Design Inspiration To Live By

7 Tips All Designers Should Know

We live in a world ruled by design. We are constantly interacting with design in our everyday lives. Our cars, phones, movies, magazine, and even the roads we drive on. Design is all around us. Subconsciously, we are seduced by the allure of aesthetically pleasing things.

In the modern age, illustrators and graphic designers are playing an intricate part in shaping the world around us.  Navigating the world of design and illustration can be confusing, so we pulled 7 gems of advice from veteran illustrator Daniel Stolles’ article in the June issue of Computer Arts.

Forget style

Putting energy into defining “your” style will get you nowhere. Just create and eventually it will develop. By constantly working, observing, and reflecting on your own drawings you begin to discover patterns that could be the start of a whole body of work.

Find inspiration outside of the box

Sometimes the best ideas come from the least expected places. Try to find inspiration and ideas from other things besides illustration.

Use paper

Sometimes a good old pen and paper will literally get your ideas flowing. You maintain a sense of composition space and it allows you to focus without tweaking everything on the screen.

Be prepared for a format change

As a freelancer, the client has the final say. Sometimes your feelings about what the best format is will differ from your client. Be adaptable and know that sometimes the format can change at the last minute.

Go big

Try to imagine every drawing is going to be printed big.  By creating a larger piece, details of the drawing won’t be lost when scaled down.

Print will always be darker than on your screen

Don’t stress yourself out. A print will always appear darker than what’s on your screen. Design for this.

*pro-tip: Using Pantone colors will allow for the most accurate color.

Be realistic with time

More than likely, a project will take you longer than expected.  Set realistic goals and don’t try to do it all in a day. Allow yourself time to process what you are working on.  By doing this, you get a more objective look at your work. It can also provide the chance to make final adjustments.

With these tips in mind, your next project is sure to be great. Go forth and create!