You’ve probably seen lists like this before, but here is my take on ways to develop your skills and become an overall better designer. I believe great designers not only have good design chops, but are also aware, fast, and intuitive. Although there are several ways to develop as a designer, below are ten things that I feel are important for every designer.
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Know your tools
One of the most important ways to flex your design chops is by knowing your tools. If you know your tools, whether it be Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, you can maximize your productivity and create effective designs. There are several good online tutorial sites that can teach you new techniques.
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Build an asset library
Building an asset library will speed up your projects and will help cut back on creating the same elements over and over from the ground up. Your portfolio is another great asset. Sometimes I find myself borrowing from my portfolio and building on what I’ve already created. This will help you develop as a designer and boost your design chops.
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Know what you are designing and why
You have to know what your clients want and why they want it. You are providing solutions for them, so you better know their needs. I usually try and get as much information from the client before starting any design work - this is sometimes called the Discovery phase. The more information I receive from my clients the better I understand their vision. The more I understand their vision the greater the chances of me delivering a successful product or service.
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Know who you are designing for
One of the biggest mistakes a junior designer makes is they design for themselves. That’s fine if it’s a personal project, but if you’re designing for a client, then design for the client’s audience. You should try and get as much data about your client’s audience. This can direct your creativity and your solutions. For example: If your client’s audience is male adults in their late 50’s, then you probably don’t want to use 10 pixel paragraph text. If you don’t have solid data on your client’s audience then you should propose research as a part of your service. Remember, what you like may not be what the client’s audience likes.
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Be a happy designer
This is pretty self explanatory. You’ve chosen this field, so love what you do and be happy doing it. If you’re not a happy designer, then find new clients or a new job. A happy designer is a productive designer.
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Don’t try to create a masterpiece
This is probably one of the biggest challenges I face as a designer. What you’re creating may not be a masterpiece for you, but it may be in your client’s eyes. Keep in mind that you’re providing solutions for your client and your goal is not to create a piece for your portfolio, rather a piece that solves your client’s needs.
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Ask others for opinions
This is very important for a designer. Asking others for opinions will validate your creative decision making and streamline your design process. It is easy to fall in the “fly trap” by moving pixels back and forth and endlessly changing colors. Make decisions and stick with them. You don’t necessarily need to ask only designers, you can ask managers, executives, or even your dog Spot.
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Use Creative Jumper Cables
Creative blocks happen to the best of us. When you find yourself struggling to come up with good ideas you should step away from your computer and divert your mind. Creative Jumper Cables are basically activities that stimulate your brain. I suggest playing games or watching television.
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Look at what others are doing
Take a look at what other designers are doing. By being aware of what’s hot will help you provide cutting edge designs for your clients. There are several design gallery sites that showcase some fine work. Learn what these designers are doing and how they are doing it. Don’t copy, be inspired!
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Challenge yourself
You’re not growing if you are not challenged.
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46 Comments
On Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 10:26:am
Awesome — every designer should read this and let it sink in. #7 is the one I feel most people are quick to look past, but is so vitally important. The creative space is so competitive and we are all striving to out-design one another or simply differentiate ourselves that it can seem hard to ask for help.
I wrote a post a while back, “Every Designer Needs a “Personal Board of Directors””
Just as a good business depends on the experience, knowledge and advice of a solid board of directors – a creative designer needs the same. A personal board of directors is simply a group of industry colleagues that are at your disposal to share ideas, concepts and draw inspiration from (reasonably at your disposal).
On Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 1:48:pm
Definitely Diggable, Doug!
On Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 2:34:pm
[…] Doseberg is at it again; his recent blog post is right on point and is a must read for all aspiring designers and a nice reminder as well as […]
On Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 11:32:am
[…] Ways to Become a Better Designer 10 Ways to Become a Better Designer is an interesting read. I think number 4 is an important one. That and remember that a client might […]
On Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 4:35:am
Nice top10!
i’m going to go with no. 3 as the most important by far. Knowing what the client wants is also a process of letting the client verbalise what they want - to themselves, thereby setting valuable, tangible goals and a common language for design work that designer and client can share. Stuff like:
solitary or popular?
unique or familiar?
