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[ starting out in graphic design ]
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home > the drawing board > starting out in graphic design
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 intro | Q&A page 1 back to design section questions page 2 questions page 3 questions page 4 questions page 5
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starting out in graphic design, page 4
becoming a graphic designer: information, questions and answers PLEASE NOTE: You may only use this information for your reference or as part of your graphic design class assignment. Do not distribute, publish, or sell this information, in whole or in part, for any other purpose. Q&A continued Could you give us a list of equipment and supplies that would be the minimum required for starting out as a graphic designer? And approximate costs for starting up? You'll want a computer that has the most hard drive space and RAM as you can afford; minimum 120GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM. If you will be doing intensive graphics work, you'll need at least double that. A 15" monitor will do, but you will quickly want at least a 17" one. You will also need: - blank CDs/DVDs - fax machine or fax software; not all of your clients will be high tech and will prefer proofs via fax - 600dpi laser postscript printer - medium grade inkjet printer; upgrade to a better one later - medium grade scanner; upgrade to a better one later - backup drive - a portfolio case - light box; the portable size is fine for starters - dedicated phone line - dedicated answering machine or voicemail - a Pantone Matching System (PMS) kit - clear ruler - paper cutter - a simple calculator - office supplies Some of those things are on our equipment webpage; lightbox and portfolio cases are on our graphc art supplies webpage; Pantone kits are on our Pantone color guides webpage. You'll probably spend under $6000 for the bare minimum equipment. Capabilities you might need that you don't have the equipment for in the beginning, like high res scans and output, can be purchased at your neighborhood service bureau. I won't get into all the software that you'll need or want, except to say that you will need to be able to open the word processing, spreadsheet, and graphic files that your clients may send you. You'll probably need to spend at least another $3000 for software.  What advice do you have for someone considering a career in this field?You must enjoy a fast-paced environment, computers, talking to people, and learning new things. There are many different areas of design that you can get into. As in many other industries, the field of design evolves. That means you should keep up with changes and be willing to evolve with it. Keep current on where design is moving. A few years ago, I had no idea that I would be designing Web sites. Build a good rapport with other designers and don't hesitate to ask questions. Keep in touch and network with your old classmates. Read graphic design magazines to keep up with trends and what's happening in the industry. If you decide to venture out on your own, learn how to run a business. Some good resources are on our graphic design business books webpage. And finally, don't become too attached to your designs. The purpose of design is to enhance the client's success; if you can't justify the design, you have to be willing to alter it in order to meet the objectives. |
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 download a free PDF file of a shortened version of this graphic design Q&A (8/04) |
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 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please see our FAQ page for answers to general questions asked by our clients and website visitors. Our Graphic Design News and Tips page includes helpful graphic design project tips. Our Graphic Design or Illustration sections also contain useful resources. Also, we list many services and products that may be of interest to students in a section we call the Students Center. For a list of books on a career in graphic design, see our Graphic Design Jobs / Graphic Design Career book page. |
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