Kickoff Your Graphic Design Career with These Design Programs
At first, I thought graphic design was a kind of art that was created digitally through the click of mouse and tap of keyboards instead of pencil and paper.
My first work on “graphic design” was vector tracing of my friend’s face and things. I have loved making art since I was a kid and since I got my new laptop at high school I started to learn about graphic design programs and making art with it. I thought it was a perfect dream job for me. And it is!
As days go by, I learned more and more what really graphic design is. Designing is not the same as making art even though art can be the main element of design. Design is the process of problem solving by diagnosing the roots and then generating solutions. To put it simple, graphic design is solving problems using visual/graphical touch. The design itself lies in the process of analytical thinking through some research, brainstorming and executing the solutions.
Depending on the problems, there are multiple ways to generate solutions. Graphic design is such a vast skill set for mentioning visual products made digitally. It ranges from different products such as image manipulation, posters, website illustrations, advertising, social media profile, etc.
The big question is “Where do I start?”
It requires a big answer too. But, I will make it short by separating the graphic design product into two major types of file: raster and vector. It’s one of the most basic terms in the graphic design industry that will differ in the products, designing method, and tools used.
Briefly, raster and vector are file formats. Raster mostly comes in JPG, PNG and GIF file format while vector generally comes in one format only: SVG but can come in other specific formats for specific use, such as AI and PDF. Raster image uses pixels as its building blocks like Lego blocks. It will lost its quality when zoomed in while the vector file will not lose its quality no matter if you have zoomed it a million times. It uses mathematical equations to display the graphical properties with more complexities but capable to produce simple, sharp and clean images that are needed in logos, icons, web illustrations and many more. These image production methods need specific tools to work. And file types will also bring different results depending on what you are working on, whether it is user interface design, logo design or book cover illustration.
First, let’s talk about raster graphic design, how you apply it and what tools you should use for your projects.
Despite its disadvantage of becoming blurry as the image lose its pixels, raster image becomes great as it can show complex textures, rich color gradients and crisp details. Poster, digital painting, website banner, advertisement and marketing materials are some kinds of raster graphic design products. It usually comes in big size to compromise the complexity of raster image details. The first tool we will discuss to create raster-based design is the most popular design tool nowadays, “The Mighty” Adobe Photoshop.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe and its Creative Suite has conquered the design industry for years and its most popular program is no other than Photoshop. It has the all-in-one features. You can design posters, advertisements, fantasy images for films or even tweak your friend’s face. You can even design logo and icon although it is not recommended for professional quality. It is the most powerful raster program out there and it comes with subscription. Not recommended for students and tight-budget designers, except you have a rich and dependable one who wants to pay it for you.
Pixlr
Pixlr comes in browser-based and it means you can design everywhere, every time as long as you got your gear and network. It has the basic functions of Photoshop with a simpler interface compared to Photoshop that has too professional yet intimidating interface for a beginner designer. It’s great to do small projects with Pixlr considering you don’t have to pay a penny. Of course, you can pay for more features.
Krita
Krita is an open-source design program that focuses on digital painting but has completely similar features with Photoshop. Due to its digital painting preference, it may be not the most user-friendly design program but it’s forever free! What’s better than a free Photoshop-like program? You can make a beautiful fantasy painting while designing poster for your company profile. More time to get used to the interface is worth more than paying hundred dollars/month for fancy programs you are not gonna frequently use as a starter designer.
But, it’s totally your choice tho.
Now, let’s jump to vector-based programs.
These are programs that mostly used to do simple illustrations, icons, logos, and other illustrative symbols. Vector-based design is generally tiny-sized but comes in great resolutions due to it’s non-pixel based file. These are my most favorite vector-tools:
Adobe Illustrator
It’s no doubt that Photoshop brother, Adobe Illustrator is the best vector program in the industry. It has the basic vector functions like shape, stroke, layers, polygon tools plus the one and only shape-builder tool that will drastically speed-up your workflow. The only thing I don’t like about Illustrator is its subscription and its too professional looking interface because I’m not that professional as a graphic designer, lol.
Affinity Designer
Affinity is a direct competitor to Adobe. It has completely similar functions to Adobe Illustrator and even Adobe Photoshop. Yes, you’re not reading it wrong. Affinity Designer has multiple mode including vector and raster that can be switched within the app. Also, Affinity Designer surpasses Adobe’s program with the cost of paying one-time only for the rest of your life instead of subscription. And it is still professional and maintains a user-friendly interface.
CorelDraw
It is not the most popular nor the best vector program but it was my first design program (after Photoshop, of course) and I loved how fast you can work with it. It has so much shortcuts that will come in handy such as simultaneously rotating and duplicating the shape to make fabulous symmetrical shapes. You can work with CorelDraw by paying one-time only (pricey!) or on subscriptions.
Figma
The last and my favorite vector tool I have ever tried, Figma. It doesn’t have the full functions of Adobe Illustrator but it has all the basic PLUS most intuitive interface I met on any vector programs. It is specifically designed for User Interface works thus it comes with web/mobile app prototyping and CSS codes for collaborative works. Have you ever tried Google Docs? Figma is Google Docs for designer. It is browser-based, multi-platform (even some mobile device will work!), and totally free! Recently, it has the Community features that provides a design library such as icon sets, and illustration plugins to ease your design process.
Every design program has its own pros and cons. It’s your job to choose wisely depending on products you design, financial conditions, working on a team or not and your skill mastery. Choose one you desire and stick with it. Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma and their friends are just tools. As I mentioned above, design is about analytical thinking to solve problems. Pen and paper is enough to design a solution, but you can only be a pro and put it into a useful products by practicing and mastering the specified tools.
Start with one tool and surf through Youtube for tutorials or if you have extra cash, try taking some courses on Skillshare, Udemy or Coursera. I assure you, it will be worth the price you paid.
Keep practicing and reach your dream job in the design industry!
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Feel free to visit my design works here!