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Screen capture

Thoughts about web design

This is an area where progress is happening continually, and sometimes it seems like people do stuff for no other reason than that it is hard to do.

Hardly a thought is spared for the fact that most of what we expect from the experience of visiting a website was not even on the agenda when the World Wide Web was first thought of.

Adding mobile devices to the mix and the technical aspect of designing an online user experience becomes doubly hard.

In the struggle to keep up with technology designing for people is often forgotten.

As I mentioned music in my previous post an analogy from a guitarist’s point of view is fitting: There are countless young players out there (mostly male, which might have some bearing on the current state of affairs…), almost all of them are doing the same thing.

Learning to play scales as fast as humanly possible. And that’s quite fast – see for yourself on Youtube! Sadly, they forget to use their skills to make music.

Something akin to this happens with web design as well. Work with the wow factor is focused on, but the human visitor to the website ends up with something less than optimal when it comes to being able to do what they came there to do. Granted, it might look impressive and the site might actually work on any hand held device you could think of. But…

No, I don’t want websites to look like they were designed in the 1980’s, and I do want them to work on the devices people will actually use to visit them.

So, where do I fit in here?

I do enjoy the more technical aspect of web design, as well as the aesthetic side and the usability. And I like learning, which is a must for a web designer.

Perhaps this has to do with being a more mature person, having gained an understanding of people during my journey.

In my world, most things are about finding a balance. Somewhere between practicality and wow is where I am aiming.

 

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By Dimitri Popov, on Unsplash

Finding your niche

What if I could work with something I actually like doing?

“When you love something, it doesn’t feel like work.”

Natalie Massenet

I don’t mind working as in doing something in return for payment – unless we are born to very rich parents (ones that doesn’t cut you off just because they can…) we all have to make money somehow.

And it isn’t a matter of being sensible either – I’ve seen eyelashes for cars, so I know it is possible to sell anything. And if you don’t believe me: follow this link!

So, with that out of the way, it’s time to delve into what I love doing!

If I didn’t enjoy creating visual design in one form or the other I would not be studying graphic design, so this would have to go on my list of possibilities. Music is another aspect of the same creative mind, and this right up there with design.

Specialist or generalist, that is the question

My personal view is that it is important to have a broad understanding of whatever area you intend to work in as it helps you making sound choices.

At this point in time I’m not entirely sure of where my strengths lie – studying is a sort of a fact finding mission in as much as there will be opportunities to try out things you never thought of before.

Photography and repeating patterns are two things I have had a fascination with for a long time, but one new thing I have tried and liked is animated GIFs, which I find almost addictive! There is also a commercial outlet for these as Flash animations are becoming unpopular due to the lack of support on mobile devices. A lot of advertising requires short and to the point animations.

In particular I want to look into animating SVG graphics. It is a complex area and I currently don’t know enough about this to even do anything useful, beyond experimenting. Perhaps something to consider for my final year.

 

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Self promotion

You can be the best there is, but if no-one knows about you, it won’t benefit you.

I have to be honest – I’m no good at selling. While there are people who thrive on selling and really enjoy it, I am just not that way inclined.

Now, I want to be a graphic designer – and one who works for himself at that, so I’ll have to learn how to promote myself and sell my services. I know clients don’t buy features or services, they buy solutions, so I have to sell solutions to their design problems!

There are a few option when it comes to promoting myself, and I am planning to use the ones that will help me to get the jobs I want.

A CV is useful if you want to get employed, so here’s my attempt at writing one suitable for the creative sector:

Curriculum Vitae PDF

Business cards are still used when meeting people face to face and a necessity for freelancers and businesses alike:

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Post card sized marketing material is something I personally like – useful for advertising a particular service or problem solving skill:

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A web site is a must for a web designer, and mostly for graphic designers, animators, and illustrators in general as well. Although mine is overdue for an update:

Here’s a link to my website!

