Okay, so, about this “young designers” thing – it’s been a wild ride, let me tell you. I jumped into this whole design world without really knowing what I was getting into. No fancy art school background, just a whole lot of passion and a willingness to learn whatever I could get my hands on.
First thing I did was start messing around with any design tool I could find. I’d spend hours just playing around, trying to figure out what each button did. It was frustrating at times, for sure, but slowly, I started to get the hang of it.
Then came the time to actually start making things. I’d look for inspiration everywhere – websites, apps, posters, you name it. I’d try to recreate stuff I liked, just to see if I could. Most of the time, it looked pretty rough, but I learned something new with every attempt.
Building a portfolio was a whole other beast. I mean, what do you even put in there when you’re just starting out? I ended up including a mix of personal projects, some mock-ups for imaginary clients, and even a few redesigned logos for local businesses (with their permission, of course). It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
- Practice, practice, practice. Seriously, the more you do it, the better you get. There were days I felt like I was banging my head against a wall, but I kept at it.
- Find mentors, or at least people you can learn from. I reached out to a few designers I admired online, and some were kind enough to give me feedback on my work. Their advice was gold.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. Not everything you make will be a masterpiece, and that’s okay. It’s all part of the learning process.
- Get feedback, even if it stings a little. It’s tough to hear criticism sometimes, but it’s the only way to improve.
- Keep learning. The design world is always changing, so you gotta keep up. I started following design blogs, listening to podcasts, and taking online courses whenever I could.
Here’s the stuff that really helped me along the way:
Landing that first real design gig felt like winning the lottery. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a foot in the door. And from there, I just kept pushing myself to learn more, do more, and be better. And then I kept reaching out to others, and networking, even when I was scared or unsure.
It’s not easy, this whole design thing. It takes time, effort, and a whole lot of patience. There were many days where I doubted myself, when I felt like an imposter. But you know what? You just gotta keep going. And you gotta be okay with it taking a while. Like, a long while. Maybe even like, 5-10 years of real hard work before you get to where you wanna be. But if you are passionate, and love design, and are willing to put in the time and effort, you will get there. So, to all you young designers out there, just starting your journey, remember this: keep practicing, keep learning, and don’t give up on yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but the finish line is worth it. You will get that job offer if you keep working hard, and getting your work seen by hiring managers.
