James Victore has always been one of our favourite graphic designers, students learn about his iconic works throughout our graphic design courses. This article written by Jocelyn K. Glei for Behance has only made us love him more.Below are a few excerpts from the article that we think reigns so true in the world of design education. Please take the time to read the full article.

“Racism.” Social poster. Self-authored. Silkscreen. 26″ x 40″ 1993. © James Victore.

So you like time away from computers. Do you do all of your sketching and writing on paper?

Paper, and not in the studio. I’ll go to a bar or a restaurant. When I did the book, I left the studio every morning and I went to the park and sat for an hour, hour and half. I brought an idea, and I wrote longhand in one of these big sketchbooks. Then I would come into the studio and work during the day. Afterwards, at 4 or 5 o’clock, I’d go to my bar, sit with a beer or two, and refine it. Or write on a new idea. So it became this really nice process of every day. And it became a habit.

I can’t do the think-work in the studio. The studio’s for putting stuff together – for work-work. And if we’re not doing work-work, then we leave. How many great architecture ideas have been drawn on napkins? Because they’re free, they’re not thinking about work.

And it’s fast, right? We’re obsessed with efficiency, and sometimes we forget how much faster drawing is.

My third students [at SVA] aren’t allowed to use computers. It really frustrates them because they don’t know how to use their hands. But I say listen, I know how much time it takes to boot up a computer, and open InDesign, and you get a box, and you type a letter in it. And you make it this big. Then you make it this big. Then you make it this big. Then you make it this big. Then you move it over here. Then you make it red. Then you make it this big. And it’s like: You’re not designing! You’re organising. That’s easy. Worry about that later.

And this is stuff I learned from heroes. It’s the work you do before you ever put pen to paper. That’s the important part.

The Graphic Design School loves Veerle, her philosophy to open herself and her processes to educate and share charmed us. Thanks Veerle, a beautiful lady!

Welcome to The Graphic Design School Blog. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A brief bio.

I’m a graphic/web designer living in Belgium. I went to school in Mariakerke, Gent.

I began my career in 1992 as a freelance graphic designer under the name of “Duoh!”.

As a child I always loved drawing and considered it a hobby. I always thought it wouldn’t be possible to make this my day job so that’s why I studied tourism until I discovered that you could actually study graphic design. That may sound crazy now, but if you put it in its context and time frame (1987) it wasn’t very well known that you could actually study that. I always thought about it from an artistic point of view and believed there wasn’t a future in it.

Studying graphic design changed that, and from that point on my hobby became my passion and income.

You have been voted in the top 50 North x East’s Fifty Most Influential ‘Female’ Bloggers. How do you think you can use this title/influence to further your cause/career?

It is nice to see your name on a list and it delivers an attention span towards you but in all honesty this doesn’t bring food on the table. The biggest catalyst towards your career is your work. Your portfolio is what should do the talking as these lists are only short term.

Speaking of your blog. How much time do you need to spend daily on the upkeep of your blog… do you ever sleep or play?

I think I spend an hour to two hours when I’m just doing my approved list checking and answering all the mails and comments. Most of my weekend time goes in to researching tutorials and creating them.

Two last question on the subject of your blog. What was your goal when you started blogging?

I didn’t have any. I’ve started this to learn CSS/HTML and my first blog was a test case after reading about pMachine in MacAddict magazine.

Did you ever expect the success, or the fantastic Google page rank of 8?

No I didn’t have any idea that would happen. I didn’t have any expectations.

Learn how to create your own organic shapes in this tutorial.

We are a blog for beginners and graphic design students. Can you share with us the most enjoyable moment, subject or lesson that you had while studying?

To be honest I have no idea since it is like 20 years ago. The only thing I vaguely remember is a bookbinding lesson that we had to craft a book from scratch with headband, bookmark… and everything.

How did that moment, subject or lesson shape what you do now?

Eye for details.

Describe your style of graphic design in a few words. What kind of advice would you give students who wish to excel in this style?

Illustrative with a strong preference towards colors. The best advice is to be passionate about what you do and keep on trying after failure.

Learn how to create the font used in this poster.

Why did yourself and Geert Leyseele (partner and one would assume the ‘brain’ in the self professed ‘beauty & brain’ duo) decide to open up your own Graphic Design studio as opposed to working for a larger firm, or independently?

