A business’ visual identity is often the first thing customers see (no pun intended) when they’re looking for a new service or product. It’s the logo, fonts, colors, graphics and photos that all define the overall “look” that tells customers what that brand is all about. From sleek and modern, to homely and traditional, first impressions are important and the need for a professional touch in this department is where graphic designers come in to give brands a boost above their competitors.
As a graphic designer, are your skills up to par to give businesses the boost they need? Do you need a refresher or training in a new program? As technology advances, keeping your skills updated and relevant to modern technology is a basic part of keeping your head in the game. Interested in learning what some of these skills are? Here is a list of the top in-demand skills graphic designers need in 2022, and how these skills can help a business flourish.
Never stop learning how to use your tools
With a skill set that spans both the artistic and the technical, your skills vary depending not just on talent but most importantly, training. It’s the careful balance of having a strong artistic vision and knowing how to use the various professional programs to make that vision a reality.
Maybe you have the vision to make a brochure for a hotel to showcase all their amenities or an interactive website with eye-catching visuals for a growing start-up. But do you know exactly how to create each of these platforms from scratch? Are there new programs or design specifications that have changed or might even be better than how you were originally trained? Is there a newer, faster, or even easier way to go about creating these platforms?
Beyond knowing how to use these tools to manipulate text and images, it’s important to also keep in mind that these programs change every year. As a graphic designer in 2022, it’s your duty to stay up to date with these changes to keep your skills fresh and relevant.
Never stop learning how to use your tools, and always be open to learning new techniques and curious about finding new ways to do old tricks. The worst thing you can do as a graphic designer is stopping yourself from growing as you progress through your career.
Logo design
A strong logo makes a lasting impression on customers, sometimes even a subconscious one. From fun color choices, and intricate illustrations, to minimalistic typographic logos, the look of a logo speaks volumes about what a business stands for while functioning as an instantly recognizable symbol. Studying the work of past designers and understanding what made their work stand the test of time is sure to give you a greater sense of appreciation of just how much of an impact graphic design has had on the world and inspire your own designs.
Typography
An intricate part of logo design, typography is also relevant to a business's overall branding style. When designing for different platforms, things like font choice indicate the “flavor” a business will have. Here it’s important to know not only your serifs from your sans-serifs, but also the way a font’s weight and style can affect the overall look and feel of a design, as well as its accessibility and legibility. A business’ message needs to reach as many people as possible and typography plays a big part in presenting that text to appeal to as many people as possible.
Designing for print
Even though many businesses are relying on digital marketing for the bulk of their advertising, there is still a demand for print in creating marketing materials, from brochures and pamphlets to posters. Understanding the meaning of the words slug, bleed and what image types and settings can be used in print is integral to designing functional print materials.
UX/UI Design
Also known as User Experience and User Interface Design, the principles behind these two design methods can help graphic designers in 2022 to make content that considers all aspects of customer interaction with the brand. When designing content for brands, consider the way your design will affect customers and how they’ll interact with it. Think of the ways your design can appeal to your client’s specific customer base, who are they? What can you improve or change to speak to them and increase their engagement with the brand?