At the very least, even a cynic can’t fail to see the value in setting dichotomies by which to justify design decisions!
On Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 6:04:am
[…] Dosberg ci propone una interessante top10 nel suo post 10 Ways to Become a Better Designer. Doug parla di migliorare la conoscenza dei propri strumenti, di sapere per chi si sta lavorando, […]
On Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 9:31:am
@Martin: I absolutely agree! In fact, some of my design inspiration comes from the guys/girl sitting right next to me.
@Kurt: Thanks for your comment!
@Ali: Understanding the client is very important! I sometimes find it to be a huge challenge to gather their needs. What a client needs today may not be what they need tomorrow, and by handing over your deliverables a day early rather than a day late can mitigate that common problem for designers.
On Friday, September 28, 2007 at 11:52:am
[…] 10 Ways to Become a Better Designer - Dougdosberg.com […]
On Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 4:26:am
Re: Designer Block
Yes I get those as well, but I find inspiration away from the digital media. TV or surfing the net doesn’t cut it. What I found works for me, is stepping out of the digital realm, and actually taking inn what is outside, especially nature. For example, colour blends and arrangements are mazing at a fruit market. Yeah??? YEAH!!!! or go to the flea markets, where there are hand made warez, tapestries or stuff made from recycled junk.. even grab a camera with you.. so you can go over what you saw, in your own time. You dont have to go out now and get a $2000 camera kit, and do a crash 6 months course in photography.. hehe. Just pic up one of those nice 5.0 Megapixel Sonys, thin, unoptrusize with a nice zoom, and catch pockets of colour, rather than whole scenes (unless the scene is a blend or pocket of colours and shapes)
Anyway, give it a go.. see the outside world, and bring it out in your design.. anyone else do this for inspiration? Give me your thoughts.. ideas.. locations.
On Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 3:46:pm
thank you for this ways. i will try for my website’s. I hope its effect to speed of the my website’s.
On Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 6:23:am
Great list! Nice an concise. A light informative read, thanks!
On Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 10:13:pm
Very nice list, Thanks!
On Monday, October 1, 2007 at 1:13:am
“Be a happy designer”
Difficult to take it to the practice…
On Friday, October 5, 2007 at 6:03:pm
Couldn’t agree more old chap. Except with point 9.
My advice would be DON’T look at what others are doing. Do what your creative heart tells you to do!
If your next design flies in the face of fashion, then YOU will be the next trend setter.
* Top Tip. Print out your design and look at it backwards in a mirror. Gives a completely different perspective!
On Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 12:56:am
I think the last one, about challenging yourself is the most important.
It is important to always try different ways of doing things. I also disagree with Missy, if you don’t look at what others are doing you risk getting stuck in the same patterns and now growing your design skills based on things you see other people doing.
It isn’t about emulating everyone else or trying to duplicate what they are doing. It is about getting inspiration; whether it be from other websites, street signs, nature or a box of cereal. You have to get inspiration from something.
On Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 12:25:pm
Nice tips. I find taking a break can sometimes be positive for your designing and sometimes negative.
On Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 6:07:pm
Some great tips here. Thanks.
On Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 11:01:am
Dustin has a point - sort of. Look at what others are doing…then do something different
On Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 9:51:pm
Great Article on Webdesign. I agree with getting to know your customer. Yes the webpage is your design but don’t take your likes and dislikes to your customer. Make them happy and remember you are designing for them. Happy customers spread the word. Best marketing you can have
http://www.PassportMentors.com
On Friday, October 26, 2007 at 4:39:pm
This is a great article..^^..thanks for posting..I’ll add this on my fave list in stumble upon.
On Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 3:19:pm
[…] Dosberg has written a great post entitled “10 Ways to Become a Better Designer.” While there are many similar lists floating around, I think Doug has one very important […]
On Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 3:42:am
“I believe great designers not only have good design chops, but are also aware, fast, and intuitive.”
I give intuition considerable thought day to day in my work and I find a better definition is “refined convention”. You can change six design elements: Cause, Observer, Energy, Matter, Space and Time. You might recognize them as Purpose, User, Function, Form, Location and Sequence. These six are inextricably linked. And making any design intuitive requires balancing these elements.
On Friday, November 2, 2007 at 2:36:am
To this list I would have to add:
“Don’t Stop Learning” - this can be in the form of technical skills as well as soft skills. Always educate yourself. Your skills are your tools. Keep them sharp and keep adding to your toolset.
“Don’t Let Perfection Get in the Way of Getting the Job Done” As designers we are very detail oriented. We want to do the best we can and make things just right. However there comes a point where you have to weigh the incremental benefit of making something better and better and the cost associated with it. Sometimes, good enough is just fine so you can move on with the next project.
On Friday, November 2, 2007 at 8:47:am
I agree with above points and your complitation is a great for the designers.
On Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 9:48:am
[…] 10 Ways to Become a Better Designer - Dougdosberg.com […]
On Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 6:12:pm
thank you for the inspiration!
On Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 2:26:pm
This is great information one should always keep in their head! Thanks
On Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 4:49:pm
Hello! I was using StumbleUpon today and happened to come across your site. I really like what you’re doing here! Keep it up!
Stephanie
Why stay home when you can escape?
http://www.makethegreatescape.org/
On Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 2:17:am
Nice article! I got here because of numbers 8 and 9. And right now, I really want to try the “creative jumper cables” that you said but I don’t think I can, my boss is going to kill if she sees me watching or playing while working. XD
Anyway, great article man! Thanks for the tips! Ü
On Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 1:47:am
[…] Dosberg is at it again; his recent blog post is right on point and is a must read for all aspiring designers and a nice reminder as well for […]
On Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 4:59:pm
Hey Doug, good points. As far as knowing your tools goes, I find that having the RIGHT tools goes a long way to developing a successful site. Personally I use Dreamweaver and I couldn’t live without my favorite extensions. Check out WebAssist for a great set of time-saving extensions. Here’s their big-daddy of extension sets: http://www.webassist.com/professional/products/productdetails.asp?PID=110&WAAID=649
On Sunday, February 3, 2008 at 4:32:am
10 thank for the 10 Ways
On Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 9:17:pm
that was really perfect i wish if you can speak about some usability and javascripts for designers
On Friday, May 30, 2008 at 3:17:pm
Hello that was perfect
On Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:01:am
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On Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 10:53:pm
thanks for the great tips
On Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:38:pm
I am not really a professional designer but i have passion when it comes on designing and recycling old stuff. This is a great start for a newbie like me on designing.
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 9:58:pm
I am now learning the CS3 adobe photoshop. Well actually i am just an SEO not a professional designer . But because i use to have my blog for my site. I became interested in disigner and photoshop
On Monday, August 10, 2009 at 8:06:am
Thanks for sharing this info article…. Good job.
On Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 10:25:am
Great list. I find that typography plays a huge role in how well your design is going to turn out. Here is a great article: “13 Signs of Badly Designed Type” http://ljdesignstudio.com/104-13-signs-of-badly-designed-type
On Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 4:35:pm
Yes… Indeed an excellent resource for designing…
I will surely add this information on web designing and development to our web site - Simplify Solutions
On Monday, December 28, 2009 at 1:03:am
[…] 10Ways to Become a Better Designer […]
On Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 11:19:am
i learn a lot, good job
On Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 7:50:am
thank you for the nice advices . it is really helpful
On Friday, December 16, 2011 at 3:48:pm
Very nice points there.
On Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 12:02:am
Great blog post. I’ll keep your suggestions in mind.
Raquel
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