How to learn graphic design? What misunderstandings should be avoided in self-study graphic design?

To learn graphic design, we must first learn to use design software, and then look at more promising works. As the saying goes, "You can recite poems by reading 300 Tang poems", and so is design. See more and do more. Combining the requirements of the theme of the work and the understanding of the work, you will gradually form your own style.

Myth 1: Design is creativity.

Design is creativity! How is this wrong again? The whole world, even my grandmother knows that designers should be creative. Aren't you also the creative director and design director? Design is creativity. I want to tell you that there is nothing wrong with your grandmother. Of course, design must be creative, and creativity is an important function of designers.

However, design is not creativity, not creativity! The scope of design and creativity is only overlapping (drawing), but design is not equal to creativity, and creativity is not equal to design. In other words, some processes of design do not need creativity. And some ideas cannot be called design.

In the process of implementation, creativity can only be called design if there is a set of solutions, otherwise it is just an idea, and creativity also includes photography, painting, music and so on. Design is not only creative, but also related to all universality, regularity, basic knowledge, basic process and so on.

For example, to make a set of exhibition design, the role of creativity lies in initial thinking, concept extension, material selection, construction scheme and so on, but creativity does not include measurement, calculation, engineering drawings, flow charts and so on in the whole process. These are all included in the design to be solved.

Truth: Design is more than creativity.

Myth 2: Simplicity is a good graphic design.

Simplicity is a good design. This should be heard by everyone. Because whether simple or rich, we must achieve the purpose of reflecting information. However, it is easy to be led into a misunderstanding when designing in the student days. Because of students' strong autonomy, projects are often virtual. Therefore, most multi-information designs will be avoided subjectively, and simple designs can be done well.

But you should know that 99% of the goods in life are informative. And it is purely similar to luxury goods, and it is rarely given to young designers who have just worked. Therefore, it can be said that almost 100% of the designs of new designers are of reference value. This leads young designers to get used to pure concepts and have no way to start. You know, good and excellent design is not only the design of high-end brands, but also a unique concept commodity like Muji.

When a mass brand gives you countless information, you get the best solution through design. This is an outstanding design. Therefore, student designers should not only learn the aesthetic expression of purism, but also practice the ability to integrate and reorganize countless information at all times. Because the common design work lies in the latter. Why don't we do this first? If you have drinks or snacks in your hand, we can pick them up and have a closer look.

A package, which may contain a lot of information:

Product name and logo, publicity language, shelf life, nutrition table, bar code, load limit, environmental protection label, quality and safety mark, net content, partner, special information, ingredients, celebrity endorsement, signature, laser trademark, manufacturer, joint venture, promotion information, lucky draw, warning, applicable scene, historical allusions, etc. There is so much information to manage.

You should also take care of the appearance, structure, cutting mode, folding mode, paper, non-paper materials, preservation technology, printing technology, display effect, ergonomics, recyclability, collocation, disassembly cheapness, portability, protection and so on. This is only the design and production problems to be considered in packaging, and other sales and promotion strategies should also be considered in packaging. I didn't expect that. You have to do so much preparation and consideration.

Solution: Simplicity is just one of good design expressions, not shielding information.

Myth 3: Graphic design is a practical art.

We hear this sentence the most. Why is it wrong? Can be disassembled for analysis. Practical art is practical art, which is a radical phrase. Practicality is decorative art. From a practical point of view, there is no problem. But we should think about whether design is art or not.

Actually, it's not. Art accounts for a large part of design, but not all. This is somewhat similar to analyzing the relationship between design and creativity. Therefore, design is a practical art, and its definition is one-sided and wrong, because the so-called definition is either correct or incorrect. So why is design not just art? Let's give an example, such as web design.

Not to mention web programming, this is another concept, which is only discussed in our professional field. Now there is a best-selling web design book called "Don't make me think", which mainly talks about how to let users reach their desired places naturally and without thinking through navigation without getting lost. This is a visual process, applied psychology, and even the perceptual behavior research process of touch desire. How many fine works of art do you think there are? Many times it is a kind of science.

Positive solution: Graphic design is a sensory strategy.