28 Jan The Differences Between a Pro Designer and a Rookie
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The Differences between a Pro Designer and a Rookie.
In today’s modern world, many people are engaged in the headlines of news articles, political advisories, and product advertisements. There are no specific reasons for great things to happen. People dedicate their lives to collecting and absorbing information. The technique behind these attention-getters is the incorporation of graphic design for every piece of information released on television, social media, and billboards.
Graphic design is everywhere. It is a way of communicating and expressing one’s ideas in creative and aesthetic ways. Since technology does not age and it keeps the world turning, the methods of designing are also evolving as time passes.
In this field, you can differentiate a pro’s work from a rookie’s output. How do they do it? What gives one the edge over the other? What would be the differences between a professional and an amateur graphic designer?
Who Works on Graphic Designs?
Graphic designers are the people who create print and digital outputs in the most unique and descriptive ways. They design posters, produce printed books, magazines, leaflets, and much more through visual representation. They do this by using either computer software or by hand. They create not only the design but also the concepts which gives an additional flavour to the output.
The vital role of graphic designers is constituted through digital and traditional marketing methods. Advertisements, page layouts, and marketing tools are some of the specialisations of this field.
Pros do the job, rookies think it.
Great graphic designers know exactly how to do the math when it comes to brainstorming ideas to come up with impressive and connecting outputs. Before engaging, they construct flow charts and outlines within the time frame.
Let us say a businessman needs a print design to establish and promote his product. The first thing that a great graphic designer will do is familiarise themselves with the product. Graphic designers conceptualise what happens behind the finished product. After that they will start to shape their concepts. They not only do this through print design but digital too, so that two objectives are accomplished within the same timeline.
On the other hand, rookies do simpler and safer things in a faster manner. They work swiftly but the substance is not enough, and their outputs keep running out. At times rookies only build an outline but are not sure on how to accomplish the work at hand. There is no specific target, and it takes a viewer off the topic.
Pros innovate to upgrade, rookies deliver the back-up.
Efficient and effective work is always the goal of pro designers. They continue to look for better ideas to make sure they exceed the expectations of the client. Even for a short period, pros do not compromise the quality of their work, ensuring they do their best to understand the requirements of the business.
There are several software programs available nowadays for graphic designers. By using these applications and practicing the different features to get better at graphic design, the supremacy of innovation starts the ball rolling. Not only does the designer gain additional experience but the client can also reap the benefits.
While great designers innovate, beginners only design. There is no communication or anything that connects the audience and the design. It is always created in a rush and thus affects the impact of the communication.
Pros evolve, rookies move forward.
Graphic design continues to grow in various aspects and great designers dive into it. They keep looking for more and more ways to improve themselves. They do continuous reading and learning and that is what makes them great designers.
Pro graphic designers not only think about the client and the product being endorsed but they also take into consideration the audience as part of the concept. Just like in designing proposals and presentations, pros do not limit themselves when defining functionality even if the important details are presented. They pay attention to details on multiple levels including the longevity and impact of the communication.
Rookies do not see the commitment to graphic design. Most of them focus on short term goals and deliver accordingly. It is a known fact that a visual medium is more memorable than anything else. A poor design which is a result of a complacent designer may hamper the brand image in the long run.
“Find out what trends will be all the rage in 2021.”
Pros think it’s a marathon, rookies think it’s a sprint.
Passing by busy streets or empty blocks, even without people around, there are signs to lead you. These are very important in everyday life to give direction and it is the responsibility of a pro designer to work with the right rhythm and dynamics.
Once a pro designer has learnt everything, they seek more opportunities beyond this. Anything informative and vital is considered a key to success; pros do not stop satisfying viewers, letting their creations speak for themselves. In order to be relevant for a long time, pros need to keep bettering themselves.
Pros constantly present their drafts and suggestions to their clients to see if they are doing well. This is what a marathon looks like graphic designers worth their salt. It is all about open communication.
However, rookies are not open to trying out different avenues. Their main focus is to close the task by any means. They do not actually invest time to create meaningful and impactful designs. It is like risking your engine in a race without stopping to check the machine. They think they are improving by completing countless projects, but the truth is, they are still at level one. They are curious about a lot of things but are never conscious of how to get things done.
Rookies tend to give up easily when it comes to trying out new things.
Pro builds a portfolio, rookies build a skill.
Talking about the portfolio, the best one that you can show, and the first you can be proud of is your design. Whether you are a pro or a rookie, your creations are your personal advertisements.
Accomplished graphic designs with recommendations and high ratings are blessed. Rookies might work continuously but pros actually find time to rest, meditate, rewind and clear out the best adjective that would make their portfolios worthwhile. Pros create their portfolios keeping in mind that their body of work is the only thing that will vouch for their skills.
On the other hand, rookies keep counting skills instead of mastering and evolving. They only focus on churning out work, without really building a strong body of work that can eventually bring them recognition or more opportunities.
For example, a client who is new to the business world wants to advertise through simple flyers design. A pro will produce a simple flyer by choosing the correct complementing colours and slogans. But a rookie will make a complicated and a cluttered design.
Pros embrace failure, rookies fear it.
If there is no harm in trying, failure is a stepping stone towards better results. Failure creates a great graphic designer and builds them a great firewall from any distractions and system breakdowns. But rookies either back down or stop once they have failed.
Why do rookies have a fear of failing? They have creative minds that they can illustrate through designing. However, rookies fail to finish a job because of the anxiety that they may not be able to persuade the client into buying into their designs.
A rookie tends to get tired of pleasing many clients and meeting tight deadlines. By the end of the day, unwanted failure is realised and as a result, they end up giving up and just drop the projects.
Failure is an invaluable learning tool for graphics designers. They receive numerous rejections, a lot of revisions, and unpleasant feedback. A pro always takes such things in their stride and moves forward with more determination and gusto.
3 tips for rookies.
A rookie’s output will be familiar and common. It will be the result of lack of design knowledge, pressures, and high expectations. So, here are some ways to make great and attractive designs:
- Study what is out there. Like everything else, design trends also change.
- Always keep learning new software skills and continue improving oneself.
- Approach a job with absolute clarity on the brief to avoid last minute confusions.
Bridging the Gap between Professionals and Rookies in Graphic Design.
There are many similarities between professionals and rookies as well as things which set them apart. You can mostly compare an output done by the two parties by their approach towards a task.
The best way to bridge the gap is by motivating oneself to always improve and get better every day. A huge part of succeeding in this industry is updating one’s skill sets and software knowledge. By exploring eye-catching designs, one can push their boundaries to improve. So always keep learning!