We had a few opportunities over the years to sell our business and become part of a larger group. We both are not interested in becoming a manager and direct other people. That would break the creative part that we love so much.

Do you use hand drawn techniques to help you develop a design. How important is this in your process as a Graphic designer?

Yes I still use a pencil and paper from time to time. It depends on what type of project I have going on. Most sketching is done for icons and logos and also wire framing for websites on occasions. It definitely is a bonus if you can draw your thoughts.

Learn how to create your spirals in this tutorial.

Do you keep an ideas journal? If so can we have a sneaky peek?

Yeah I do and you can see some on my art section on my blog and also in the duoh.com blog, “Illustration for Espresso Application Startscreen”

Do you have a special method for brainstorming, i.e mind mapping etc?

No, not really.

We have noticed on your website that you are very open about sharing your process as a designer. Why is it important to you to communicate this side of your work with your visitors?

Because we believe it show valuable information towards students. We don’t believe in not sharing what we know.

What are your favorite websites at the moment?

welovetypography.com

ffffound.com

Who are your 5 all time favorite graphic designers?

Scott Hansen

James White

Jacob Souva

Robert Lindström

Oksana Grivina

What typefaces do you use the most in your designs?

Mostly Sans Serif ones.

What about your job do you find the most rewarding?

To see a client happy with a design that we created.

A moment to brag… who are the most prestigious clients that you have worked with?

Netvibes, Google, Library of Congress, Ernst & Young, Coca Cola…

Where do you see your career and your studio in five years?

I am where I want to be meaning earning a good living and loving what I do.

See how Veerle went from illustration to vector in this tutorial

What advice would you give to graphic design students around the world. About shaping a great portfolio?

Let your work have the spotlight.

One last question, that is on everbody’s mind… Billy Elliot feels on fire when he dances… how do you feel when you are designing?

On cloud nine, not in this *real* world.

Cheers,

Veerle

Find more about Veerle

Duoh Website

Veerle’s Blog

Veerle’s photostream on Flickr

We asked some hard hitting questions (not really) to one of Europe’s most talented designers. His candid responses and enormous heart, resonate in Fabien’s designs.

Welcome to The Graphic Design School Blog. Tell us a little bit about yourself. A brief bio…

My name is Fabien Barral, I live in France, in an old country house, that my wife and I restored together.

Our village is so remote and small that there are not enough houses to name the streets. I love the fact that I can work here on such amazing projects so far away.

I was not a huge fan of school, while still at school I was introduced to an amazing design school. Design really appealed to me, Once into it, I loved it, and I have made it my life ever since. I’ve been designing for 12 years now, believe it or not, I learnt in a time without internet, and on photoshop without layers!

See the original on Flickr

We are a blog for beginners and graphic design students. Can you share with us the most enjoyable moment, subject or lesson that you had while studying?

The best lesson I’ve learnt is that design does not start on computer… computer is just a tool… you have to step away from the computer to get inspired. One of my teachers told me that “the greatest ideas come from the subconscious”. When you need a big idea, fill your mind with all the background information you can about your subject, then step away from the project and let your subconscious work on the idea for you. Usually when you come back to the work, your mind has processed all the big info and the ideas flow out much smoother.

How did that moment, subject or lesson shape what you do now?

I always step back from computer to find ideas…

Describe your style of graphic design in a few words. What kind of advice would you give students who wish to excel in this style?

Combining stuff (texture, fonts work, organics, color treatment, watercolor effects, old imagery, handwriting) is the best way to describe my style. To develop this style I recommend finding your own sources… I always looks for old papers, old materials I scan stuff myself and use these as textures.

Europavox original picture

Europavox reworked image

Europavox final poster

Do you use hand drawn techniques to help you develop a design. How important is this in your process as a Graphic designer?

Not at all, I do not know how to draw, I am so bad at it… it was really hard when I was at design school, my teachers told me I couldn’t succeed if I can’t draw… they were wrong!

Do you keep an ideas journal? If so can we have a sneaky peek?

I do keep a journal, I use it for note taking only. So its not that interesting to see. I make my own journals because I never found the ones I want in the shops.

