You’ve probably heard, or figured out in my posts, that I’m really into graphic design. I’ve been into design since I was a little kid, 10 years old if I had to guess. I’m 19 now, so I’ve been doing this for a while. I could give you my life story about how I became a designer, or I could just tell you why I made it this far. 

I made it into a graphic design class in high school, an intern/junior designer position at a print shop, and a graphic/visual design program in college because I love graphic design. At first, I was only interested in drawing until I learned there’s more to graphic design than just drawing. There’s psychology, color theory, science, and math involved, as well as others I’m probably forgetting. When I learned about all the other aspects of design, it became more challenging for me. That’s what I love most about design: a challenge. 

When it comes to an assignment in a graphic design class or a job when I’m working with Shawna, there’s always a bit of a challenge. I’ll admit it’s definitely easier to do things I already know how to do, but the feeling of figuring out something I’ve been stuck on is exhilarating. An example would be learning how to use Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator, instead of using the Pen Tool to line my artwork when transferring to digital (more info on these tools in a later post!). Learning faster and easier ways to do the same thing is not only exciting to learn, but it also means I can get more done in a shorter amount of time. More design time!

Graphic design is basically creative problem-solving. I’ve always had a love for helping others and solving problems, so this is right up my alley. Some examples of problems might be someone needing a logo, advertising design, or art just for fun or a gift. That’s where designers come in with their skills, using their creativity to solve whatever problems are thrown our way (more on creative problem-solving in a later post).

The other thing I’d say is a favorite part of designing is seeing my finished product being printed/used. I’ve made t-shirt designs, stickers, posters, logos, and tons of illustrations that I’ve gotten to print or seen printed; and the pride I feel is amazing! It’s exciting to see your hard work being shown off, especially when other people get to see it. 

There are probably a bunch of other things I could list, but these are my 2 favorites. A challenge and the final product are the best parts of designing. The stuff in between is kinda the “boring” work, but even the boring work is fun when you love what you’re doing!

Thanks for reading!