Freelance Graphic Design

[scott1120]

I am thinking about moving into the graphic design arena. Any suggestions of what would be the minimum requirements for getting started? I know I need graphic imaging applications, but do I need Creative Suite right away? If I just start playing around with images and creations to create a portfolio that would help right? Anyone have any links or tips they care to share?

[ndsimm]

what kind of designs are you talking about? What software are you currently using? Why Graphic design? what kind of training do you already have in the area?

If I'm hiring someone to create a logo for me, for example, I want to know that they at least know more about Photoshop or Illustrator than I do...

[Cajungaltx]

Yeah - there is a huge need for logo creation - HUGE. If your good at it, it'd be a great place to start....

[d2creative]

Is this a joke based on the other thread asking about what's needed to go pro in photography? I sure hope so.

If not....

Are you an artist? Can you draw? Paint? Are you naturally creative?
Forget equipment.
If the answer to any of the above is no, you need to get back to basics.
Go to school for art & design. Learn to draw and create in just about every medium. Pencils, pastel, paint, sculpture, etc.
Art history would help too.
If you do not have these basic skills, you will not be a good graphic designer.
Then go to school for Graphic Design.
Build up an impressive portfolio.

[Krossfire]

Is there a market out there? I have my best friend and husband that are both Graphic Designers that have been out of work one since Sept and the other since Dec.
From what I am getting from them the Houston market isn't there anymore. They both worked for the same software company here in Houston and it was bought out and they went to outsourcing their graphics so they were both out of jobs. But everyone now is only wanting to pay half of what they used to make.

[d2creative]

In house graphics? <shudder>
I feel bad for your friends but it doesn't surprise me.
Why pay someone full time and corporate benefits when they can go outside only when they need it and quite honestly get higher caliber work for their dollar and fresh ideas? In-house departments are a good idea when there is a ton of work, especially business to business type stuff within the company like powerpoint presentations that most designers don't want to do. The big corporations can save a lot of money that way. The downside is the designers fall into a black hole of design losing touch with the outside world. Their work becomes stale. They don't progress. They have trouble finding jobs outside of corporate in-house design departments. And when times are tough, they are the first departments to go.

Companies always go outside for the good stuff.
Some of our clients have in-house design departments but they come to us for the real creative work, and the in-house dept gets the more production side of it once we nail down the overall design.
The good design studios are still finding work, although it is slow now.
Just like most professions, not many studios are hiring right now.
Freelance? Who knows. I hear temp agencies are still hiring.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Originally Posted by d2creative

In house graphics? <shudder>

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Graphic Design is just as complicated and diverse as photography. It's not about the software, it's about designing, and while you need to learn the tools of the trade, that in itself doesn't make you a graphic designer.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, you don't just decide to become a graphic designer, you have to learn, train, and know what the hell you're doing. Some people have a quicker learning curve than others, but if this is just some beginning thought you really need to spend sometime just absorbing and researching this field before deciding it's something you want/can do.

[SaSha]

You will need an impressive portfolio and most places prefer schooling.
You will be able to get by with the freebie programs that are available.
You can probably even find older versions of Illustrator and Photoshop for cheap, they still can do the job.
To build a portfolio and see what others are doing these days google design contest that have already been judged, see what you come up with first and then compare to the entries.
Good luck with this. Don't let critics bring you down. Your not a mind reader yet, although this surely should be your main goal. And for fun check out agency of record in you down time :).
http://www.mydamnchannel.com/Big_Fat...ord1_1076.aspx

Originally Posted by d2creative

In house graphics? <shudder>
I feel bad for your friends but it doesn't surprise me.
Why pay someone full time and corporate benefits when they can go outside only when they need it and quite honestly get higher caliber work for their dollar and fresh ideas? In-house departments are a good idea when there is a ton of work, especially business to business type stuff within the company like powerpoint presentations that most designers don't want to do. The big corporations can save a lot of money that way. The downside is the designers fall into a black hole of design losing touch with the outside world. Their work becomes stale. They don't progress. They have trouble finding jobs outside of corporate in-house design departments. And when times are tough, they are the first departments to go.

I'm more stale than a burried crumpet.

[cnoise]

Originally Posted by d2creative

In house graphics? <shudder>
I feel bad for your friends but it doesn't surprise me.
Why pay someone full time and corporate benefits when they can go outside only when they need it and quite honestly get higher caliber work for their dollar and fresh ideas? In-house departments are a good idea when there is a ton of work, especially business to business type stuff within the company like powerpoint presentations that most designers don't want to do. The big corporations can save a lot of money that way. The downside is the designers fall into a black hole of design losing touch with the outside world. Their work becomes stale. They don't progress. They have trouble finding jobs outside of corporate in-house design departments. And when times are tough, they are the first departments to go.

Companies always go outside for the good stuff.
Some of our clients have in-house design departments but they come to us for the real creative work, and the in-house dept gets the more production side of it once we nail down the overall design.
The good design studios are still finding work, although it is slow now.
Just like most professions, not many studios are hiring right now.
Freelance? Who knows. I hear temp agencies are still hiring.

Kind of a broad statement that does not necessarily mirror reality. I did in-house design work for about 7 years. Won stupid Addy, AMA, Bronze Quill and other awards. I think it still comes down to the individual designer and their ability to problem solve and create. Designers on any level can become stale if they are not doing anything to improve themselves. The downfall to many of the smaller agencies is usually traced back to just having one big account and several smaller accounts. Once they lose that account, they are laying people off. Seen that happen way to often. Just my 2 cents.

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by cnoise

The downfall to many of the smaller agencies is usually traced back to just having one big account and several smaller accounts. Once they lose that account, they are laying people off. Seen that happen way to often. Just my 2 cents.

That goes for any company, any industry, big or small. Never put all your eggs in one basket. But in-house design depts are expendable. The company will survive without them and can re-establish them when necessary.

Of course you can have have talented designers working in-house. IMHO, it's just not usually the smartest career move for a graphic designer, especially a young or fresh one. If I may use an analogy.... let's talk about chefs. You just left culinary school and you are a very promising young chef. Are you going to try your best to get into one of the top 5-star restaurants working under a famous award winning culinary chef or are you going to take your mad jinsu knife skillz over to the local Luby's or Friday's? You may be perfectly happy at Luby's. They're a big company, stable, probably have good benefits, and you might even be taking that particular Luby's location to new heights. It's just not something I would have recommended career wise.