Graphic design is a field that is quickly changing, both creatively and technically, and while it is easy to get caught up in learning new technical skills, it is just as important to focus improving and pushing the limits of our creativity.
While in design school, it was easy to surround myself with inspiration and engage in activities that helped my understanding of effective design. Once I graduated I feared losing it, since I was no longer surrounded by a learning environment. I made it a point to continue educating myself as much as possible and become more active in the field of design. I was determined not to let my designs grow stagnant, but rather transgress and improve with time.
Below is a list of tips, exercises and practices that have help me continue learning, strengthen creativity and become an all around better designer.
1- Become a collector
Each time you see a design that inspires you, collect it, bring it home and file it away. I have hundreds of brochures, posters and other collateral that I have collected over the years that is stacked away in folders and boxes that I can quickly access - great source of inspiration when needed. Even Starbucks gives out creative weekly mini-newspapers.
2- Buy books
Having an extensive book collection is always essential to learning. I try buying a new book at least every 2 weeks that range from inspirational, educational and technical topics.
3- Read design-related blogs
I can’t stress enough how much information I have learned by reading other great designer’s blogs. The web in an invaluable resource of information - take advantage of it and actually use it!
4- Start a design blog
Having started this blog only a couple months ago, I have found it to be extremely useful and educational for myself. It has made me more aware of the design community and more analytical of my own work.
5 - Join and be active in the design community
As a freelance designer, joining the online design community is a must. Not only does it keep you up-to-date in the design world, but is also great for feedback and critique. Being your own boss is great, but not having anyone to answer to as a freelancer also has it’s down sides. No one to criticize your work and help you improve.
6- Take lots of photos
Solves the problem of not being able to take home designs you like - Camera phones are great for this kind of thing. Just snap a photo and file it away for later. I use Evernote for this type of thing; pictures of building designs, textures, shapes of shadows on walls. Basically anything that interests me from a design stand point.
7- Create fake projects
Whenever I find myself with free time (which is getting less and less lately) I create fake projects. Create a fake brand for a company. Design a logo, stationary, brochure, website - the whole nine yards. It’s good to do this once in awhile because it keeps design fun and let’s your creativity run wild without limitations. It’s often easy to get caught in a rut when clients start dictating and your work no longer becomes “yours”.
8- Redo other people’s design
Don’t want to create a fake brand to design? Try redesigning other people’s projects. This help’s you evaluate what “they” did wrong and what you could do better.
9- Redo your old designs
I know what it feels like to look at your early days of design and think “Oh my! What was I thinking?! I need to get rid of that immediately”, but is important to keep that work. It will help you see if you’re moving forward and improving your skills. Instead of throwing away or deleting old projects, try reworking them.
10- Attend lectures
Every few months I make it a point to attend lectures of other designers speaking at local schools and universities. Always learn a new thing or two.
11- Network with other designers
Attending lectures is a great way to meet other designers. I always try to search out the designers that have more experience and talent than I do. I know - it’s hard to admit someone else is better than you, but networking with people of higher skill levels will push you to work harder and learn more.
12- Take classes
Many local college allow you to register for classes without enrolling full-time. It will not only teach you some new things technically, but also put you back in a classroom of your peers.
13- Interview other designers and studios
A year ago, a friend of mine, started a ‘national studio tour‘ where he toured and interviewed with over 100 different design studios. He said the experience was amazing and learned so much by asking questions that design school could have never answered. He also met a valuable useful contacts 
14- Travel
Every time I travel to another country, I come back feeling extremely inspired. I usually find myself designing all day for a few weeks straight. Experiencing new cultures and seeing their artwork, opens your mind to a whole new world. Just wish I could travel more!
15- Learn something new
Whenever I am in a creative slump I try something new or do something completely unrelated to design. Getting your mind off things and into something new, usually has a funny way of working itself back around.
16- Sketch, sketch and did I mention trying sketching?
