grow with guru

As I mentioned in my last post the goal of this blog is help others improve their businesses through branding and the web…

But, before I get into publishing more branding, web design and WordPress related articles I though it would be worthwhile to explain a little more about myself, my background and how I became a freelance Web and Graphic Designer. A sort of extended about page if you like.

How did I become a freelance Web and Graphic Designer?

What qualifies me to talk about these topics?

Why should you listen to me?

How can my background and training help you?

These are the questions I’ll cover and build upon as I publish more and more articles on branding, WordPress and web design, and as you continue to read this post…

Early Creativity
I’ve always had a love for creativity, right from a very young age. From drawing, playing with lego, cooking and making play dough to getting told off on my first days of school for drawing eyes in the word “look”, creative activities were always great fun to me.

Although I might not of fully understood it on a conscious level when I was very young, playing in order to bring something new and unique (and hopefully of value) into the world always brought me a great deal of satisfaction.

Art, Design and a Creative Education
My love for creativity continued though secondary school where I excelled in Art and Design Technology lessons and began to establish my creative interests around more visual arts such as drawing, painting and design.

It’s was at this stage that I started to get the sense that I’d like to do “something creative” for a living. But what that was exactly and how this creativity translated in to the world of work was unclear. I just knew I wanted to continue doing creative work.

It wasn’t until a careers advice class that I picked up a promotional leaflet on Graphic Design. According to the leaflet Graphic Designers created promotional artwork and beautifully designed covers for big name magazines. “Gre

Work Terms

Graphic designers incorporate images and text into everything from company logos to promotional materials and more. Their skills can be valuable to a lot of different industries, but getting a foot in the door typically requires that entry-level designers have a strong portfolio they've developed through coursework or internships.

Approximately 266,300 graphic designers were working in the U.S. in 2016.

Graphic Designer Duties & Responsibilities
Graphic designers create visual communications to convey messages in an effective and aesthetically pleasing manner. This incorporates several tasks and responsibilities.

Design web pages, brochures, logos, signs, books, magazine covers, annual reports, advertisements, and other communication materials.
Create these materials by hand or by using technology, including computer software programs. Adobe's Creative Suite—including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and more—is the standard in the industry and most employers expect designers to be proficient with its programs.
Meet with clients to gain an understanding of what they want their proposed communications to look like. Create or incorporate illustrations, pictures, and designs to reflect the desired theme and tone of the communications.
Select type size and style to enhance the readability of text and image.
Produce drafts for review by clients and make revisions based on the feedback received.
Review final productions for errors and ensure that final prints reflect client specifications.
Graphic Designer Salary
The highest paid graphic designers worked in advertising and public relations in 2017.

Median Annual Salary: $50,370
Top 10% Annual Salary: $85,760
Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $29,610
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018

Education, Training, & Certification
This field puts a great deal of emphasis on experience, even if that experience is simply developing your own work as an example. A few graphic designers don't go through any sort of formal traini