Do you have a special method for brainstorming, i.e mind mapping etc?

Yes, I check my own blog and choose images that fit the project I am working on… that’s why I update the blog so often, the more images are in it, the more I am inspired.

What are your favorite websites at the moment?

www.evasion.cc blog

ffffound.com

www.beastpieces.com

Who are your 5 all time favorite graphic designers?

My friend Reno Orange

Tollesson Design

Jennifer Sterling

An also:

Sonner Vallée u. Partner

Paprika

What typefaces do you use the most in your designs?

Disturbance variations

What about your job do you find the most rewarding?

When I am as proud of the project, as much as the client is… It is rare but, these days it happens more and more.

A moment to brag… who are your most prestigious clients?

I was asked to redesign the Rolling Stones web site… Yes, you read correctly. I can’t believe it myself… It was a year ago now, the project was never online as the band have change their plan, but I hope it will be someday…

Where do you see your career in five years?

Roaming the world and working on more blockbuster movie or music group websites, having fun!

What advice would you give to graphic design students around the world. About shaping a great portfolio?

I like ‘The Combinations Rule’ from James Webb-Young’s little book:

Designing is basically the practice of combining stuff; ideally in ways that haven’t been seen before. So, the more stuff you know (about everything), the greater chance you’ll find a relevant and distinctive, and therefore effective (and original) combination.

A question on everybody’s mind… Billy Elliot feels on fire when he dances … how do you feel when you are designing?

That’s what I call an “Imaginary moment”… I named my original website “Imaginary Moment”. I later changed the site to my own name. When I design I feel absorbed by the images I create… in an imaginary world.

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us… any famous last words?

Designers are meant to be loved, not to be understood.

Fabien Barral

Thank You Fabien!

What is a Mind Map?

A mind map is an intricate web of thoughts, ideas, names, words and images that all stem from one central idea or word in diagram form.

Many designers use Mind Mapping to brainstorm and generate ideas. The loose and visual manner in which a mind map is created is not only a fantastic tool to ‘free up’ creativity, its a great way to communicate to clients, team members and professors while in a design’s concept phase.

Mind Mapping: A Crash Course

Lets look at a mind map that has a topic that we are all familiar with before looking at a mind map in terms of a design tool.

One can see in the Mind Map above, the author has started with a central topic ‘Solving Global Warming’. The main points then radiate outward from the centre. These represent the main points of the Mind Map. Each one of these points sprouts its own branches and twigs. This star-like pattern of ideas is referred to as ‘Radiant Thinking’.

Getting the Creative Juices Flowing

Mind mapping expert Paul Foreman has dedicated an enormous amount of time to the study of mind mapping, in his e-book entitled “Idea Creation”, he shares his philosophy on opening up your mind to the creation of ideas through mind mapping:

• Everything stems from a thought
• Every thought is a word
• Every idea is a thought
• Every word is a potential idea
• Every image is a potential idea
• Every thought is a potential idea
• Good thoughts come when bad thoughts stop
• Good ideas come when bad ideas go
• You flick your brains switch to ‘on’ when you stop over-thinking
• Once you still the mind ideas come
• Patience allows time for ideas to evolve
• Preconceived notions only breed preconceived ideas
• Stressing for answers brings stressful results
• Stretching your mind is effortless and simple
• Saying: “I can’t think of anything” Really means: “I think I can’t think of anything”
• Ideas don’t dry up – thoughts do

Mind Mapping in Graphic Design

So, now that you know a little of how mind mapping works. How can you use a mind map while generating design ideas?

We contacted Damien Horan. Renowned graphic designer for international surf brands, Mambo, Volcom, Insight and a successful Freelance graphic designer in his own right.

Damien recently designed the logo and branding for hip new restaurant/bar “Little Avalon” (named after the local surf break). Damien, having lived and surfed in the area for years knew all there was to know about the local surf culture.

Damien worked in conjunction with infamous Mambo graphic designer and artist Jim Mitchel, in developing the concepts and ideas for the bar. Damien knew that the bar had to appeal to the surf culture in order to ‘make it’ in the Avalon scene.

Owner operator Shane Clinton, wanted the ambience of a chic inner city bar, with the familial feeling of local surf shops. It was important that the branding of Little Avalon, combine the culture of city and surf. Not an easy task.