Helps you work through ideas quickly and without limitations of design software. Has made a HUGE difference in my designs. See what other designer’s say about the importance of sketching here and here.
What are some the ways you stay creative or improve yourself?
Share your thoughts on the methods above or feel free to add your own.
Related posts:
The Benefits of Blogging as a Graphic Designer
Hardest Part Of Being a Graphic Designer…
Best Part Of Being a Graphic Designer…
all super advice!
Nice post Behoff! You are starting to kill at these blog thing.
Chad -
You’re comments always make me smile! Glad you and Liz both found this informative
Nice post
as an addendum to no. 7- don’t just make ‘fake companies’- as a designer, you have a valuable and important skill. donate free design work to local community organizations, school groups, whoever. they’ll appreciate it, and designing an effective community meeting flyer or something gives you great experience and feedback on effective, moving work.
Now that’s an informative post
ta very much
Very nice indeed
I agree with Soulchad 
Thanks for the link!
t. daniel -
Great feedback! I agree with you completely…and in the end you’re doing a good deed
Luke & svgrob -
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by!
Colorburned -
No problem. Thanks for the link on your site as well
Great advice, Brian, and I also agree with t. daniel’s comment. Pro bono work for local non-profits can be both very rewarding.
The tip to travel is one I can particularly relate to. I’ve been extremely privileged to see more of this world than the vast majority can ever hope to, and it’s such an eye-opener.
Great List!
Sketching and getting out into the nature are my favs.
Thanks for the list Behoff, I am constantly trying to improve myself in all aspects, It really is a time saver to have posts like this that touch on the best points to increase skills
Thanks man! We appreciate you!
GREAT POST. These are all things I am trying to improve about myself as a designer…though I pretty much have the book buying thing down!
Keep up the good work!!
Great list, sometimes we all a need reminder to keep ourselves on the ball. There is always something out there to get us excited about design.
http://www.morgangrimshaw.com
All excellent points my good man. I would have to say that #9 was one that I hadnt thought of, or at least really thought of actually doing. Thanks for getting my brain working.
a real cool list!!!
especially i love travel [incl walking around town] photography & lomo, sketching, reading design blogs, buying books & mags & collecting; i collect every business cards, events promotional cards & postcards until there’s so much that i pasted them on the wall & just glance for ideas!!!
Starting a design blog is a really good idea. I’ve learned so much through research for the articles on my blog, for sure!
Can I add a separate item for the critique process to your list? It’s so helpful to do critiques and receive them from others. Even reading critiques of other designs is helpful! I think that goes along with getting involved with the community, like you mentioned (but deserves its own mention!).
Stumbled!
Very informative! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Andy -
Glad to hear that you’re constantly working towards improvement. I hope we all are. And glad to hear you appreciate my blog - hoping to bring a little something to the table
Dana -
Keep on reading and I’ll keep working towards helping the design community. Thanks for stopping by!
LaurenMarie -
Couldn’t agree with you more. Offering and receiving feedback go hand in hand. Not only because its the nice thing to do, but more importantly it helps you think through and analyze design. The more we understand and become involved the more we all get out of it. Thanks for your great comment and the stumble.
really great simple advice…. like how you kept it brief instead of a lengthy post like some may have done
Great tips, thanks! I have to say both starting a design blog and getting more involved in the design community (they both seemed to happen simultaneously) have really helped me grow as a designer. Even some of the overly negative comments I’ve gotten on the blog have helped me improve, though thankfully those are few and far between lol.
I like it. I like it a lot. Especially how you’ve taken the idea of creating fake projects and expanded this to include redoing your old projects and those of other designers as a learning experience. I think there’s the potential to learn not only from their mistakes, but from what they’ve done right but which may not have been apparent until you get in there and start rebuilding it yourself.
A great article, stumbled
I would add to it doing tutorials! Constantly improve your skills!
