Characteristics of a Great and Mediocre Graphic Design Students : How to Be the Best Student Graphic Designer and Hang Out with the Successful and Talented Designers

Article Written by Kearan Emrith of Twentyfive Eight Design Solutions

Graphic design is one of the most under-estimated, under paid, yet most important career paths in the world. Design influences and effects everything in and around us. It aggravates our intelligence, beautifies our emotions and gratifies our senses. Yet the average person thinks if you slap together some primary colors and a photo of their favorite singer in Photoshop, save it as a .jpeg AND a .psd file, that they are now graphic designers. It’s not as easy as “common knowledge” may lead you to believe. Yes graphic designers use Adobe Creative Suite which does include Photoshop and other tools, but to become a successful graphic artist is much like becoming an athlete. Having all the right equipment isn’t even half the battle. It takes a lot of conditioning and training to get to that level that you need to get to. You will have to train your brain to speak the language of form, function, line, shape, positive and negative space and so forth. Your thought process will be so engrossed within graphic design that you will be able to visualize mind maps, brain storming, and futurist visualization within your head. You will only need to be put these ideas on paper to convey your ideas to the less fortunate. Mathematicians do calculus in their heads, designers should do creative brainstorming in theirs. The truth of the matter is that not all designers will be successful. Some will fail, most will remain mediocre, and the select few who are gifted all around will get exactly what they deserve … Everything.

Believe it or not amongst all the bull we have been fed throughout our lives there is some underlying truth. One of these truths is that education is the key. In graphic design the learning never stops. The industry is ever-changing and expanding to accommodate everyone in all different fields. The one thing they do not stress enough in the graphic design curriculum is to continue to READ. I know it sounds asinine and childish but the only way to stay informed and aware of the design world around you and your peers from across the globe is to follow the industry closely. Starting this as a student will not only get you in the habit for the rest of your career but it will also make you a better designer while in school. Designers feed off each others work and experiences more so than Hollywood musicals feed off of Broadway shows. We facilitate each other.

This might not be evident the first year of your graphic design program but it will become more and more obvious as the program goes on.  When my first year began, all of us seemed more concerned with making friends than making art. As the year progressed we all had our comfortable niche of students we worked with. Even if it was an individual assignment we would sit together in the library and feed off each others creative energy. Fuel each other to be the best we possibly could. In the first semester of the program I was in we were divided in half. Graphic design A (GRA-A) and graphic design B (GRA-B). We had the exact same classes, lectures and assignments but we were separated from the other group. I was in GRA-B and by the time first semester had ended I could tell who was going to be successful and who was going to fail after graduation. In second semester they inter-grated group A and B. In a way this was good but it started the weeding out the weak process all over again. This time was easier because I knew what characteristics to look for in students to classify them as mediocre.

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In my opinion ... this person is so right in many ways, graphic design it's no easy as it seems and not everyone could be a good graphic designer. Also , it's true the thing about chosing the best students to be your friends and work with them even when you don't have to. Personally I always want a constructive opinion of them about my work. Here is the link of this page, in case you want to read the rest of the article...


http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2009/05/13/advice-for-graphic-design-students-characteristics-of-top-design-students/

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 For my english class I have to write three sentences and tell about the verbe tenses.

"Even if it was an individual assignment we would sit together in the library and feed off each others creative energy."

INDIVIDUAL:

adj.

1. Obsolete not divisible; not separable
2. existing as a single, separate thing or being; single; separate; particular

Sentences: *The teacher said that the exam is going to be individual.
                    * The room has individual sits.

TOGETHER:

adv.

1. in or into one gathering, group, mass, or place.
2. in or into contact, collision, union, etc. with each other

Sentences: *We have to bring the family together.
                    * The cars skidded together.

LIBRARY:

 A library is a collection of books, or is a room or a building where collections of books are stored. (noun)
  
Sentences: *You have to go to the librery.
                    * The librery is far away from my house.

Interviewing a graphic designer...

Hello again... I wanted to show you a short interview that I made to my friend Patricia, she is a graphic designer. Although the answers are short the are really intersting.


