03/07/2019
Someone asked me what I did for a living today and here's my response:
Q - What do you do for a living?
A - I'm a graphic designer
"Oh wow! you must be really 'arty'".
The truth is, there is a big difference between being a ‘designer’ and an ‘artist’ and those who fall into the artist category would probably find the graphic design industry very disappointing.
The reality is, my days are filled with deadlines, perfectionism, and the closest I get to drawing is tracing logos and graphics that have been supplied in the wrong format (usually very low quality JPEGS....Mmmmm!). But while I don’t have to be ‘arty’, I do need to be creative, and that’s a skill I use no matter what the brief requires.
Check out the below for an insight into my life as a graphic designer…
1. Choosing colours. Now it may seem simple to some when it comes to choosing between red or orange, but the question for me is which red colour exactly. Pantone Warm Red or Pantone Red? And yes, there is a difference – and it will make or break my design!
2. Do you remember those shape sorting blocks in primary school that made you super frustrated if you couldn’t fit it in? Welcome to the grown up design version. Can I fit that panoramic image into the square shape without cutting anything off?
3. Should I use Helvetica 55 Roman or Helvetica 45 Light for the body text? Only a graphic designer appreciates how a simple, light font can enhance your design. However, there are issues to consider. If you go too light it may not print well, your colour choice will be limited and the web version may appear lighter than what you see on your artboard.
4. Graphic Designers are the ultimate balance experts. Every client is as important as the next, which is only a problem when several of them have an urgent job that they need yesterday. Sometimes it’s a four-hour job but they need it in two and don’t forget it has to be mind blowing! This actually happens all the time, luckily I am amazing, my organisation and productivity skills are superb, I love my clients and yes, I always manage to pull it off, and yes, I'm not ashamed to blow my own trumpet!
5. The meticulous art of spacing and alignment. This is literally EVERYTHING to a graphic designer. The slightest millimetre difference in spacing between three objects or a line of text not lining up exactly with the next one is enough to make me want to lie down in a dark room. Everything has to be aligned and neat and tidy - no excuses!
6. Oh yeah sure, there’s a magic button in Photoshop that will remove the reflection in the window without interfering with the background!! Do you know what Graphic Designer’s write on their Christmas wish lists and close their eyes and think about when they blow out the candles? One day these non-existent tools and Photoshop buttons will soon be created.
In saying all that, I love what I do and thrive on the challenges of tight deadlines, making the most boring document into a work of art and trying to get in enough coffee while fitting two days of work into one.