Jacob -
Great add. I have a nice list of feeds from various tutorial websites that I use as well. Designers should never stop improving their skills. It’s scary, but I know far too many designers that stopped their ‘education’ once they graduated from design school - no good.
Thanks for the stumble and stopping by!:)
really good post. Agree totally with point #1 though I actually scan everything in an have organised folders that I put work into. Saves me space, and time shifting through boxes of designs.
Thanks for the advice. Great site too, by the way.
I solely identify with this article, I experienced withdrawal once I left the creative environment that fostered my creativity and quickly began to purchase books, start my own blog, collect design ideas from magazines, connect to other designer and am considering getting back into school.
No money for travel, but it’s on the list. I strongly recommend these tips to novice This was a super article.
Please visist http://www.lukeithermd.com for networking and other resources
I have a deep passion for art and graphics so I feel much better knowing that it wasn’t just me who was designing my own logos or practicing new technical skills for posters, some the ideas here I have done in the past. I even went as far as to doing posters in the mall for the general public just to stay in shape with fresh ideas. you can see some my work on myspace.com
moralesdesigns66@hotmail.com
It’s reassuring to know I am doing what it takes to become a better designer.
Practice makes perfect I always say.
Great list,
In regard to #7 I think one should rather create a ‘real’ project for ‘free’ rather than a fictional project!
The problem with fictional projects is that most of the times you create a (fictional) brief from the design, instead of a design from the brief!
The brief is the most important ‘thing’ that educates and challenge you, so it shouldn’t be something you have a choice to draft, you need to answer it.
Mokokoma,
Great point! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by
I love #14, but unfortunately I don’t have time to travel much so instead I go to the book store and look through architecture and design books for some inspiration. It’s quite painful sometimes to look back through old designs and see how amateurish they were, but you’re right – we have to learn from our mistakes. That’s the only way we’ll improve.
Must follow rules for the designers.Thanks.
Nice, been looking for advice like these for long time.
great list. the last class/training i took got me so inspired i could hardly sit still. it’s very important when you’re a freelancer who works alone from home to get out and learn from others, go to conferences, etc. it really gets the creative juices flowing.
Thx~!!
Perfect, I think every designer should print this out and put it in a frame. What the 10 commandments are for christians this list is the path to follow for designers.
thumbs up!
Great tips man. Books have gotta be my favorite thing to look at to improve as a graphic designer. Go books!
This tips are excellent for a new graphic designer to become more creative and unique.
Great post, sure is helpful
Perfect !
Thanks a lot, this page has joined my favourites’ list …
I relate to each and every point …
though I still haven’t managed to practice them a lot due to the fact that I’m a fresh graduate …
but your lines were screaming : ( YOU’VE GOT HELLA LOTS OF THINGS TO LEARN & DO, GIRL ! ) …
INSPIRING …
keep up the good work!
Great post!!! *Bows*
Thank you Liz! and thanks for commenting… *bow* to you too!
Rana,
Learning and working as a graphic designer is never complete. Hard work will always pay off no matter what. Glad I could “inspire” you
An idea my flatmate gave me recently - try designing a logo/identity for something like ’spoons’ - keeps things fun and interesting!
Thanks for the great ideas. I do sometimes get stuck in a design rut & do some of the things you mentioned and look forward to trying the others.
This is a great list! My new years resolution was to post more on my blog at sidelanes.com . It has been useful and forces me to stay more organized and more in tune with current trands. Thx.
Good advice. I agree with number four, start a blog. I started mine about a year ago and it has forced me to keep current with the state of the graphic design industry.
17. Meditate
Great stuff… found it very useful !
All useful list for a graphic designer. I will definately be refering to it.
Thanks a lot. nice advice. I m very impressed and i think this will help all newcomers and Me ti improve in Designing.
Awesome post! Like what you said you learn something new everyday and in anything you do!
