3 Ways to Become a Better Designer

One of the biggest issues clients have while working with designers is low-quality work. It is not enough to know how to use design tools but even more than that, creativity, design principles like layout, and white balance among others, and certain soft skills can go a long way to set you apart from the competition.

In a world where people tend to stop over to look at a picture rather than read two lines of a sentence, being a designer opens up a wide range of opportunities. You have the convenience of working in different industries with your steady in-demand skill, making a good living, and can even avoid physical jobs by working as a freelancer.

Honing that skill and getting better at it in terms of being creative, understanding design rules, and active listening as a beginner help you go faster in your journey.

CREATIVITY

Creativity is something you become over time as you practice more. One way you can get inspiration is by looking at other designers' work and redoing them. When you do this, you get to make awesome designs and might even see other ways to make them better. To see other designers' work, you can join a community. Joining a community not only allows you to see the work of others but also gives you a channel where you can post your work and receive honest feedback from fellow designers. You can also collect works you like and 'save them for the rainy days'. Another way you can improve your creativity is by changing your environment, there's a lot you can learn from nature and also interact with other designers. As you do all this, make sure you keep practicing. As you do this, you might be amazed to discover how creative you have become.

MASTER DESIGN RULES

Have you seen a design with elements that keep overlapping or one where tags look like buttons and the background blurs the text written on it? That is the work of a designer who has not fully understood and implemented the principles of design. The design may look pretty but will have given a poor user experience. It is your duty as a designer to master the basic design rules. Searching google, you may discover several rules and principles but to make it easier, Zuri has compiled a book titled HNG Design Rules Book to help beginner designers identify common mistakes they can make. This book was published majorly for their interns but the most amazing thing is that you can also get it even though you are not one of their interns and for free. Remember a good design is one that looks appealing to your audience and can communicate the message you are trying to pass across.

ACTIVE LISTENING

I once read somewhere that you get to know an experienced designer, not by how much they talk but how much they don't. Why? Active listening helps you to understand the picture your client or boss has in mind and how better to bring it to life. When you rush into a design without understanding the whole essence it has for the person you are doing it for, you get an unsatisfied client. Asides from work benefits, active listening can help you to improve your work. When you get feedback from others, you need to listen patiently to them to allow you to decipher ways you can get better or see another angle you can do things. It does not mean you did a bad job, it simply means you are open-minded enough to accept other people's opinions and use them to get better.

As you begin your journey as a designer, know that you will make a lot of mistakes. Mistakes are good when you take a cue and learn from them so do not be afraid of them. Keep learning with a growth mindset and you are just a step from being a veteran highly sought-after designer.