Damien had received his client brief and used these to define the map’s main branches. The results of his research and images were then applied to the outer branches/twigs. Applying these words and images to a mind map helped create visuals, with relevant connections between the maps branches as well as between the twigs. Creating a somewhat intricate, yet easy to read, visual embodiment of all design aspects that the logo needed to encompass.

Points realised throughout the process:

• Typeface must have serifs that represent the organic shape of a wave.
• Inspired by a B&W photo of the area the color palette became very dark. Keeping it crisp, black and white were chosen.
• Exploring the available typefaces with curved serifs, he was inspired to create his own font.
• An abbreviated version of ‘Little Avalon’… ‘LA’ was the locals appelation of the surf break, therefore essential to feature it in the branding.
• The ‘LA’ and ‘Little Avalon’ where to remain independent of each other.

Damien’s working sketches.

Hand Drawn Sketches

Computer Comps

Final Logos

Application

One can imagine easily from this example how you may use a mind map in your career as a designer or during your studies as a student. Although idea generation is only one step of a much more involved design process. It is a recommendable practice to adopt at any level.

Unlike many methods of brainstorming that encourage refining the concept for an idea. A mind map does the opposite, it helps us think holistically about a problem and tackle it from all sides. Although most designers employ more than one method to brainstorm, we find mind mapping a very successful way to get those creative juices flowing.

Mind Mapping Spreading its Wings

David Kelley, founder of IDEO one of the planet’s most innovative design firms, uses mind maps to foster creativity. IDEO designed the Apple mouse, the first laptop computer, and the Palm V.

Mind maps are a popular thinking tool in Silicon Valley. Kelley says:

When I want to do something analytical, I make a list. When I’m trying to come up with ideas or strategize, I make a mind map. Mind maps are organic and allow me to free associate. They are great for asking questions and revealing connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. I start in the center with the issue or problem I am working on and then as I move farther away I get better and better ideas as I force myself to follow the branches on the map and in my mind. The cool thing is that you allow yourself to follow your inner thoughts, which is different than making a list where you are trying to be complete and deal with data.

Oprah magazine featured an article The Mind Map: “Six Steps to Get Your Creativity Flowing” on the role of mind mapping and idea generation techniques. In this article Oprah states:

Forget Making a List! Lists often come from the organized, analytical left side of your brain, and to solve an intractable problem, you want to engage the right, the creative side. Make a mind map instead. Get a big piece of paper and start in the center with a circle that contains the original problem. Write different solutions, and follow paths outward on the page, limb by limb, pushing beyond the obvious. To plan a party, for example, I put “A great dinner party for friends” in the middle, and among the many branches, one went: “Make your own sundaes → mashed potatoes → have dessert first → sit on floor → indoor picnic.” Another branch went: “Progressive dinner → go to a different restaurant for dessert(s) → show up at friends’ houses uninvited → scavenger hunt to find food.” A third: “Teach something → learn something → juggling → magic trick → expert invitee on food/wine.” Your to-do list will just get you from point A to B.

Other Fun Stuff, Extra Reading and Free Mind Map Templates

At The Graphic Design School, we are Mac lovers. We are now also iphone freaks, keeping in touch with the student forum when on the go is important for staff and tutors. We found this groovy new free iphone app ZeptoPad Brainstorming App that allows you to mind map on the run!

A great mind mapping application for blackberry also available from MindBerry

Free Mind Map Templates Ebook

Paul Foreman from Mindmap Inspiration, has generously donated readers an e-book with 22 mind map templates. Download the Free Template Ebook here.

Articles

“A Mind Map From IDEO’s David Kelley», Business Week

“The Mind Map: Six Steps to Get Your Creativity Flowing», The Oprah Magazine

Galleries

Mind Map Art Website

Tony Buzan

John Clapp’s Sketchbook

NovaMind’s Website

mappio.com

The Mindjet Blog

Blogs

Mind Map Insiration

Mind Tools

mind-mapping.org

mindmapsearch.org

IQmatrix Blog

Austin Kleon Blog

The Mindmap Blog

Books

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day

Mind Maps at Work: How to Be the Best at Your Job and Still Have Time to Play

“Share Your Graphic Design Process Group” on Flickr

We have started a group on flickr for Graphic Designers and students who wish to share their Graphic Design Process.

