Design Part II: The Slickening

July 1, 2017 1:50 AM

Can you recommend any great resources to help self-taught graphic designers push their work up a level? So assume a level of competence that doesn't require 101-style 'this is the difference between a sans-serif and a serif' style instruction, but it's a bit rough around the edges. How to improve work that often gets feedback along the lines of 'it's fine but could be slicker'... ? Books, online tutorials etc all welcome. Thanks!
posted by KateViolet to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

Lynda.com is a great resource of training videos for graphic designers. People think of it as a source for technical stuff but it also has videos on design. It does have a monthly fee but also a 30 day trial period so you can see if it's worth it to you.
posted by pangolin party at 7:08 AM on July 1, 2017

Best answer: Before & After Magazine has some good intermediate level stuff that can help you polish up your work. They have some free articles and free videos here for you to try before you buy. It also looks like their newer material is available through Lynda.com.
posted by ourobouros at 7:38 AM on July 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Who is using the term, 'slicker?' Is it a client, or a graphic designer? It's very vague and not very helpful. If it's a client, they may not have the design knowledge to give specific feedback on why they think it's not working, they just 'know it when they see it', however if it's a designer that's saying this, I would ask specifically how they think it can be improved because that's how you learn.

What isn't working, is your kerning off, are you using too many colours, is it too busy, is it a combination of multiple things? You can definitely learn from books but an in person critique from someone who knows what they're talking about and can explain why something isn't working is worth their weight in gold. This is really why people go to design school, because books can only get you so far. Ask for specifics!
posted by Jubey at 8:22 AM on July 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far. We don't get very specific feedback, hence the need to improve ourselves generally. If there are any more specific recommendations for Lynda.com that would be great as there are loads of courses on there to choose from.
posted by KateViolet at 8:33 AM on July 1, 2017

Best answer: Maybe you need feedback from an experienced designer only talking about the visual aspects. It looks like you are getting vague feedback from a non-designer.

Regarding books I assume you have read books like The Elements of Typography or the Brockmann grid systems' book. If you haven't some reading is needed! I like "Stop stealing sheep and find out how type works" and "Detail in Typography".

Another idea - sometimes what is being commented on is not the graphic design but the quality of the assets. I worked with stock stuff and cheap fonts for years and it affected my work.
posted by wolfr at 2:25 AM on July 2, 2017 [1 favorite]