INTRODUCTION

So you are looking at becoming a graphic designer but you don't know where to start and what you need to get started. Welcome to Tallboy Media, In this article, you will learn how to start a graphic design business either by using your smartphone or laptop to design, without further ado, Let's get started.

💡Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. WHAT IS GRAPHIC DESIGN
3. WHY SHOULD YOU START GRAPHIC DESIGNING
4. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED
5. CONCLUSION


WHAT IS GRAPHIC DESIGN

According to Wikipedia, graphic design is an applied art that uses text and graphics to communicate visually. The graphic design utilises the aesthetics of typography and the composition arrangement of text, ornament and imaginary to convey ideas, sentiments and attitudes beyond what is expressed by the language alone.

In simple sentences, graphic design is simply bringing lines, shapes, texts, and images together to pass a message across to people.

WHY SHOULD YOU START GRAPHIC DESIGNING

Firstly let's talk about the importance of graphic design to businesses.
1. It builds a unique identity for your brand: one of the benefits of graphic design is that it aids in developing a strong brand identity which is crucial for your marketing strategy.

2. Graphic design is a powerful mode of communication, the classic adage " image speak louder than words" perfectly describe what design can achieve for communication you may communicate effective messages to a potential client without using lengthy words by employing powerful image, colours, and layout.

3. It indicates professionalism: all of your firm's design (logo, packaging, brochures, business cards) is a powerful indicator of your professionalism. A professional appearance sets your goods and services apart from the competition, helping you to obtain new consumers. Quality graphic design contribute to the reputation of any company, such reputation is especially vital when the competition in your business is fierce.

Secondly, now let's talk about the benefits of being a graphic designer.

1. Graphic design enhances better job opportunities because it's lucrative, and no business that is being created won't need any forms of graphic design in its marketing.

2. Graphic design gives you the Freedom to state your creativity when it comes to art, You can express your feelings and imagination to the fullest. Anything you imagine and design can be replaced on the screen for other people to enjoy, respect and even regret.

3. Learn new things: being a graphic designer can allow you to evolve and enhance frequently.

4. Graphic designing gives you the ability to diversify into another area of work using the same skill. if you are a graphic designer you can become a website designer, video editor and much more.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED

1. Passion: if you are trying to become a graphic designer and you are not a fan of art or you just want to do it for the money then you are going to find it difficult to get far in this industry. passion is something very powerful and advised us to push the boundaries and put in the extra time and effort needed. If you love, live, and breathe the thing you work in, you are likely to go a lot further.



2. Graphic design principles: 

    You can easily be awesome at using software but if you don't understand what method makes effective design then you can be pretty much lost. It is a lot like knowing how to use a frying pan or cooking oven but without a recipe and knowledge of being a chef you would likely end up with mediocre food at best. So research and study the principles until you know them inside out completely. We are talking about Contrast, Balance, Hierarchy Typography and so on. The internet is there waiting for you to learn about them and to make things faster and smoother you need a mentor you don't have to master the principles before starting to make designs, You can learn them in the process of learning.

3. The software: 
    Graphic design principles are crucially important but going back to that chef analogy, You cannot make quality food if you cannot use the utensils properly it doesn't matter if you use Canva, Pixellab, vector ink (for smartphone users) and Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Affinity (for laptop users). Whatever program you use to get the job done is fine.

4. The gadgets:
Nowadays various apps have been developed to design on your smartphone or laptop. Nothing can stop you when you already have what it takes to get started all you need after your smartphone or laptop are knowledge on using the tools and a mentor with experience to put you through.

5. A course:
There is a lot of free information on the internet but the word "Lots" means you will be bombarded with content and you will want to learn it all when it comes to a course, It can save you time and stress. A good course will outline everything that is important in one line and it will also give you access to mentors that you can call on, whenever you have any problem. If you are worried about how you can start designing using only your smartphone,
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 I have got you covered. Click here to get 67% off the price of the course (the course cost 15,000 naira / 35.37 USD but if you purchase it now you will get to buy it for just 5000 naira / 12.90 USD). If you are a laptop user you can purchase courses on skillshare, Udemy or Coursera. luckily the next point is really important.

6. In the early stage of your career you should be looking at existing examples of graphic design made by professionals and deconstructing them. So what do I mean by that exactly, Taking your knowledge of graphic design principles and trying to apply those principles to the work you are seeing online or in magazines established by professional graphic designers, Study their design of how they've used hierarchy or has the designer used symmetrical or asymmetrical balance? or how has colour been used to convey the intended message?

CONCLUSION
Having a graphic design process is extremely important. It's the whole action of doing research, creation of ideas, refinement and so on, but if you do take every step in this article seriously you will surely better understand what it means to be a graphic designer and then you will become efficient in your work and of course from here you need to start marketing yourself and compiling your works into portfolios.
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