Share Your Graphic Design Process, on flickr

Luke’s style is an inspiration to all designers. We needed to know what makes this guy tick. His candid and open approach left us charmed… Thanks Luke!

Welcome to The Graphic Design School Blog. Tell us a little bit about yourself. A brief bio…

Luke Feldman, the creator of SKAFFS, is an Australian multimedia designer who creates for a multitude of platforms. Inspired by childhood experiences and a vivid imagination, his illustrations and animations are distinctive with defined lines, elaborate detail, and intensely vibrant colors.

SKAFFS is a collection of work made up of art, animation, games, giant vinyl adhesives, skate decks and collector toys.

Luke’s vast technical experience and skills developed working in numerous mediums. He studied Visual Arts and Multimedia in Australia and has worked in the gaming, education and animation industry; his work ranges from graphic design, illustration, computer animation, Flash interactive, mobile media, website design and functionality, character design, installations and advertising.

While the scope of his work is extensive, it is bound together through his unique and dynamic style; a style that has led to a number of awards, exhibitions and collaborations with high profile artists including Theodore Geisel and Maurice Sendak and companies such as Disney, Coca-Cola, Facebook.

Luke Feldman’s artwork blends the classic stylings of 1950s Disney with a modern design sensibility to create something both cutting edge and timeless.

Andrew Farago, Manager & curator, San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum Gallery

Indeed, one might contend that Feldman is to digital art what Tim Burton is to cinema, or Dr. Seuss is to children’s books, as each artist has a distinctive, unmistakable style.

Hans Fink, Los Angeles’ Skinnie Magazine

Luke Feldman’s instantly recognizable ‘Skaffs’ creations comprise a heady mix of bright colors and razor sharp style mixed with an underlying, almost tangible naivety that make his illustrations easily identifiable in a world where originality is not as easy to find as you might think..

Jo Spurling, author and editor of Desktop magazine

We are a blog for beginners and graphic design students. Can you share with us the most enjoyable moment, subject or lesson that you had while studying?

Interactive design was probably my favorite subject as I got to learn all about Illustrator and Photoshop and how to ‘mock-up’ designs. One of my most enjoyable moments was an electronic design project whereby I had to concept, design, and develop a computer game and present it in its finished form including packaging.

How did that moment, subject or lesson shape what you do now?

This project helped me see the big picture and demonstrated what is involved in developing a product from concept. Being a creative director consultant, my work today is predominantly taking a project brief and fleshing it out into a concept, then a finished design to a full functioning product i.e. game, mobile content, Flash advertising.

Describe your style of graphic design in a few words. What kind of advice would you give students who wish to excel in this style?

My style is based on symmetry, flow and vibrant colours. My advice would be to develop a unique style, perfect it and experiment with your style by adapting it to as many platforms as you can.

Do you use hand drawn techniques to help you develop a design. How important is this in your process as a Graphic designer?

Everything I do starts off as a hand drawn sketch. It’s very important to be able to translate your ideas into physical form. Freehand drawing is an important skill as it is often the first thing you show future clients and you need to win them over with this concept to land the job.

Do you keep an ideas journal? If so can we have a sneaky peek?

I have a trusty sketch book that I carry around with me at all time. Ideas can come to me at any time of the day and it’s important for me to be able to jot these ideas down before I forget. These books also come in handy when thinking of concepts to pitch to clients. Below is a sneak preview.

What are your favorite websites at the moment?

My favorite websites would have to be:

Flashkit

Kirupa

Cold Hard Flash

Vector Tuts Plus

Who are your 5 all time favorite graphic designers?

Some awesome graphic designers would include McBess & James Jean.

Mc Bess also featured in The Graphic Design School European websites.

James Jean

What typefaces do you use the most in your designs?

I change fonts depending on the design brief. But, my most commonly used fonts would be century gothic, swiss 721 and avant-garde. I have also been known to create my own fonts here and there to better complete a project.

What about your job do you find the most rewarding?

Developing a concept into a finished product would be the most rewarding part of my job. I also like the challenge of being able to adapt my style to various platforms from print, to broadcast, to mobile media to wall installations.

