Hi all!
Welcome to my first blog post ever. This is as new to me as graphic design is to you (which is probably why you're here right?). Well no need to fear! I am here to introduce you to the world of graphic design in the most comprehensible way possible. We should probably start off by defining graphic design, in which case it is, (as according to AIGA.org) “the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.” More plainly said, graphic design is the creation of digital art (whether that be flyers, advertisements, posters, etc.) that mixes design elements with text and images. The programs you'll typically use for graphic design work are in the Adobe Suites, the holy trinity: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign. That’s what you need to get started at least from my standpoint. Some people may argue that you want to start with just one program or branch out to all the secondary applications (like Lightroom), but that is honestly up to you and your personal preference. Now, these programs do cost some cash (as all good things in the world are not typically free). If you're a young college student like myself, you may have been blessed with a school (Temple University) that provides these programs to you at no cost. If not, there are trial options on the Adobe website itself, and if you want to continue exploring this wondrous field — which I highly suggest that you do — Adobe programs are available for an affordable $20 a month. Now these programs all do different things and you will definitely find that you favor one over the other. These definitions are based on what the actual programs offer and also what I personally use them for the most. Mind you, there are really endless possibilities to the things you can do with each application, I am here just to name the more common ones!
Adobe Illustrator: creates logos, icons, sketches, typography, and other *vector art.
*Vector art is a certain file type that uses mathematics and equations (which you don’t have to worry about) that creates clean art that can be made into any size without the loss of quality.
Adobe Photoshop: is more commonly known program, it is used to edit and manipulate photos mainly.
Adobe InDesign: used for page design and layouts for digital or print publishing. Great for brochures, event programs, package design, etc. Anything very technical in it’s design.
That’s what you need to get started, and for my next post we will dive in depth into each application, see which one you think you’ll enjoy the most and next post I'll go over some basic concepts you should get familiar with!
Marina Parsons