This post is an expansion of tip #5 in our post 101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.

School might not be for everyone, but education is!

Education is no doubt a topic that isn’t new to you. You have weighed your options carefully and realized that there are many, many, choices. The combination of degrees, schools, and specialized training is almost endless. Practically and perfectly customizable to you and what you want to achieve. You can choose how long you want to study, how much you are willing to spend, and how you want to expand your career path.

Get the best education you possibly can. It can be a trade school, college bachelors program, or even self-taught.

A word of advice, be wary of the quick fix gimmick. Some institutions have hopped on the bandwagon of offering Graphic Design programs. They pitch a fun, exciting, easy, education while offering massage therapy courses in the same building. The goal is to entice the masses with the promise of an exotic career in a short amount of time. Some even throw in a “free” laptop (the cost of which will be buried into your tuition).

Not saying all of these institutions are bad, but proceed with caution. Do your research and make sure the college is accredited, your credits are transferable, and your teachers are knowledgeable of the latest technology. When in doubt, trust your gut. If it feels right – go for it.

Tools of the Trade

There is also a lot of learning that happens outside of the classroom. Study the tools of the trade.

Become a typeface guru – Using the wrong typeface with your designs can kill your chances of being extremely successful as a graphic designer. Learn identifying characteristics of common fonts, for example: Futura is more angular and sharp than Helvetica. I find that “A” and “G” are two characters that are typically unique to a font. The next time you are at a restaurant, pick any item of collateral and guess the font and note the usage, whether it be the menu, table tent, etc.

Print, print, print. Form a special bond with your local print shop. Odds are if your design isn’t on the web it will end up there. You will find most local printers are very friendly and willing to educate new designers about the art of print. Make sure you design materials that can print. I worked for some time as a pre-press operator; most of my job was fixing designer files so that they were actually printable. Learn the fundamentals of print: paper, ink, varnish, bleed specifications, etc. Familiarize yourself with press equipment and their capabilities. Not all presses are created equal.

But, I’m not a writer!

Learn how to write and it will serve you well in everything you do. Most designers aren’t writers, and don’t claim to be. And a lot of designers are notorious for typographic errors. Keep polished on your spelling and grammar skills, take some writing classes, and you will impress anybody you work with. It helps to stay current with APA standards. You never know when you will have to step in and improvise a tagline or sentence. You may even be asked to create tangible, marketable copy. Giving the client a skill they were not expecting goes a long way.

You may know a lot, but the graphic design world is evolving quickly. Make sure you get in some continuing education hours and give yourself that competitive edge. You don’t want to be stuck on “Good Nuff” road. I personally make the effort to attend a graphic design conference or speaking session once a year. HOW and the AIGA put on excellent conferences. The InHowse Design Conference is specifically designed for In-house designers and creative teams. Adobe offers local users groups and webinars that are easily accessible. And the Internet is a great source for simple tutorials to keep your skills razor sharp.

Business Advice

Last but not least – let’s talk business. We got into design because it’s fun and creative. Well, there is a stuffy side to it. In simple terms you are offering a service in exchange for money or employment. You are a business. You will have to market yourself, take responsibility for your time and assets, and track your loss vs. gains.

Odds are that you will do some or all of your work on a freelance basis. That means setting yourself up for tax purposes. You can set yourself up in many ways from something as simple as a schedule C to a full-partnership or Limited Liability Company (LLC).

Accounting, business, and marketing basics will prevent future heartburn and send you happily on your way to creating a successful career.

Make sure you subscribe to our blog! We have 96 more of these to go, and that’s only to complete the 101 tips! We have much, much more for you to look forward to. Be sure to share with your friends as well.

Happy designing!

ThePerfectDesign.com Team