Learning how to use a new software can be intimidating, but don’t let that discourage you! There are plenty of free online resources to help you master all sorts of design tools, and it’s as easy as searching Google to find quality materials. Using this early on will benefit you immensely down the road. As a graphic designer, you’re probably going to work as a freelancer and Bonsai can help you-from managing projects, creating proposals and contracts for clients, to sending invoices and organizing your taxes.

These are the most widely used tools across the industry-and are incredibly powerful.Īnother viable tool to invest in at this stage is Bonsai. Once you’re ready to take your technical skills to the next level, we recommend investing time in mastering industry stalwarts like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Free graphic design tools like Vecteezy, CorelDraw, or Inkscape are great options to explore among many others. If you’re just starting out, consider downloading a few free graphic design softwares before investing in more robust tools. If you want to become a graphic designer, you’ll also need to become proficient in the graphic design software you’ll use to create your work. Plus, you’ll also gather plenty of visual inspiration and ideas for your own open projects while you’re at it. Taking time to browse through Dribbble each day is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest design trends-as well as explore the various design styles that keep you fired up. On top of getting primed on the basics, it’s also good practice to start developing your visual eye for design. brand identity design, social media marketing, website design, etc.), it doesn’t hurt to find resources specific to the kind of design work you want to specialize in, too. If there’s a specific graphic design niche you’re interested in (i.e. Dabble in a few different courses and refer back to them whenever necessary. This means getting yourself primed on the principles of design, learning how to effectively use elements like color, contrast, hierarchy, balance, and proportion in your work.Įven more good news, as there’s plenty of free graphic design courses online you can use to start building your knowledge base. While you don’t need a formal education to become a graphic designer, you do need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals.

Graphic design the new basics