Become a really good graphic designer

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 104 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #168 in Arts , #3,534 overall

Milton Glaser threw me out of his graphics class at the New School

He didn't like my uppity attitude, my lack of a full-time job as a graphic designer and my thirst for figuring out how to look pretty good in print.

My loss is your gain. I think for not much money you can use new tools to create better than average work.

Lousy work is now unacceptable!

YES! You need a world-class professional when you need design worth paying for. But lots of time, you need design you can't pay for. That's when you need to be really good.

Start with this simple book 

Before and After Graphics for Business

Before and After Graphics for Business

by: John McWade

Amazon Price: $23.09 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now

Not a lot of theory, not a lot of rules, just useful approaches to common problems.

Typography is the window into the soul of business graphic design 

Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works (2nd Edition)

Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works (2nd Edition)

by: Erik Spiekermann, E.M Ginger

Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now

This book will change (forever) the way you think about type.

Death to ugly presentations! 

slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations

slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations

by: Nancy Duarte, Duarte Nancy

Amazon Price: $23.09 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now

Do you spend more time and money on your suit than on the design of your slides? Shame on you.

Another classic 

The InDesign Ideabook: Over 300 Ready-to-Use InDesign

The InDesign Ideabook: Over 300 Ready-to-Use InDesign "PrePages" for Marketing Your Products, Your Services, and Your Organization

by: Chuck Green

Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now

Shortcuts, shortcuts, shortcuts.

There are versions for different programs.

Reader Feedback 

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jerrymcvictor says:

I just got started with my own lens today and looking for inspiration. This is a nice one, well done!

Posted September 17, 2009

Garant says:

We need you to add more tutorials please - I loved the fontfeed link.

Thanks

Posted July 04, 2009

Alpinefolk says:

Thanks for this great info Seth. Though I worry what it will fill some, with missplaced confidence (many a lousy designer, think they are a good).
I can design a little and have a resonable eye for layout etc. But for me it is a time issue. A designer friend of mine can do in an hour, what it takes me two days to achieve... It took me a long time to realise, but I now value my time more than the cost of the designer.

Posted May 01, 2009

SecondhandSerenade says:

I've got to agree, I really like the lay out of this lens Seth, it's given me inspiration... :0)

Posted April 22, 2009

bkalok08 says:

Great lens Seth! I m bookmarking this. This lens is a good example of excellent presentation. The lens is simple yet very well presented.

Posted April 13, 2009

giselediaz says:

Thank you so much for sharing, Seth. Seems like a lot of hard work this article...or Squidoo is bug free when you repost. I'open my profile here and posted a note about remembering that Design means planing. Soon in a lens! http://bit.ly/designp

Posted September 22, 2009

Michela says:

I always love your lenses :)

Posted August 06, 2009

taliamurphy says:

You are so incredibly generous about sharing great information. Thank you so much!

Posted July 13, 2009

DivineIguana says:

Thanks for the insight. I work for a small company...and run my own small company...and we rarely have the money to pay professionals. Learning to do EVERYTHING well enough to get by is tricky, but it is often the only way to get a small venture started. Eventually I hope to be able to outsource some of the tasks at which I don't excel. For now, I've got a nice new reading list to help me improve.

Posted July 10, 2009

solidsnake says:

whoaa..... cool

Posted April 20, 2009

 
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Thomas Hawk on photography 

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You, the designer 

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Design and branding 

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And a bonus about great work (from Milton!) 

Art is Work

Art is Work

by: Milton Glaser

Milton Glaser's newest work.

Amazon Price: $32.85 (as of 11/22/2009) Buy Now

by sethgodin

Seth Godin is the bestselling author of ten books. He writes about marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respe... (more)

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