- Hey, guys!
So I've gotten quite a few
emails saying things like,
"I'm 12 years old and I
wanna learn graphic design,
"but how do I even start?"
So since I can be kinda
lazy, and I don't want
to type out the same answer every time,
I thought I'd make a video to answer it.
So, that's this.
(upbeat music)
The first thing to do is understand
that it takes lots of hard work.
Graphic design is a skill
just like anything else.
It takes a lot of time to develop your eye
for layout, legibility, juxtaposition,
all those other fancy design words.
I was using Photoshop almost everyday,
from when I was 12, until when I was 16.
Now, I've had almost four
years on top of that,
learning from what's arguably
the best arts school in the country.
So don't think that
I'm about to give you some magic spell
that's going to make you
instantly great at it.
Graphicus, designus! Aw, man!
I still have the uncontrollable urge
to use Comic Sans.
So, if you really love it,
and you're willing to put in the work,
then all the power to you.
Back to the original question,
"Where do you even start?"
Not to get all Hermione on you,
but I'd really suggest
going to your local library,
or book store and reading some books.
This is a great introduction
to type typography,
the history of type,
just some basic things
that you should probably know
before you start actually doing it.
This one is another really great book.
It was actually our text
book for Typography Two,
and it was written by a guy
who teaches here, John Kane.
It's really easy to follow and has this
funny face on the front
which is just kind of hilarious!
On top of typography, you might also want
to learn about the
history of graphic design.
This book is a really
great one to start with.
It has just a really good summary
of most of what you'll need to know.
There are lots of pictures too!
Links to all of these can
be found in the descender.
So, now that you know
what graphic design is,
and your fingers are itching
to make layouts and modify photos.
If you already have Photoshop,
Illustrator, and, or
inDesign, that's awesome!
If not, a really great
starter program is the GIMP.
The jimp, the gimp? I don't know.
I've never actually used it,
but I've heard it's really good,
and it's free so, you know.
Or, just work with actual paper and glue.
Sometimes, the limitations
that actual paper
gives you can make you even more creative.
A great project is to take a poster
or an ad from a magazine,
and just redesign it.
Make yourself stay to the
same size as the original,
and use all of the same text.
Even if there is a lot of it,
and it's hard to fit it all in.
Really think about the audience that
the ad is trying to
appeal to, and other ways
that you can present the same information.
Or, if you really just need
to learn the programs better,
then simply recreate the ad,
getting it as close to the
original as you possibly can.
Obviously, that's not something
you could put in your portfolio,
but you'll learn skills
that will come in so handy
when you're actually
designing your own work.
Also, if you're like 12 or
13, you're still so young!
So don't force yourself
to do a ton of work
that you're just not interested in.
Maybe you really like modifying photos,
or maybe you wan to learn to layout books,
or maybe you want to
combine your illustrations
with expressive typography.
Just keep working at whatever
it is you love to do,
and give yourselves assignments,
as if you were in school.
Restrictions only make you more creative,
so try designing a flyer that
uses only green and blue,
or a flyer that uses one font,
or a flyer that uses 10 fonts.
Most, well probably all
of your early designs
will be completely awful,
especially looking back
at them years later.
But don't get discouraged
because you're learning
from every single one.
As you get more confident
in your abilities,
try taking a class at a
local art store or college.
Even if you're not the most
motivated person in the world,
that'll give you the incentive
to keep at it week after week.
Also, try to make friends with people
who are at about the
same level design-wise
as you are, either IRL in class,
or online, on a message board.
That way you can give each other
encouragement and feedback,
and it'll really get
you to stay motivated.
Well, that was a lot of information.
I hope you guys can keep up.
So, stop watching me and go get designing.
I'll see you guys next time
for my epically awesome halloween video.
Stay awesome, and papyrus is bad!