I have been fortunate enough to have written and illustrated my very own book through San Francisco-based publishers, Immedium. The book is called “Chaff n Skaffs: Mai and the Lost Moskivvy”.

In this project I completed all the graphics in which each page is a finished piece of artwork, and I did all the text layout and graphic design. I have developed giant wall installations for LA stores and have developed my own product line of skate decks, artwork, collector toys, and iPhone applications.

A moment to brag… who are your most prestigious clients?

I’ve worked with some great companies. My most memorable projects and clients would be designing the 2007 advertising campaign for Coca Cola, the 2008 Apple MAC world 1-storey conference booth, animation design concepts for Disney and developing Flash content for Facebook.

Where do you see your career in five years?

I would hope to continue to grow as a multimedia designer and to continue to work with great companies on fun and challenging projects. And to continue to develop my SKAFFS line of products.

What advice would you give to graphic design students around the world. About shaping a great portfolio?

A great portfolio is important. Definitely take time out to put together a great selection of work. Ensure that your work has a distinct style but show diversity in how you apply your style. Be confident about your work and don’t give up.

A question on everybody’s mind… Billy Elliot feels on fire when he dances … how do you feel when you are designing?

Designing energizes me: It’s as if my design field is frenzied and the world around me stops; I don’t feel hungry; I don’t feel tired; I don’t feel thirsty.

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us… any famous last words?

Thank you!

If you would like to learn more about Luke you can visit his website Scaffs and Luke’s new book Chaffs and Skaffs

Luke has kindly contributed a tutorial for you to have a crack at vectoring one of his adorable characters entitled ’How to Create a Finished Vector Character“

As a design student myself I know how hard it is to break into the field, but I am proof that it can be done with a bit of hard work… In this article I am going to share with you my tips on how and where to get freelance design jobs while you are still a graphic design student.

The Problems

There are four main problems that design students face:

They do not yet have the skills needed to be a professional designer as they are still (1) trying to figure out the ins and outs of the software (2) and to top off this they still are yet to have a reputable portfolio (3) or (4) any knowledge about dealing with clients, budgeting or time management which more than likely means that you (5) have no reputation and no one knows about you. Let’s have a look at these problems and their solutions.

Problem 1. You have no basic graphic design skills

This of course, is the reason you are studying to learn these skills. However, do not be a static learner at University, you must propel yourself forward to learn more and be the leader of the pack. You should be active in graphic design forums, read design and freelancing blogs, borrow/buy books, ask questions and really get out there.

Go to your local design studio and ask for work experience — I did this and I worked on all their pro bono jobs, it was a great experience and I learned more about clients and time management while I was doing it. These few things will help your basic design skills get up to scratch plus you will be ahead of the rest as not many people do this.

Recommended Reading

Graphic Design School by David Dabner
A book about what your design course is teaching. A good aid!

Non Designer’s Design Book by Robin Williams
A great book for beginners at graphic design school, a must read.

Graphic Design as a Second Language by Bob Gill
This book is aimed mainly at students and teachers of design, and those that wish to improve their design solutions through a better design process

Non Designer’s Type Book by Robin Williams
This book is full of the bare essentials of typography. It is very easy to read and a must read for any graphic design student.

How To Be A Rockstar Freelancer eBook by Collis Ta’eed
This is a great book for freelancers just starting out, it teaches you the bare ropes of how to be a successful freelancer.

How To Be A Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy
This book covers the more advanced topics about being a graphic designer. Great for the more advanced students.

Recommended Blogs

Just Creative Design
My own — varied tips & resources

The Graphic Design School Blog
Great tips, Tutorials, Articles, and free stock art. The focus on European trends is original and refreshing! All aimed at the Graphic design student.

Freelance Switch
Great tips on everything freelance

All Graphic Design
Very varied Graphic Design topics

A Creative Curio
Great for print tips

Abduzeedo
Great inspiration and more

Smashing Magazine
Huge lists of resources

Recommended Forums

Estetica Design Forum

Graphic Design Forum

Problem 2. You have no computer skills

You need computer skills to be a successful graphic designer and a great way to acquire these skills is by reading tutorials, books and of course, practice. I repeat: tutorials, books and practice. By reading tutorials and books you gain more knowledge of the software and get better as a graphic designer.

