and desirable on the job market, which is sometimes not easy to do. How can graphic designers keep track of the current trends?
1. Never stop learning
Wasn’t it Henry Ford who said that a man becomes old when he stops learning, regardless of the age? This advice is especially valuable for graphic designers; you need to keep the enthusiasm you had in college and apply it to your profession. Find online or local courses that you can take, put in the effort to learn new techniques, attend conferences and keep in touch with your colleagues. All of these will help you follow what goes on in the artistic world.
2. Put your high-speed internet connection to good use
Heat up your machine and look for inspiring artists on social media, tutorials and project ideas that you can attempt to do on your own. This kind of engagement will help you be up to date on current trends, as well as keep your skills sharp.
3. Open a book once in a while
This refers to all books –most students tend to throw away their textbooks after they finish college because they think that they know everything that they are supposed to. On the contrary, having them somewhere close is very valuable, as you can always consult them in a hurry, and resolve a problem or revise something. This also goes for literature, which you can use for inspiration that is timeless. Some of the greatest artists and designers of our time used classical Greek and Roman literature as inspiration for their art –why should you be any different?
4. Step out of your comfort zone
One thing that leads to change is trying to do some work that you may not be too familiar with. For example, think of your weak sides and try to work on improving them as much as you can. In this way, you will be able to offer a lot more to potential employers or customers, who often like to see variety and competence in the designs that they order.
5. Practice
This one is partially mentioned in the previous tips, but it needs to be repeated. Practicing is the key to improving both yourself and your designs. You do not have to practice creating entire projects from scratch, you can focus on specific techniques, or you can practice your speed. No matter how old this sounds, or how boring it can be, every minute spent practicing will ensure that your future designs are the best they can be.
