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Culture August 14, 2018
Communicating through design.
Until a week ago, graphic design was a hidden language that I couldn’t speak. Because of this, I was completely unaware of its secrets. Who knew that it could promote my personality, values and career goals?
I quickly learned another secret: marketing myself. As it turns out, marketing isn’t only for companies; it’s also for individuals. Young professionals have to build their own brand to get ahead in their field, and they can use graphic design to do it.
Conceiving, building and perfecting my own personal brand took me on a journey of self-reflection. Before ENTITY’s graphic design program with Adobe, I never took the time to stop and truly ask myself, “Who am I?”
In the past, I’ve avoided Photoshop like the plague. All the different buttons, settings and toolbars were as foreign to me as an airline cockpit. I first started learning Photoshop with dread, dragging and kicking my feet in protest. However, after slowly coaxing my way into the world of photo editing, I became enchanted with the possibilities it opened.
Using Photoshop in conjunction with daily lessons allowed me to apply basic design principles directly into my work. Even creating a meme forced me to be more organized. For example, simply forming 1/2 inch margins is a small but crucial detail. It makes the difference between a clean, professional design and sloppy amateur work.
While Photoshop gave me the tools to manipulate art, Illustrator gave me the freedom to create art. Creating my own logo really drove fundamental graphic design principles into my brain. My head was filled with CRAP—contrast, repetition, alignment and positioning.
Due to their similarities, Illustrator was relatively easy after Photoshop. I knew nothing about design, so every new Illustrator trick, like image tracing and color balancing, intrigued me. I learned how my favorite ads, logos and magazines were made.
In a way, I rediscovered my personality while using InDesign. With the application, I created a style guide, business card and new resume. Choosing colors, fonts and pictures for my brand’s style was a fun way for me to express my personality in a professional setting. While exploring myself, I revisited my childhood memories.
I remembered waking up to the sound of crashing waves on the cold beaches of San Francisco. This memory drew me to the dark calm of navy blue.
I remembered the old novels and comics I used to devour as a child. As someone who moved from state to state, these books were the best friend that moved with me. This memory drew me to the type fonts Trirong and Roboto.
The rest of my style guide was influenced by my obsession with martial arts and combat sports. It comes from a childhood of bullying and finding an identity in ever-changing environments.
At the end of this self-reflection, I discovered I was intuitive by nature.
So graphic design doesn’t only have career benefits, It can also deepen your relationship with yourself. Through self-reflection, I uncovered some of my hidden passions, talents and interests.
With Adobe and ENTITY, graphic design became an eye-opening experience. I confronted something new, explored my artistic side and rediscovered aspects of my personality.
I may not be fluent, but I can finally speak the language of graphic design. Now, I have a new way to communicate with potential employers— something that will set me apart from the crowd.
And you can speak it, too! All you have to do is start.
