![51 New year resolutions for graphic and web designers [image]](http://graphicdesignblender.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/82087964.jpg "51 New year resolutions for graphic and web designers [image]")
The traditional New Year Resolution: some dread it and some embrace it. Of course, it’s not always easy to sit down and decide what we hope to accomplish over the next year. Below you will find a few ideas that I hope will be helpful in making you a more successful graphic or web designer next year and for the rest of your career. If you have more suggestions please add to the list.
- Graphic Designers, Code your first web site
- Web designers, Design your first set of business cards, a logo, or a poster
- Design and Code your first wordpress theme
- Learn the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator
- Learn the principles of usability in any design setting.
- Get a twitter account if you don’t have one. (If you have one, you can follow me too. I know–shameless plug.)
- Try out some sort of new online social media.
- If you freelance, raise your rates.
- Find new and better ways to connect with clients (Google Voice, Google Wave, etc.)
- Study Typography more in depth and apply it in your designs
- Try a color scheme you have never even imagined
- If you are a freelancer, try an office job. If you are in the office, try freelancing.
- Get all the info you need from your client by asking the right questions
- Start a blog or write for other blogs
- Get involved in the online community
- Learn the basics of XHTML and CSS (web designers: learn something new–perhaps CSS3 or HTML5)
- Take up a new hobby that doesn’t involve design in any way
- Exercise the left side of your brain more (give the right side of your brain a rest)
- Learn the basics of copywriting
- Update your portfolio to meet industry standards
- If you don’t have an online portfolio, get one. If you don’t have a print portfolio, get one.
- Update your resume
- Do some volunteer design work
- Use at least one project to defy all the rules you have ever learned
- Break the mold of design (especially on the web)
- Take an extra class about design at a local university, college, or community school
- Teach a community class on design
- Give speeches at your local Chamber of Commerce (US) or other business organization in order to find clients and establish a reputation
- Learn more about some designers who created things before computers were popular
- Subscribe to top design blogs and frequently read from their feeds
- Follow top designers on twitter and interact with them
- Save for that dream computer you’ve always wanted
- Have the guts to buy it (see #32)
- Take on odd jobs that sound impossible or above your level of expertise. Then force yourself to be good enough
- Start your design process with good sketches and brainstorming
- Learn how to market yourself or your client via social media
- In your next meeting with a client, be a little more professional
- Really impress your clients–current and new
- Have confidence in your work. Show that confidence by bringing a contract to the first meeting
- Help someone rebuild or fortify their branding
- Redesign something just for fun
- Learn the basics of advertising and marketing
- Take time to be inspired
- Simplify your life and Simplify your design.
- Avoid these logo design mistakes
- Be a little more patient with your most annoying clients
- Embrace Failure. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or admit your don’t know something
- Clean your desktop off. No, Really.
- Go against the grain. Don’t follow design trends
- Sell something besides your services. Code a wp theme, write a book, etc.
- Organize your time and be more efficient
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Nice round-up! I would like to add:
Do something with design everyday! Wether it’s (designing, reading or getting some inspiration somehow) =)
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Very well written… Thanks.
-Deepu
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I think one of the most important is: Exercise!
Our body needs to move a little bit after being hours in front of the computer, don’t you think?
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Very valuable specially as for a student/aspiring art director like myself.
Much appreciate!
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Twitter: @sd_designs
#52 Clean out drawers full of random design notes that no longer make sense
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Haha, nice list. Though I must say I only fit to 18 of them :O Though great list!
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Almost one thing a week…ok, I can do this! Thanks for the post!
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#52: Proof read your blog posts.
(Sorry, couldn’t help myself)
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“I think one of the most important is: Exercise!
Our body needs to move a little bit after being hours in front of the computer, don’t you think?”
Totally agree…my fiance calls me sedentary because all I do it sit in front of the computer screen all day. He is a certified personal trainer so I think this will make him very happy!
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Preston
Twitter: @prestondlee
Shurandy,lush, SD Designs, Sheryll,
Thanks for your great additions and suggestions. Definitely some great ones there!
Chris,
Are you referring to the article here? I’ll gladly make a change if you can point out the error. I can’t seem to find it.
Thanks to all of you for sharing!
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Nice resolutions but i would like to add “try and add a little knowledge of Mobile Design or development. at least the iPhone”…lol
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Thanks for the great list. It’s really helpful for a beginning designer like me.
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I think I’m gonna attempt to do as many as I can from this list! I wonder if there’s a Resolution app for the iPhone!? Cause you can never set your self to low & let go of what you had your eye on. Its always best to set ‘em high & then look back on how where you 1st started & how much you’ve achieved along the way!
My new years resolution is basically to set myself firm as graphic designer & web developer, hoping to make decent small or big income on what I love, yet continue to grow & learn along the way.
Great post, it’s very inspirational, thank you! :)
- MexiChriS
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Also, you should probably seek out links related to the listed resolutions you got. For an extra boost & motivation to start off the right way, for those seeking to do this or find other inspirations along the way. Just saying :)
- MexiChriS
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Hi Preston,
Very useful list! Should be set nicely as a wallpaper on the desktop. By the way, how do you call these two interesting plugins you have on the left side of your site : “follow me” and “subscribe me”. Thx for the information!
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Awesome list, some points are a far out there, but overall great stuff!
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Thanks for this huge list, will try and do a few for next year. There are some really good ideas.
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Fantastic roundup. Many are things I’ve wanted to achieve for quite some time, or if I have done them, I certainly need more practice. I think I’ll go make my own set of New Year’s Resolutions, with a few of these for inspiration :)
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Just got started with blogging, in fact it took me a while to get my Tumblr to work properly…I would recommend Tumblr over Wordpress for those who want to control their own domain names.
Tell me…how many have you done on this *concise* list?!
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51 – that means you can achieve one per week!
Anyways, good list :)
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I needed to read this thanks a lot for this great insight I think I will print this out.
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nice post, thanks
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Sign up to Skillbasket and list your skills and specialities, then refer friends and jobs. Shameless plug, but also terribly relevant. :)
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Great list, thanks. I’ll definitely be trying #3 and #7.
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Open your mind for new ideas, renew your concepts, break up your paradigms…
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Wow, this is sure one long list. I can’t say that I would complete half of them, but it sure would be nice to give it a go :)
For 2010, I would like to create my first Thesis theme skin. I would like to push myself in that direction as I’m already haveing fun with Thesis.
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I’ll leave it to you to summarise but my point, as a client it is important for the designer to Make sure that your client fully understands the whole process of what you are doing and why. Most frustrations on both sides come from both thinking you are delivering different things or not understanding why the other party is not understanding your requests, or your idea, be it the business ethos, or the logic behind the design created!
Thanks
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Join AIGA.
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That pretty much covers it… great list, thanks for sharing.
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Twitter: @just4thealofit
19 and 22 are on my personal list.
I’d say all of these are very easy except #3. Get your hands on a Wordpress theme like inFocus or something even meatier. Unless you just make a slap-on look for Wordpress, making a whole theme is very intense and code-heavy. You’re basically making a visual template and an extension to the backend CMS UI. Not really something you can pick up unless you’re already a programmer. If you’re an artist who knows some HTML/CSS, you might wanna substitute this resolution with “learn how to program.” Then do this one next year. ;-)
Good list!
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