Featured article by Caitlyn Bell, Independent Technology Author
Technology today develops exponentially. Every day, it gets harder and harder to keep up with all the new and improved. Staying relevant as an artist is vital to one’s survival – artists just don’t get paid enough to risk failure. Graphic designers are limited almost exclusively to digital work, usually in branding and website design, so in this digital age, they need to be staying far ahead of the curve in terms of technological changes. So if you’re falling behind as a graphic designer, follow these tips and tricks to get back on track.
Proper Printing
If you’re printer setup is substandard, your work will suffer, no matter how good it is. Poorly represented work looks a lot like poor work. Some basic tips to improve the look of your print include getting a printer specifically designed to handle the kind of work you’re doing, and only using genuine ink cartridges in it rather than cheap pretenders that’ll either damage your printer or produce awful work – probably both. Also make sure you buy the right kind of paper to avoid oversaturation or smudging. When printing brochures and advertisements, the paper should be smooth and glossy, and thick enough to withstand the elements. You don’t want all your hard work disintegrating at the sight of the first rain cloud.
Community Connections
Staying on track with changing technological trends will involve a great deal of keeping track of the pillars of the graphic design community. Following follow artists on social media is a the best way to keep track of how their designs are changing with technology. There are hundreds of graphic designers like you on Instagram, and surrounding yourself with them will help you find inspiration and resist isolation. On Twitter, you’ll be sure to hear about the dozens of new programs and techniques as they arise, and you’ll maximise your exposure to new information. Keeping track of your community and keeping your ear to the ground is sure to keep you hearing about new trends while they’re still trendy.
Review Resources
It should come as no shock that an industry built around web design has dozens of websites devoted to it. There are an abundance of resources available for graphic designers, and beginners and experts alike will find it easy to stay on top of technological trends. You can find specific sites devoted to the smallest talents that make up the graphic designers arsenal, from iconography to typography, as well as archives of previous work in an industry, like book covers, if that’s a field of graphic design you’re particularly passionate about. With resources to help you choose colour palettes and simple infographics that will inspire you to create your own, there are hundreds of ways to stay on top of the technological trends.
To get a more comprehensive lesson on graphic design without having to visit a dozen different sites, Skillshare is one website where experts gather to teach classes on everything you could ever imagine needing to know about. At the speed at which technology develops, this site is an invaluable resource for graphic designers to stay up-to-date with the newest programs and industry trends.
To stay on top of the technological trends doesn’t have to take a lot of work, but the more you put in, the more you’re going to get out. Remembering to check in with your community for recent developments and reviews on the hot new technology sweeping through can be all it takes to stay up to date, but there are many more resources available for the more pedantic graphic designers out there.