An online portfolio is a way to be found by potential clients and other designers that are looking for a collaboration partner. I have one on Behance, a portfolio site that is frequented by industry professionals. Just like my web site this is in need of an overhaul:

Here’s a link to my Behance portfolio!

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A glimpse of a real life graphic design studio

Square One Creative is a Derby based multi-disciplined graphic design studio.

Maggie Lucas whom I spoke to is the Sales and Marketing Director, and she agreed to answer a few questions. And was kind enough to supply an image to use as well! These are her personal views and not the ones of Square One Creative:

 

01: Tell me about the inception of Square One Creative. Who is Maggie Lucas and why did you decide to start your own agency instead of working for someone else?

Have worked in the graphic design industry for over 25 years, I did see the good and bad of different design agencies and felt we could do it so much better.
02: What are some important character traits in a graphic designer? Being a graphic designer is about many other things than designing stuff. What other qualities are important?

Attention to detail is very important, being constantly appraising/ critiquing your own work – I have found that it helps if you are a good communicator, you have to have a good degree of patience. If you are thinking of starting your own business in graphic design you have to be good at networking/finances/be very organised etc, this is why a lot of freelance graphic designers struggle getting new clients as they do not have the skill set to get new business.
03: There seems to be many design businesses in the area, so there is plenty of competition around. What is it about Derby that makes it a good location for this type of business?

The tables have really turned in Derby/Nottingham. A few years ago Nottingham was seen as where the creative design agencies were but because of Derby Uni, a lot of talent has studied at Derby, set up home here and in deed their business. 
04: Speaking of businesses, how important is it to be a good business person for a designer?

If you are a graphic designer working in an agency or in a corporate position it doesn’t really matter if you have a business mind BUT if you are working as a freelancer or in your own company it is essential.
05: As for me, being a new kid on the block – what’s the best way to find clients? 
I have in the past tried networking groups and done the whole breakfast networking routine without any success. Would you recommend joining Chamber of Commerce, or any other local organisations or groups?

I have mentioned this above, this is the hardest part of the whole design industry and I think if I had the solution I would be a very rich lady. It is down to hard graft networking – I have been doing it for 25 plus years, and have found it is all about building your reputation, producing good, reliable, consistent cost effective work. Making good contacts, finding the right network that works for you, probably finding a niche that you like designing for ie a particular business sector, get some experience in that sector and then sell yourself as a specialist in that field. Things have changed, you must have a good website, you must use all the different platforms out there, twitter, linked in etc to build your brand.
06: What do you know now that you wished you had known when you started out in this industry?

If I had realised how competitive and hard this industry was I would have thought twice about setting up my own business, it is very hard work but equally rewarding. Prices are constantly being driven down by sites like fiverr, also some people think that is design and creativity is not something tangible it should be free!!
07: I have to mention the B-word at some point. What’re your thoughts on Brexit? Not so much if you are for or against it – I’m more interested in your thoughts on how the design industry is going to be affected by Brexit – perhaps you’ve seen some changes already?

I think Brexit through a lot of businesses into panic. We don’t work with any European Companies so I do not feel it will affect us BUT I do know designers that have struggled as some businesses based in UK that were Euro businesses have decided to move now so those designers have lost that work.
08: Do you still use Adobe CC, or are you looking to switch to other applications, after their decision to switch to a subscription model? My impression is that this new model benefits big agencies and I’ve heard and read that many individuals and smaller agencies are now looking elsewhere for creative software.

Have not heard about professional designers looking at alternatives. Adobe Creative Suite is available at reduced cost to students and is the industry standard, we have been using the Creative Suite on subscription for several years and find it easier that having to pay huge chunks to upgrade to latest version.

09: Anything else you’d like to tell me that might be important for me as a graphic designer?

I think I have mentioned above but find a sector that you enjoy working in and specialise in that, find where these type of businesses hang out, network with them there, write articles and try and get them published on platforms they read/frequent.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It is much appreciated!