A great graphic designer is a master of visual communication. That means he or she knows how to use images, colors, and fonts to convey specific meanings and ideas — in short, they know how to communicate effectively. That might seem like a no-brainer, but being a good graphic designer has nothing to do with knowing the latest photoshop tricks or having an eye for aesthetics. In fact, most people think that becoming a graphic designer means you have to have creative abilities. Not true! Being a great graphic designer requires the ability to think critically about the world around you and find clever ways to communicate your thoughts effectively through visual images and symbols – not just words.
Be very well-versed in typography.
If you are a great graphic designer, you should be able to talk about typefaces for hours. You should know their origins and why they look the way they do. You should also be able to identify different typefaces used in design projects and talk about how they are being used and why. If you are not very well-versed in typography, you will have a hard time producing high-quality designs because you won’t understand the fundamentals of good design. You will be more likely to create designs that are confusing and unappealing because you don’t know how to use typefaces effectively.
Every design decision you make must serve a purpose.
A great graphic designer always thinks about what the design will accomplish. A designer with great design skills will ask themselves questions like “Why am I choosing these specific colors?” and “What do I want this design to say to the viewer?” If you’re not asking yourself these types of questions, you’re probably not a very good graphic designer. If you’re not asking these types of questions, you’re probably not a very good designer. Every design decision you make must serve a purpose. If it doesn’t add to the design or the message, it doesn’t belong in the design. A great graphic designer is able to make every design decision intentional and meaningful.
Don’t be afraid to collaborate with other graphic designers.
If you are a great graphic designer, you should be confident in your ability to design high-quality pieces, but you should also be open to collaboration with other designers. Design is a collaborative process, and a great graphic designer understands that, especially when it comes to designing for businesses. Your clients are likely business owners who don’t have the design skills you do, so it only makes sense to work together to create designs that work for both parties. If you’re not collaborating with other designers, you’re probably not a very good graphic designer. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on your designs and pay attention to what others have to say about your designs.
Use the best tools for graphic designers
A great designer knows which tools to use for each job, whether it’s designing for print or digital. For example, if you’re designing a brochure, you will use different tools and have a different design process than if you’re designing a website. Again, poor design and lack of knowledge in the tools of the trade are huge signs that you are not a great graphic designer.
Summing up
If you are a great graphic designer, you know a lot about typefaces, everything about design, and the tools of the trade. You are able to collaborate with others, and you know how to use different tools for different jobs. You know that each design decision you make must serve a purpose, and that all design must communicate something.
