It’s hard to say how long we’ll all be staying inside and away from other people. If you’re a student, learning may have become very different in the last couple of months as you’ve had to adjust to online learning.
Design students are still in a good position when it comes to future work. You can do most of your work remotely and design skills are always going to be in demand. But if you’re struggling to know what to do while in quarantine, think about developing some skills that will serve you as you finish school and join the workforce. These 5 are key.
- Take Excel & Google Sheet Presentations to the Next Level
When most people think “design,” spreadsheets aren’t exactly the first thing to come to mind. But Excel and Google Sheets are programs that are used in organizations all over the world, and it’s important not only to know how to use them but to make your spreadsheets both beautiful and functional.
Spreadsheet presentations are used for displaying and organizing data. Additionally, some software is based on the spreadsheet layout but is more user-friendly and design-focused. You can get a leg up on the competition by building advanced Excel skills, understanding the functionality of spreadsheets, and using your design skills to make sheets more attractive and easier to understand.
- Ever Consider Testing Your Design Skills Out in the Gaming Industry?
Design skills can be applied to nearly every industry. If you’re not sure which industry you want to work in yet, now might be the perfect time to consider your options. One idea you may not have considered is working in the gaming industry.
Video games were booming before the pandemic, and now even more people are spending their free time in virtual worlds. You can get in on the action and explore a career in game design, which might include creating characters or worlds, building interfaces, and more. It’s a fun and challenging career for design students who love games and creative problem-solving. (bmisurplus.com)
- UX Design Is a Much Needed Skill As Tech Industry Continues to Expand
Now that we’re living so much of our lives online, we interact with user interfaces on a near-constant basis. Many graphic designers don’t have experience in designing these interfaces, but they can make a big difference in a user’s experience and even in customer retention for online companies.
By learning how to design for the user experience, design students can confidently apply for high-paying jobs that require IU/UX experience. It’s a great way to boost your earning potential and build a high-demand (and rare) skill. Think about how many interfaces we use on a daily basis—there’s a lot of opportunity out there!
- How Is Your Typography?
Graphic design isn’t all about colors and shapes. Text is an important component in designing everything from packaging to a logo to a website. Strong typography skills are essential for design students, allowing for text to seamlessly flow into the design while being easy to read and pleasing to the eye in any context.
Take some time to study typography topics like choosing fonts, layouts, spacing, and balancing your designs with text. Being as confident with text as you are with other design elements will help you get noticed in the right way.
- Communication Is Something That Everyone Can Improve
Whether you’re a design student, a retail worker, or a CEO, communication skills are crucial. While it might be hard to work on your face-to-face communication skills during this time, it’s a great opportunity to work on phone, video, and written communication skills.
As a designer, you’ll have to communicate complex design concepts to non-designers and get buy-in. You’ll also need to be able to translate your clients’ or boss’s visions into reality or explain why they won’t work in a tactful way.
Design isn’t just about what looks good. It’s about psychology, purpose, audience, and organizational goals. As a designer, you’ll have to understand the needs of the organization and manage the personalities you’re working with. You won’t just be creating in a bubble, you’ll be working as part of a team.
Use this time to think about the future. We might be in a moment of turmoil and uncertainty, but you can emerge from quarantine with marketable skills that will help you build your career.
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