Great list here Brian…
I’d also suggest that designers invest time to really…I mean really learn how to sell and market themselves. All too often designers have wonderful talent but they can’t effectively attract and close the deal with clients.
At first, learning how to sell and market effectively can be about as fun and painful as watching paint dry, but if you want to freelance it’s essential - you can’t have one without the other. I used to HATE sales until I worked with a mentor who helped me excel at it - like anything else, I learned I had to practice.
PS - Saw in your point #2 that you have a lot of books, if you haven’t yet picked up the 2 I’ve written I’d be glad to hook you up, just drop me a line:)
jeremy
beingastarvingartistsucks.com
Wow! very inspiring. i was motivate to improve my little skills in graphics designing. i was actually losing my trust into myself but Hey wait, there are 16 tips to improve as a graphic designer, well.. Thanks Thanks a lot for this blog.
Von
Thanks for the list! Especially for the Evernote link - something I’m sure will be a massive help!
Great Stuff, sometimes the hectic life of meeting deadlines can bury someone under. Very refreshing to be reminded of the basics.
Hey Brian,
I just got finished reading just about all your posts, and i truly find them very inspiring.
Im currently in high school practicing to become a graphic designer because its what i love to do, and everyone seems to think i have a knack for it.
After looking at 50% of the blogs and tutorial sites on the internet, i figured out my true passion is for typography, but i really dont know understand how some people have these amazing ideas,
If you ever have some spare time id love for you to critique my work, you may be seeing an email from me sometime soon, Thanks,
CJ Cipriano~
CehJota@gmail.com
Thank you, I needed a reality check… great post!
Glad you found it resourceful. I’ve been using a combination of these methods throughout my career and they all help in some shape or form. Thanks for the comment.
Thank you for these useful tips, it helps me a lot.
Could you give me a good source to learn how to mid map? I’ve seen some designers publishing some pictures of their sketches on papers with some balloons and lines connecting them together, I always wanted to know what was that? and how it helps me?
Thanks in Advance.
Rock on
Nice article.
Mahdi,
Mind mapping is a quite simple process that produces big results and really gets the mind and creative juices flowing. Basically you start of with a general term or keyword (company name is a good place to start) and branch off with related words, ideas, and other items that are arranged and expanded upon. Check out wikipedia as they provide a pretty vivid understand of the importance of mind mapping, how to do it and more of a definition. Also on occasion use MindNode Pro, which is a Mac App for digital mind mapping… works well.
Thank you Brian for the information, I appreciate it.
I also found how to do one here:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Mind-Map
Thank you again.
Great observations. They say that our formal learning school just gives us the base (10%), but that our self-education, the other 90%, is the ongoing, self-driven stuff we do. Designers tend to be curious and ever-learning, so we do this naturally (visit blogs, buy books, etc.), but we also get into slumps (creative depressions) and the activities you recommend, like collecting inspiring samples, help us stoke our own fire.
Great observations. They say that our formal schooling just gives us the base (10%), but that our self-education, the other 90%, is the ongoing, self-driven stuff we do. Designers tend to be curious and ever-learning, so we do this naturally (visit blogs, buy books, etc.), but we also get into slumps (creative depressions) and the activities you recommend, like collecting inspiring samples, help us stoke our own fire.
Thankz im eager to try out ua tips, really helpful!
Excelent advices and I would love to have time for all!
WOW!
Thank you for this posting Brian! I have been a designer for 40 years and although trends and tricks change, the process is ALWAYS trhe same. To become a truly great designer, you need to get exposed and educated. Stop looking and start SEEING. And listening. And thinking. Then think some more. Do thumbnail sketches. Draw first, click later. Get GREAT at type design. SAtay connected to other creative disciplines. Read. Dream. Imagine. Never, ever stop.
We all fall in to “design block” from time to time. These are a great way not only to try to break it but to forget that you were blocked to begin with.
Nice tips there, I have been getting a few school leavers asking me questions just like this, so I can simply shoot them a link to this great post!