Try to get first hand experience off other professional designers — a great way to do this is ask for work experience at your local design studio, they are usually more than happy to help.

Another handy trick is to get free stock items off the web and deconstruct them to see how they were made… this opened a whole new world for me.

Last of all: practice, practice, practice and hopefully you won’t turn out like this guy

Other Recommended Tutorial Sites

After you’ve tackled all the tutorials on this site, check out these other sites. Choose a beginners tutorial if that’s where your at, and revisit the Graphic Design School blog regularly as more Graphic Design tutorials are added weekly.

PSDTuts

VectorTuts

Illustrator Tutorials

Problem 3. You do not have a reputable portfolio

Every designer had to start somewhere and every designer started with nothing so you are not alone. Building your portfolio is probably the most important thing you do at University as this is how you will get a full time job once you leave.

Portfolios are another topic in itself, however you can build it up by making up your own fictional graphic design briefs, working for clients on the web, and by using your university work.

Studios do not mind if your portfolio items are fictional as long as they are high quality and you can justify your design process & decisions made.

Portfolios Resources

10 Tips On Creating a Design Portfolio

Forums

To build your portfolio up you can get some small paying jobs (between $15 to $300) on Digital Point Forums.

Contests

Although sometimes frowned upon in the design industry, contests are another way to build up your portfolio. I entered quite a few when I was starting out however have since stopped after establishing my self as a professional.

Job Board sites

If you are good enough you should check out job boards such as the 28 ones listed

here.

Problem 4. You have no knowledge about clients or time management

Nearly all graphic design graduates lack client and time management skills! This is where experience is the key and there is no way to get better experience than to gain work experience at your local design/print store — just drop in and ask. You will be surprised at how happy they are to hear from you — just mention you’re a graphic design student and you’re wishing to learn some new things.

By working there you will learn all about dealing with clients, time management and the design industry and the big picture. And more than likely, you will be working on charity based projects so you get to help the community too!

This was an actual reply I received from a reader of my blog — it does work!

Hi Jacob. You’re a legend. I followed your advice about just asking a local studio and was shocked when they said I could go in one day a week! I always thought they’d be miserable or have no time for silly young students, but true, THEY had to start somewhere as well! It maybe be pro-bono work but its vital experience that will set me apart from other students when applying for a full time job.

Getting The Work

Here comes the hardest part. After you feel confident enough to go out freelancing or working at a design studio during Graphic Design School, you should start looking for more jobs and clients.

Here are ten great websites to find graphic design jobs… the rest is up to you!

Coroflot

Behance Job Board

Authentic Jobs

AIGA Design Jobs

Krop

Fresh Web Jobs

Design:Related

Smashing Magazine

Simply Hired

Doing contests lets you build up your portfolio however your chances of winning the contest are usually 1/100 which means you will more than likely, not get paid for your work. It is however a great way to build your portfolio, and perhaps get your work published. Here are some sites that can help.

99 Designs

Crowd Spring

Logosauce

Good Luck!

Welcome to The Graphic Design School Blog. Tell us a little bit about yourself. A brief bio…

Hi, my name is Jacob Cass I am self-employed as a graphic designer, specialising in the fields of corporate identity (logo) design (above pictured with Wolda logo design awards “Best of Continent” and “Best of Nation”), web design, print design and branding with the majority of my time spent designing and implementing marketing promotions for small businesses such as logos, websites, brochures, letterhead, business cards and more.

I am 21 years old and I am Majoring in Graphic Design. I am based in Newcastle, Sydney, Australia. I won my first freelance design job at the age of 16. Since then I have never turned back…

My life is design, I love it and I surround myself in it every day.

We are a blog for beginners and graphic design students. Can you share with us the most enjoyable moment, subject or lesson that you had while studying?

Well, technically I am still a student, however, of what I have done so far I would have to say that typography was my most enjoyable class… It was the most challenging and also the most eye opening. So much of design is made up of type so it is essential to study this as an on going process… Knowledge equals power.

How did that moment, subject or lesson shape what you do now?

