You start your graphic design job with that blank bit of paper, how I hate that blank paper. I often find myself putting off that new job for FEAR of the paper. So how do you start? For me once the battle with the fear has been overcome its with a pen and paper.
I know many designers now start straight on the Mac, but for me its the the old fashioned layout pad. Not that I produce beautiful drawings by any mean, they more resemble doodles on a telephone pad. Often it is with words which lead to other words – and hopefully inspiration – a flick through a book or two and some magazines, maybe a browse through a photolibary or two and a look through a thesaurus, if I am feeling totally self indulgant (and budget permits) a mood board. Then I will start to concentrate on general layout/concept. I always find it far easier if a concept is involved rather than just straight layou. If its a brochure I always start with the cover and probably scribble out ten or so covers (ala telephone doodle style) before I grab a highlighter – finally narrow it down to 3 or 4 to start working up on the mac.
Once I know what I intend (notice the word intend) to do the next stage is not so scarey. Sometimes it all goes smoothly and the finished cover bares a lot of similarity to my scribble. Other times I labour over one idea, before finally admitting defeat that in fact the idea does not look as good at A4 as it did postage stamp scribble size.
The best thing is the happy accident, when by mistake you rotate or overlap something and it looks great – its like an idea for free.
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8 Comments
I think I wrote this post! It sounds just like my process, the fear, then the scribbles, word associations, research online of what’s been done before (Google image search can be a very good friend!). I’ve tried starting right in with the design programs, but the results are never as refined as when I exhaust my ideas with pen and paper. I find that after I’ve jotted down the first things that come to mind (and the ones that most people think of), I start to get “desparate” and begin thinking about the subject or design in a different sense (like your Pig Farm advert that you posted about on May 14). It’s sure nice to know I’m not the only one that gets scared of those new jobs!
Hi LaurenMarie,
I was beginning to think it was just me as no-one had commented. Glad to hear I am not alone
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You would think after doing the job for years it would get easier but I still get THE FEAR every new creative job.
Tara,
Check this out. And let me know your thoughts. This conversation is of interest to me and your input would be greatly appreciated.
Sounds a lot like me also. I sometimes mix it up a little. I’ll get an idea on paper and then mess around on the Mac a little and then go back to pen and paper. I think I always start with pen and paper though. It really wouldn’t be natural for me to not start with pen and paper. I would be like a 100 times slower brainstorming/conceptualizing on the Mac. I can whip out 10 ideas in no time on paper and not feel like I’m investing too much in the process. It helps ideas come easier and flow smoother and I’m not afraid to go in any direction because I know it’s not taking too much time anyways.
Hi Marc,
So sorry I have only just seen your comment which was posted while I was on holiday. I have just checked out your post, love the way you used the icons to describe the thought and organisation process.
Hi Pat M,
Thanks for your comment
“I can whip out 10 ideas in no time on paper and not feel like I’m investing too much in the process.”
I know what you mean about this. I have maken the mistake before when time was short of jumpig on the Mac to quick and then laboured over an idea that really didn’t work.
“I know what you mean about this. I have maken the mistake before when time was short of jumpig on the Mac to quick and then laboured over an idea that really didn’t work.”
Yeah me too. I guess sometimes you just have to learn the hard way. You think man why did I waste so much time on that when I should have just started sketching.
How many times do you do a logo design and the first idea is the one, you know it is and the client knows it is, but you have to go through the palava of submitting another dozen (inferior) designs to justify the budget!
They are not intentially inferior, it’s just that your hearts not in it ’cause you know you can’t improve on that first design. Wish it worked every time!!
I must say that your argument is good – however, why Pen or Mac? Some of us use the PC for design you know