Hello everybody!
I’m in my final 12 months of highschool and need to put together myself for a course in graphic design and to concentrate on increasing my portfolio. Sooo What’s one of the simplest ways to get some actual world work expertise for design for somebody that’s not within the area but?
The best experience is doing actual work. That doesn’t mean paid work, or real assignments per se. Look for design prompts. Make up some projects for yourself (e.g. redesign a logo or branding of a existing business) Find your style and what you enjoy doing within the field. Web design? Logos? Magazines? Packaging? Infographics?
If you want the business experience, look for local designers or agencies, and see if anyone would like to mentor you. This can be relatively low impact, just a few hours of feedback a month maybe. Maybe you can do some internship stuff.
do you plan on going to college?
and you could always do work for family members, , it a local business, or just by talking to people saying your a graphic designer and showing them your work. word of mouth goes pretty far
Learn about the grid and different fonts. Then find something you like and try to recreate it. In art school the students would copy the work of masters to learn how it was produced. Also what programs are you familiar with photoshop, illustrator, in design etc?
Does your high school publish a yearbook or newspaper? I did that throughout high school and college. In college I volunteered for student activities committee and made a lot of posters. I also had friends who were in bands and I made gig posters and merch for them. Working in a copy shop is good experience too.
A whole lot of smaller companies and organizations do not have a real logo, nor the graphic ID in place. Simply ask someone around your area and tell it like it is. What’s important is the client contact and feedback – learning that communication part is nearly half the job. Get briefed, make several suggestions 2-3, get feedback, continue till the job is done. If you are doing great they might even pay you in one way or another. 🤟