- Software and practical skills are only half of the battle. The most important skill for a graphic designer is a knowledge and understanding of space. This is usually what is meant when people say "an eye for graphic design". Both can be learned.
- Understand that your elements need to breathe. Give everything a no-no zone. Elements can, and should overlap (more below), but make sure that element has intentional and definite space around it.
- Play with layering. Remember that a background element can protrude into the foreground. You're designing in 2D, but you should be thinking in 3D. If a design is "flat", it should be intentionally flat.
- If you do this professionally, you're designing for the audience, not for your client, and definitely not for yourself. Put yourself in the target audience's shoes - and don't be afraid to remind your client that what they like, might not be what their audience likes.
- Don't be afraid to walk away from a job. Don't work for free. Don't work for 'exposure'. Have firm prices in your head and don't deviate unless its life or death. You will get challenged - but don't cave. You're worth as much as you say you are.
- There's always going to be someone cheaper than you. You'll never win by trying to undercut prices - you should win by offering something unique.
- Be friendly towards your clients. Word of mouth from one small business can lead to big things with large businesses.
- Make friends with web developers, printers, software engineers etc. Share your clients and expand your network.
- Read. Read into colour theory. Read about successful and failed re-brands. There's patterns and science behind design. Expand your knowledge.
- Understand why Comic Sans isn't a bad font.
- You will get better. You develop as a designer. You won't recognise work that you did two years ago. If you don't like something, don't dwell on it.
Hope this helps some people who are struggling, just starting out, or have been in the game a while.
