Here goes nothing

I Have Some Stuff to Say About Design

By @design101

Gif

We could start talking about design by looking it up in a dictionary, but we all know what design is, right? The whole point is to make pretty, attractive things. You may think, ‘well, I like to draw and I’m good at it, I might as well study graphic design’ Wrong! Art and graphic design are not the same (but we will cover that in another post. Something to look forward to!)

I, like many others, started my career with that same line of thinking and in just a few weeks, I realized the truth: design is, above all, about functionality. Design should be pretty, yes, but most of all, it has a purpose, and that purpose is what makes it beautiful.

We are problem solvers. We are given the task to interpret client´s -often crazy- requests and transmute them into efficient, creative, effective designs that they can use to successfully improve their businesses. We produce ingenious visual solutions. Design is a beautiful craft that requires study and expertise.

Foto de laptop

The most essential aspect is the message



Our job is to communicate a message through images, shapes, colors, letters, and videos. The message should be solid, effective and eye-catching. In fact, designers are visual communicators, and it requires skill and cleverness to do it suitably. It doesn’t matter how pretty it looks if it’s conveying the incorrect message or if it’s not custom-made to appeal to the right audience.

The most essential aspect is the message. We just have to deliver it in a good-looking way.

Let me give you an example:

You have been given the task to design a flyer for a musical event, you must include the names of the performing actors, time, place and day, the cover price and the event name. All in a 1080x1080 px post to be promoted in social media.

Say you come up with a flyer design that looks very beautiful and it’s attractive to the eye, colorful and striking. And when people see it they think ‘oh I want to come’ and start looking for the details mentioned above but they can’t find them. They don’t see the time and place because the information is lost in a sea of colors and musical instruments. They are not able to read the name of the performers (which happen to be one of their favorites) because the names are too small and badly placed.

And they keep scrolling down. You have lost them.

You have succeeded in designing a beautiful artwork, but you have failed in making a good design.

Gif

Design is intention



Nothing is random.

When we make something orange, it’s not because we considered it to be a pretty color, it has a reason, a motive. You should not pick the color red if you don’t know why you are choosing it or what do you expect to accomplish with it. Everything has an objective and an intention, if you put a line, that line must serve a purpose.

What you must remember at all times is: form follows function. If it’s pretty but doesn’t work, it ain't design.

Gif

But how do I learn the why?


Have you ever looked at a #design so visually pleasing that you wonder how?!

The answer is simple: back to the basics. Balance, hierarchy, contrast, repetition, alignment, typography, color theory, gestalt principles, and a big fat etcetera.

After surfing the waves of #Steemit for a bit, I realized there are almost no entries referring to these topics, which I find tragic. Instead of complaining, I decided to offer a solution: #IHaveSomeStuffToSayAboutDesign.

Who am I? I’m a professional graphic designer talking from my own experience working in digital marketing agencies and as a freelancer. My word is no law in any way, I’m just offering advice and tips I wish I had when I took my first steps into this world six years ago.

This is for graphic design students, people with basic knowledge, people that know nothing about design, people that want to study graphic design and graphic designers that feel they lack theory. This is also for other professionals and experts that want to share their knowledge with the community and impart their wisdom. Help me contribute!

Gif

What do I plan to write?



Everything. Everything I know and can convey trough writing and everything you wish to know too. Just ask and you shall receive!

Art vs. Design | Composition | The Big Bad Client | Basic design principles | Color theory | Clients | Typography | Adobe Suite | Build your portfolio | Branding | Logo | Inspiration | Pretty vs. Functional | Minimalism | RGB & CMYK | Editorial design | Grids | Balance | Personal branding | Corporate identity | What are vectors? | Software | Photo edition | Illustration | Study or not? | Social media | The Rule of Thirds


So, what do you think? Is there something specific you want me to write? Do you think this would be useful for anybody? Do you have any suggestions? Just let me know and be sure to follow me for more content soon!

Credits: all the pictures used here were taken from free stock websites.

Sort:  

Welcome to steemit brother and sister, and enjoy bro

Posted using Partiko Android


Welcome to Steem @design101.

Do read A thumb rule for steemit minnows - 50:100:200:25 for starter tips.

Spend time reading Steem Blue Paper to know how Steem blockchain works and if you still have any queries ask them on our Ask me anything about Steemit post and we will try to answer that.

All the Best!!!

Upvoted.

DISCLAIMER: Your post is upvoted based on curation algorithm configured to find good articles e.g. stories, arts, photography, health, community, etc. This is to reward you (authors) for sharing good content using the Steem platform especially newbies.

If you're a dolphin or whales, and wish not to be included in future selection, please let me know so I can exclude your account. And if you find the upvoted post is inappropriate, FLAG if you must. This will help a better selection of post.

Keep steeming good content.
@Shares - Curation Service

Posted using https://Steeming.com condenser site.

Welcome to Steem, @design101!

I am a bot coded by the SteemPlus team to help you make the best of your experience on the Steem Blockchain!
SteemPlus is a Chrome, Opera and Firefox extension that adds tons of features on Steemit.
It helps you see the real value of your account, who mentionned you, the value of the votes received, a filtered and sorted feed and much more! All of this in a fast and secure way.
To see why 3285 Steemians use SteemPlus, install our extension, read the documentation or the latest release : SteemPlus 3.0 : The SteemPlus Points are here!.

Hello newcomer welcome to steemit, wish you all the best

Posted using Partiko Android

Welcome to steemit @design101.

  • Join @minnowsupport project for more help
  • Checkout @helpie for daily trivias and useful information
  • Join @qurator a good quality support project
  • Checkout @steembasicincome
  • Help us save the forest with @treeplanter
    Follow me @tuanis for random votes daily please checkout the report
    Welcome the new steemians. Have a great day!

Congratulations @design101! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

You published your First Post
You made your First Vote
You got a First Vote

Click on the badge to view your Board of Honor.
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

Support SteemitBoard's project! Vote for its witness and get one more award!

Congratulations @design101! You received a personal award!

Happy Birthday! - You are on the Steem blockchain for 1 year!

You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking

Do not miss the last post from @steemitboard:

SteemitBoard supports the SteemFest⁴ Travel Reimbursement Fund.
Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!