Well like I said, so much of design is based on typography so the knowledge of it really improved a lot of my designs. Upon looking back on my earlier designs I realise just how… unpolished they were. This reminds me of the Joshua tree story found in Robin Williams book Non Designers Type Book:

Once upon a time, Robin received a tree identifying book where you could match a tree up with its name by looking at its picture. Robin decided to go out and identify the trees in the neighbourhood. Before she went out, she read through part of the book. The first tree in the book was the Joshua tree because it only took two clues to identify it. Now the Joshua tree is a really weird-looking tree and she looked at that picture and said to herself “Oh, we don’t have that kind of tree in Northern California. That is a weird-looking tree. I would know if I saw that tree, and I’ve never seen one before.”

So she took the book and went outside. Her parents lived in a cul-de-sac of six homes. Four of those homes had Joshua trees in the front yard. She had lived in that house for thirteen years, and she had never seen a Joshua tree.

She took a walk around the block — at least 80 percent of the homes had Joshua trees in the front yards. And she had sworn she had never seen one before!

The moral of the story? Once Robin was conscious of the tree, once she could name it, she saw could see it everywhere. Which is exactly my point. Once you can name something, you’re conscious of it. You have power over it. You own it. You’re in control.

Describe your style of graphic design in a few words. What kind of advice would you give students who wish to excel in this style?

I don’t have a style or I don’t try to anyway. I adapt all of my projects to the needs of the brief, which more often than not, requires a different approach each time. However, in saying this, I suppose in my I go more for a simple, concept based approach… I believe less is more (in most cases).

Do you use hand drawn techniques to help you develop a design. How important is this in your process as a Graphic designer?

Nearly all of my designs start off with a sketch, or before that, a mind map. This gets all of my ideas onto paper and works great for me because I honestly have the memory of a fish. I have one idea, then two seconds later, I’ve already moved onto a totally new idea so yeah sketching is compulsory for me but everyone works in different ways but remember this… there are no bad ideas, just bad decisions.

Do you keep an ideas journal? If so can we have a sneaky peek?

I used to use just plain paper, but just recently I bought a Moleskine to track my ideas but no sneak peek for you… you wouldn’t be able to read or understand it anyway (I’ve been told I write in another language).

What are your favorite websites at the moment?

Gmail, Facebook and shamefully, my own website — http://justcreativedesign.com/. I love the discussions from the community left in the comments area — it really helps me learn as a designer. There are so many talented individuals out there, it helps to learn off them!

Who are your 5 all time favourite graphic designers?

I don’t have any… like I said above, there are so many talented designers out there — it wouldn’t be fair to list just 5.

What typefaces do you use the most in your designs?

I actually don’t really have a favourite and upon looking at my designs, I realise that I’ve used quite a lot of different typefaces in my time… But recently I’ve come to like Gill Sans, it’s just so versatile and it goes so well with so many other typefaces.

What about your job do you find the most rewarding?

Doing what I love and getting paid for it.

A moment to brag… who are your most prestigious clients?

Prestigious is a very subjective word… I treat all clients on the same level whether they be a local small business or a huge multi national but if you are after some big name drops how about Walgreens (America’s largest pharmacy franchise), Tupperware, Layers Magazine or the huge book publisher, John Wiley & Sons?

Where do you see your career in five years?

I haven’t had any experience at a design studio yet so I guess I see myself working at a small design studio in Sydney some time soon… while freelancing on the side. One day I will open my own studio.

What advice would you give to graphic design students around the world. About shaping a great portfolio?

This is by far the most common question I get asked so I wrote an article about it with advice from other designers too… Advice for graphic design students.

A question on everybody’s mind… Billy Elliot feels on fire when he dances … how do you feel when you are designing?

Not probably the answer you are after but to tell you the truth, probably pretty cramped from being on the computer so long!

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us… any famous last words?

Keep it real. Get out and enjoy yourself! — Never give up!

Also a big thank you for the opportunity to be featured in this interview — I hope you’ve enjoyed reading!

If you would like to learn more about Jacob you can visit him on his largely successful blog and website

Just Creative Design.
On Just Creative Design you will find his personal graphic design portfolio as well as the graphic design blog which provides free graphic design tips, articles & resources on all subjects of design, ranging from, but not limited to; print design, logo design, web design, branding, typography, advertising & more. Jacob also administers the websites Logo Of The Day and Logo Designer Blog.

Thanks Jacob!