10 Really Useful Advice for Beginning Designers

As a beginner designer we always need a guide that will lead us, we also need a great advice that can motivate us, we also need great designers experience that we can learn, so with that we can become a good and succesfull designer.

In this article you’ll find, 10 great designers share their thougts and experience for beginning designers. These advice also will help you to avoid some common mistakes that they can make on their way to becoming professional.

Anyway, you may also be interested to take a look at the following related articles:

• 15 Helpful Advice for Beginner Designers to Become a Better Designer
• 10 Great Advice for Aspiring Logo Designer from The Experts

Michael Doret

Q: Any word of advice you would like to give to aspiring designers and illustrators?

Actually yes. The one thing I would stress to young designers and illustrators is that what software you use is not as important as your thinking process, and how you solve problems. Of course it’s important to master the software you’re using — whether it’s Illustrator, Photoshop or whatever. But you shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the software is there to serve your needs — and it shouldn’t become so important that it takes over and controls you. When I look at a great piece of art, I don’t want to be aware of what kind of paint the painter used. In the same way, the software should become invisible and subordinate to the vision of the artist.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview with Michael Doret

Andrea Austoni

Q: Andrea, say a few parting words for beginning designers.

There’s a Spearhead song called “Stay Human” that goes “All the freaky people make the beauty of the world”. To me that means don’t be afraid to follow your passions and interests, no matter how strange they are. Most of all have lots of fun being a designer, it’s one of the best jobs around when done with enthusiasm and professionalism. Thanks for the great questions!

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview with Andrea Austoni

Chris Spooner

Q: Chris, thank you for the interview, say a few parting words for beginning designers.

I always advise for new designers just to have fun creating stuff and don’t get bogged down with wanting to work for clients. The best part of being a designer is being able to create cool stuff to fulfill your creative desires, so remember to keep fueling your passion with personal projects as much as you can.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview with Chris Spooner

Marco Casalvieri

Q: Thanks again for providing Psdtuts+ with this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?

The biggest advice I can give to everyone who wants to start with matte painting is to watch. You must watch everything around you, starting from the simplest cloud formation, to the silhouette of a mountain. You need to study what you want to paint, you need to have in your mind the correct image. Sometimes people tend to have an approximate idea of things without really focusing on every detail, without trying to catch the smallest particulars. This is something that every good artist needs to do, because that is what really makes your pieces better than the others.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview With Marco Casalvieri

Rogier De Boeve

Q: Thanks again for providing Psdtuts+ with this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?

My advice to the readers is, try to keep searching for new ways to improve your art. And don’t panic when an artist block is holding you down. It’s good to struggle sometimes. Struggle keeps you sharp and can lead to the next level. Just keep observing the thing around you closely and inspiration will come eventually.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview With Rogier De Boeve

Roy Bourkel

Q: Thanks again for providing Psdtuts+ with this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?

If I may give our readers one advise, I’d like to tell them, that you should just never give up, never lay down your pen and just continue. Don’t ever argue about what you do, or what you don’t, just do something and keep on working and you will see, the results will come!

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview With Roy Bourkel

Nastasia aka Ssst

Q: Thanks for the interview Nastasia. Would you like to give any tips or advise to aspiring designers and illustrators?

Sure thing! I’m grateful for the opportunity! As for tips and advice… (oooh the power!).

Don’t worry too much about what other people think. Draw and create for yourself before you draw and create for others. If the result made you happy, then that’s a great way to start! 🙂 Also! Don’t be afraid to ask for help! It’s OK not to be entirely self-taught.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview with Nastasia, aka Ssst

Catherine Dedova aka Zzanthia

Q: What is illustration for you, is it a hobby which brings additional income or a principal job? Can you give some tips for beginning freelancers. Do you have your Klondike place? Can you share it with us?

Drawing means everything for me! When I’m not working, I’m drawing for myself. I would advise for beginners not to lose faith in themselves. Success does not come right away, though failures, alas, happen. At the beginning it is hard to earn on your own art, you will have to accept cheap orders, but remember that this is temporarily! Do not let them pay you nothing. And the most importantly – do not cheat. Each work made with love is a huge plus for your portfolio.
Klondike is primarily a free-lance.ru, coroflot.com, behance.net and llustrators.ru. There is deviantart.com too. And if at the beginning illustrator has to search for orders on his own, so then your own portfolio starts working for you and customers come themselves.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview with Catherine Dedova aka Zzanthia

Ed Lopez

Q: Thanks again for providing Psdtuts+ with this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?

Thanks to you for the interview it is greatly appreciated indeed. To the guys and girls who want to go for art in this or any field, be patient read, learn ask, and be patient a bit more, any image you admire its not created in 20 minutes, an hour or three hours, it takes days or even weeks or months to finalize an image. Cheers and thanks again to PsdTuts for the opportunity.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview With Ed Lopez

Travis Price

Q: What advice would you like to give to aspiring designers and illustrators?

Do self initiated briefs to help build your folio and showcase what you can do. I also think it’s good for the soul. I think all creatives get frustrated if they don’t step away and do work they enjoy.

Some of designer portfolios:

Source: Interview With Travis Price

I hope you’ll enjoy and get some motivation and inspiration, and if you have another good advice for designers who are just getting started, please feel free to share in the comments.