Animation, multimedia, graphic design and digital design are all creative fields. Though most of these terms are often used interchangeably, they differ in intent. Also, the position of a digital designer is different from that of a graphic designer.
As the name implies, digital design is any form of design that shows up on a screen rather than a printed piece of paper. Digital designers usually create art for mediums such as apps, websites, e-brochures and video games. Today, people do everything online whether it’s shopping, ordering food or banking. As a business, it’s important to have an online presence especially if you want to stay relevant. And, one of the key elements of an online presence is having eye-catching visual content. This constitutes digital design.
A certificate course in graphic design or a visual effects diploma programme can help you learn the skills to become a digital designer.
Skills to Become a Digital Designer
Most clients or employers look for digital designers that possess a wide range of skills. Becoming a digital designer might seem like a piece of cake. However, in reality, it takes several soft and hard skills, and technical knowledge to establish a fulfilling career. Graduating from the best animation college in Bangalore can help hone your skills. The most important skills a digital designer must possess include:
- Visual Communication
Visual communication is an art and understanding it is crucial for digital design. If a client talks about an idea or emotion, you should be able to convey it through your design. For this, several visual elements have to be used including images, icons, typography, layout, colours and animation. When all these come together, you will be able to create effective and user-friendly designs. Through the digital design that you create, your client’s audience should be able to decipher what you’re trying to convey. If you’re an aspiring digital designer trying to improve your visual communication skills, you should be well-versed with the elements of graphic design including brightness, warmth, contrast, brilliance, balance, harmony, highlights and shadows. Once you learn the basic principles, you can experiment on various software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Sketch.
- UI/UX Design Skills
As a digital designer, knowing the basics of user experience and user interface is important. A lot of people confuse both the terms to be the same. However, they’re different. UX involves a lot of research, planning, designing and evaluating. It’s all about understanding the user and crafting an experience that will appeal to them through a particular digital product. When your digital design is influenced by UX, you will be able to solve user problems and satisfy their needs. To improve your UX skills, you should be able to conduct user research, and understand customer pain points and motivation.
On the other hand, user interface is the process of designing the look and feel of a digital product such as a website, game, app or software. To improve your UI skills, you need to work on software including Adobe XD and InVision. These are the best places to test your designs.
- Graphic Design skills
Digital design is best described as the evolution of graphic design. To become a professional digital designer, having knowledge about the fundamentals of graphic design is important. The idea is to create consistent and coherent designs. Concepts you should be well-versed with are colour theory, typography, composition and visual hierarchy. It would also be a good idea to update yourself on the latest trends in graphic design.
- Creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills
For a digital designer to be able to come up with refreshing designs, it’s important for them to have eye-for-detail and problem-solving skills. Though this is more of a soft-skill, it’s something you can develop over time. Digital designers should constantly expose themselves to different sources of inspiration. Spending time in nature, listening to music and browsing are a few ways to draw inspiration from the things around you. When your innovation and creativity reach its peak, you will be able to create something truly visually-appealing.
Getting Started in Digital Design
In today’s day and age, digital design is a lucrative career option. To build a resume with job-ready skills, you need to graduate from a reputed animation and multimedia college in Bangalore. Pursuing an advanced diploma in 3D animation or a certificate course in graphic design can convince your employer about your skills. It also gives you an added advantage over other candidates.
