Traditional Skills in the Era of Digital Design
Digital technology is more exciting than what it was 20 years ago. What was once considered a tool for simple automation has now become a medium that fosters new ways of thinking. In today’s day and age, working digitally can of course be fast and low-cost. However, some traditional skills are being lost as one has become over-dependent on digital mediums. There may be endless scope for creativity and sharing content. However, somewhere, it has become a flat, two-dimensional medium. If you’re a visual artist, graphic designer or web designer, it’s important to ensure that your traditional skills transition seamlessly into the digital world.
Making the transition from traditional to digital art can be quite intimidating. However, it’s not as hard as you think it is. If you’re a highly skilled traditional artist then you are fully capable of adapting to a creative digital job.
Skills to Master when Transitioning from Traditional to Digital Design
To foray into the digital world, don’t let go of your traditional skills. In fact, it will help you refine your skill-set.
Here are a few traditional skills that are still relevant in the world of Photoshop and Illustrator:
Stick to paper and pencil methods
In any creative discipline, illustration is important. What we see on our screens is a result of creative thinking. In traditional art, we use a sketchbook to illustrate our ideas. Even as you transition to a graphic designer, keep that pen and pencil handy. Sometimes, it can be daunting to achieve a particular illustration digitally but might happen seamlessly on paper. Even as a digital artist, you can use paper to experiment and explore ideas. Before finalising anything digitally, sketch it out, create mock-ups and drafts so that you’re sure about what you want the end product to look like.
Develop your style
As an aspiring graphic designer, it is important to develop your style. Every designer has their own distinctive style. This will help you stand out from other designers and communicate your message loud and clear. In order to develop your style, you can seek inspiration from the things around you. You can experiment with tools including stamps, stencils, brushes, scissors, knives and other conventional items. You can find these same tools on Photoshop and play with them to express your ideas.
Be open to feedback
Even as you move from traditional to digital mediums, it is important to be open to feedback. Developing the ability to take constructive feedback is something that will help you excel. You might get feedback from your clients, creative directors, audience or peers. Take feedback seriously and use it to improve your design and learn from your mistakes. When you continue to be open to criticism, you will be able to move in the right direction.
Stay inquisitive
When we’re working on traditional art, we usually seek inspiration from different sources. Don’t stop seeking inspiration once you become a graphic designer. A common mistake digital designers make is that they only look at the internet to seek ideas. Well, even as you transition, still look at conventional displays of work, art galleries, and so on. Staying aware of the market and what’s going on currently will help you create inspiring content. It will automatically translate to your work.
Try new things
As an artist, never stop learning. Don’t let go of your creative instincts. The same mindset should be applied to the digital world as well. The best way to push creative boundaries is by learning new things and experimenting. A graphic design course can help you but besides that it’s also important to learn on your own. See what different software has to offer and how you can create digital art.
Conclusion
Becoming a digital artist doesn’t mean letting go of your traditional roots. Think of it as a tool to enhance your skillset not replace it. The creativity a pen and paper can bring out is something even digital mediums cannot. If you want to excel in the digital world and have a flair for creativity, you must consider taking up the certificate course in graphic designing. You will not just learn the fundamentals of design and topography but also software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDraw and InDesign.
