Student VS Graphic Designer

Starting out as a young designer in the industry definitely gives you a new perspective.

There is no book outlining where to start, what to do, who to talk to, or what to create. Hopefully, sharing my experience can shed some light. Once the spark starts, it’s never going to go out. It will only grow.

You take on each project the same way an actor pursues a role. An ambitious actor does more than simply play a character; they have a firm grasp on that character’s beliefs and purpose to craft their personality. These considerations don’t just happen effortlessly while delivering a captivating performance—they are the research that sells the character to the audience.

Every graphic design project presents different creative choices, requirements, and expectations. They teach you to problem solve through dynamic, critical thinking. You have to take each revision and critique with a grain of salt, and trust that it will make your work better in the long run. It’s about finding the best solution for the client, all the while precisely executing each element. The designer is the performer and the client is the audience.

After graduating, I had what I call my “sliding door moment” that I think many young designers can relate to. It’s the transition from being a student to a graphic designer. You learn to trust your own process and lean into it, branching off the foundations you learned in school. Part 1 is accomplished by completing school; part 2 is achieved by exploring what works when relieved of the grade requirements and student peer pressure of being in school. Internship was the bridge between parts as things fell into place—and keeping this in mind the whole time helped me to distinguish myself from my peers. Those long hours spent working on projects and meeting deadlines really prepare you for the real world of graphic design.

Let the knowledge of your mentors, teachers, and other creatives follow you. The biggest take away from my experience is that you are always changing and evolving as a designer—you have to. Your career requires flexibility and adaptation. I think that any industry professional could confidently say it isn’t for the faint of heart. This industry is in no way an easy path, so I have an incredible amount of respect for the creatives who I look up to and who have inspired me to do what I love.

There will always be ups and downs as in any field, but pure passion is the force behind it all. I get to wake up and do what I love everyday. I’ve known what I wanted to do since a young age. I started educating myself on the craft and networking to make connections. I turned my passion into a career while allowing my ambition and creativity to act as my guiding compass. It takes a certain type of person to step foot into this exciting, ever-changing, and captivating industry.

Showing your work can make you feel vulnerable, the right people will recognize you for it, and through every experience, doors will open. There’s no better feeling than seeing your work out in the real world. The talent is in you—it’s what you do with it that counts.

Now, go move mountains and create your own path.