How do you find your voice as a graphic designer?
We spend so much time trying to label what we do so that others can understand it – web designer, typographer, graphic designer – that we end up segmenting ourselves into a pigeonhole. Normally, I would take the time to now say “however, we do need to explain ourselves in terms that others can understand us” but no. No more justifications, no more qualifications.
This is what we do, because we love to do it.
If you devote all your energies to visually identifying a cause you believe in, more power to you. If you devote all of your energies to advertising a product you believe in, more power to you. The point is to hold nothing back, believe in yourself and your art and give it your all, because anything less than total, absolute, unwavering commitment is inexcusable.
I make no bones about it, I’m a beginning designer struggling to find my niche, increasingly closing in on it but remaining open to opportunities around. I like to pretend that I have a clue what I’m talking about it, but it’s not often that I do. The point is I’m not shutting up. I know when I’ve created something decent, and when I haven’t, and the difference is in how much I put into it. So don’t hold back, give it everything you got, because if you try to fake it and pull one over, they’ll notice and condemn you for it.
So ignore the top-10 lists, the top 37 tips, the best resources or the ultimate downloads; they’re all window dressing. Find out what you want to say and then say it. Follow the client’s wishes, sure; follow your art director’s lead, most definitely; but the only way you’ll be proud of the blood, sweat and tears you pour into what you create is if you make it art.
So what you have to do is commit yourself — absolutely and completely — because anything else is just fraud. Once you’re willing to reveal yourself to the world, your voice will be there alongside. Make use of it.
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and in no way whatsoever reflect the positions of Applied Arts or anyone else I’m affiliated with.
One Comment
I used to work as a graphic designer making corporate literature, but I couldn’t really get excited about re-arranging pre-existing literature or creating spec charts. It was the few creative projects we had that I loved and did my best work on, but too bad those were far and few, so I completely agree with everything you said here.