Name: Patricia Hernandez
Date: 18/09/2011

1) Could you please define Graphic Design in your own words?
Graphic Design it is a medium to transmit a message to an especific audience, it's a visual communication.


2) What influenced you to purse Graphic Design?
The fact that I wanted to study interior design and it was the only career that I liked it.


3) Could you please describe the educational process required to become an graphic designer?
Study in a good college that has good equipment for the development of work activities and have the updated design programs.


4) What are the skills you need to be a good graphic designer?
First you need to love what you do, be creative, patient, try to understand the needs of your client and work under pressure.


5) What job considerations were you looking for after you completed your education?
I was looking for a job where I could apply my knowledge in the area of corporate identity. A job with a friendly atmosphere and where I could learn more about dealing with the different types of clients.


6) What's something of your school life that you enjoy the most?
Group work with my friends and reveal photos in the photo lab.

7) From your perspective, what is the most difficult part of being an graphic designer student?
The lack of economic resources when buying the materials for activities. Let your work stand out from everyone else.

8) What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue working for my current company and then create my own business. Maybe studying abroad.

9) Point out your most personally gratifying moment in graphic designer school.
I think it's the moment when I graduate.


10) Why would you recommend graphic designer as a career?

Because it's a fun career and  you also learns a little bit of everything.


She's right, graphic design is one of the most expensive careers and one of the most stressful. Although, i'm really satisfied with the career.

Check out this video(:

This is my friend Sasha..

Her  name is Sasha Lorick. She’s from Maracaibo, Venezuela. She currently reside in North Carolina. She is taking a semester off, but will be going to North Carolina State University in January to pursue a career in Aerospace engineering. Her birthday is September 2nd, therefore, she just turned 18.

She loves the one true God that died to save our lifes. She has been a Christian all her life and she has no plans to stray from that. Her favorite band is an American Christian Rock band called Relient K, she grew up listening to them. What makes her happiest is hang out out with the people who understands her the most, like the best friend she had for eleven years. She loves to draw.

 One thing she hates the most is when people change, even though it is an inevitable thing. This may sound crazy, but she also fears clowns because of the scary, dark magic they posses, and balloons just because she hates it when they pop.

Her dream is to be happy with her family.  She would like to travel to Korea, Brazil, England, France and Australia.

Meet my friend Michelle

Her name is Michelle she is from Maracaibo, Venezuela and She is seventeen years old. She's in high school, but she plans to study English teaching when she goes to the university.

She loves art of all kinds, from all places. She also enjoys foreign cultures and traveling (just like me); someday, she hopes to travel to many places like Rome, Seoul, and Dublin. She also loves animals and reading…She likes to read many different types of books.

Things she hates; She tries not to hate, but she save her opinions (personality-wise, anyway) until she gets to know someone. Things she can honestly said she doesn’t like are Brussels sprouts, the cold, and allergies.

The only major dream she has is to travel to other countries. Otherwise, she just plans to see where life takes her.

Abaotmi!

Hello!... My name is Mariangela Boscan, I'm from Venezuela. Currently I am studying the 7th trimester of Graphic Desing at URBE. My birthday is on January 19th and I always going to be eighteen. FOREVER!. I believe in this quote "Everything happens for a reason".

Obviously I love God, my family and friends, but I also love to learn little things everyday. I love watching horror movies and movies about the history of any country, those based on books and based in medieval times. I love to listening to music, so I listened many generes since baladas to hardcore. I really like to try new things so I  love to listen songs from another country. I love contemporary dance, I did it when I was tweleve. There's nothing that makes me happier that eating what I like, buy clothes and go out with my friends.

I  think I only hate two things: racism and lies. I don't really like fish,  dead or alive. I also dislike sharks, snakes, reptiles and any kind of amphibians. I think I have bacteriofobia and claustrophobia or maybe I'm just crazy... just kidding.

My dream is to have a healthy and happiest life. Be successful in everything that I do and have my own business. One of my dreams is to travel around the world, I already traveled to Europe so I really wanna see the Wall of China, travel to Australia, Hawai, the Easter Island, Jeju Island, Greece, Argentina, Seoul... (to be continued).

I learned english by watching movies, series, dramas, songs and the basic from highschool. It really helps when you talk with people from another countries in english.