Creative Graphic Design: Learning Design, Typography & Graphics

It’s back to (Design) School time again, and we’re touching on hundreds of different learning opportunities this month, so hang on to your hats and follow along . . .
* Learning lessons of design and delivering the message
* Lots and lots of portraits on DeviantArt.com . . .
* Portfolio Help from Adobe CS6
* If Facebook Had Designers
* How to learn Photoshop
* A-Z of Unusual Words
… and more !

Creative tidbits is a column in DTG Magazine featuring creative instpiration It’s back to (Design) School time again, and we’re touching on hundreds of different learning opportunities this month, so hang on to your hats and follow along . . .
* Learning lessons of design and delivering the message
* Lots and lots of portraits on DeviantArt.com . . .
* Portfolio Help from Adobe CS6
* If Facebook Had Designers
* How to learn Photoshop
* A-Z of Unusual Words
… and more !

How to learn Photoshop

learning from graphic design taining

I was recently asked : “I would like to learn Photoshop. Do you have beginning Photoshop tutorials, or can you point me in the right direction? I plan to use Photoshop for photography. Thanks”

Here’s my answer :

Quoting  begins Online stuff is for ‘enhancing’ your skills after you have a solid basis of the program — and can be frustrating for beginners, and worse yet, in many cases is incorrect. Most of the online tutorials rely on Photoshop automation. So the “teacher” isn’t really teaching or doing anything special — they’re just reciting clicks they’ve seen before.
I recommend
A) the tutorials that came with the program, and better yet:
B) Photoshop Classroom in a Book
      This way you’re learning how the techniques and methods work, so you have an understanding of the process . . . not just clicks on filters and styles, etc.
      If you quietly go through the book, page by page and take these lessons — exactly as they appear using their sample files — you’ll come away from it as a fairly proficient Photoshop user. IF you don’t understand or do not get the expected results, carefully go back through that lesson.
      I’ve used the classroom books along with slight enhancements of my own at university level training for a decade. All of my students have left my course as proficient Photoshop users.
      AFTER that, you’re free to search the web for tutorials that focus in on a desired interest of your own. Quoting  ends

READ THIS REPORT Get the book through The Design Bookshelf
 

A-Z of Unusual Words

learning from graphic design taining

Bold graphics and visual wit are used to interpret and represent a collection of strange, unusual and lost words. These images explore the meaning behind the words, which are sometimes even more strange or unusual.
      This project explores the synthesis between form and content, and words and images with the aim of producing work that is both visually interesting and informative.
READ THIS REPORT Full story : Project Twins : James and Michael Fitzgerald
click for video or screen capture See for screen capture or video

Learning lessons of design and delivering the message

learning from graphic design taining

Before you begin to create a piece of art or design, first
think about your intent, and the message you want to send the viewer.
      Always remember . . .
The idea is always far more important than technical skill!
READ THIS REPORT Full story : Fred Showker’s 60-Second Window
click for video or screen capture See for screen capture or video

YES . . . there’s more . . . continue. . .

If Facebook Had Designers

learning from graphic design taining

Do you ever wonder who actually designs Facebook? Have you ever wondered if they even have graphic designers at all? Have you ever seen any number of their changes which have no design rationalle at all?
      Fred Nerby, from Melbourne, Australia, works with Message Creative and has posted this message : “A conceptional and systematic design approach encouraging user behaviour and a greater control of data within a responsive grid. “
READ THIS REPORT Full story : behance.net/gallery/Facebook-New-Look-Concept
click for video or screen capture See for screen capture or video

Lots and lots of portraits on DeviantArt.com . . .

learning from graphic design taining

Lots and lots of portraits on DeviantArt . . . some good, some not so good, but I really enjoy browsing them.
      When you arrive at this link, look for a tiny link near the top that says “Go to first result ” . . . that will bring you the whole scroll … then keep hitting “More” at the bottom
READ THIS REPORT Full story : Portraits on Devient
click for video or screen capture See for screen capture or video

Portfolio Help from Adobe CS6

learning from graphic design taining

Experienced graphic designers are wondering if they should move to an iPad portfolio instead of their traditional printed portfolio.
      Jody P. says : If you use InDesign you can build your own iPad version with minimal expense. I’d say it would be completely worth it. This tut may help or point you in another direction…
READ THIS REPORT Full story : Creating an InDesign Portfolio for print, PDF, and the iPad
click for video or screen capture See ” title=”click here for more” target=”_blank”>for screen capture or video

What did you miss in the last GO Creative Tidbits?

JOIN the creative experience! We’d like to hear from you! On the Facebook page, you’ll find the gallery “Art is where you find it” — you can contribute art there. Or, let DTG visit your site — we’d love to have you contribute there and become part of DTG!

And, thanks for reading

Fred Showker

Don’t forget … we encourage you to share your discoveries with other readers. Just send and email, contribute your own article, join the Design Cafe forums, or follow DTG on Facebook!