beginning design?

[kiks]

Hello! I am just trying my hand at graphic and web design but dont really know where to begin... I know im very interested in it (I love messing around) but I am not really sure if I have the skill or the confidence for that matter. I have a general overview of photoshop, indesign, dreamweaver and flash but i feel its too basic. anyone have any advice as how to firmly get started. I am always afraid that my work is or wont be good enough.

I just want something to be passionate about and I really enjoy the whole design field but not sure if im that creative...

appreciate any thoughts for this :confused: beginner...

[phenn]

Some good content is right here:

GoLive Tutorials
http://www.layersmagazine.com/design/go-index.php

Flash Tutorials
http://www.layersmagazine.com/design/fl-index.php

Photoshop Tutorials
http://www.planetphotoshop.com

Web Graphic Tutorials
http://www.tutorialpod.com/Web_Graphics/page1

CSS Tutorials
http://kaoz-tutorials.com/css.php

Also, don't ever feel as though you haven't the skill. All it takes is time to learn and a desire to create. Make sure you have the building blocks of good design and take it from there. You'll be brilliant!

[kiks]

hey phenn,

thanks so much for the list and vote of confidence...I will look into these over the weekend...so excited....

i guess im just scared that I dont have the design "eye." I work in public relations full time and I just have no time to go back to school. it will be a total career change for me and will take quite a while to finish. thats why im just trying to do a whole lot of self study...

anyways thanks again!

[dwildish]

Hello! I am just trying my hand at graphic and web design but dont really know where to begin... I know im very interested in it (I love messing around) but I am not really sure if I have the skill or the confidence for that matter. I have a general overview of photoshop, indesign, dreamweaver and flash but i feel its too basic. anyone have any advice as how to firmly get started. I am always afraid that my work is or wont be good enough.

I just want something to be passionate about and I really enjoy the whole design field but not sure if im that creative...

appreciate any thoughts for this :confused: beginner...

Chill out, you only get one bash at this life if this is something you enjoy thyen go for it.

I studied Graphic Design at college quite a few years ago, then bummed out and spent a few years partying...... to cut a very long strory short i thought i had blew my chances.
but after a life changing event a month in hostpital with a weeek stint in intensive care (not related to raving) I self tought my self all of the design packages and now work as the chief designer at a news paper!

I have always lacked confinence in myself but forced my way in by not giving up!
just take any job until you have gained two years experience and your on your way.

[dwildish]

by the way - nobody knows everything about everything, otherwise sites like this would not exist.

[phenn]

by the way - nobody knows everything about everything, otherwise sites like this would not exist.
Whoops! I'm going to have to change my business cards now. :eek:

Seriously though, the good advice is to roll up the sleeves, dive into the software as often and as deeply as you can, look for tricks where you can find them and just enjoy. If I can do it, pretty much anyone can.

Thanks for sharing your story, dwildish.

[dwildish]

Phen - sorry to ask but were are your cats ears?

[dwildish]

I am new to this forum, I stumble upon the site wilst on a boring past job at a toy company and in the past used spymac for all my tec quetions.
just out of interest I have noticed a lot of the users are using pc is this true to most users of this site?

dont get me wrong im not starting the hole mac/pc thing.

but in the uk I find that there is a clear devide between mac for pro design and music and pc for all else!
Are there areas in the states that purley use pc for everything?

[The Repro Kid]

...Are there areas in the states that purley use pc for everything?

Absolutely not. I don't know where all these PC artists are coming from. I've never had a job where PCs were the only platform.

I've seen them advertised occasionally, but not often.

[dwildish]

sorry for my dodgy spelling, put simply - I am lazy!

[kialua]

My freelancing experience in Minneapolis/St. Paul area has shown a lot of PC used by Inhouse art departments. The powers that be like to buy PC and not Mac because they don't understand Macs, so they end up with PC's in the art departments. The agencies use more Macs.

[phenn]

Phen - sorry to ask but were are your cats ears?

Oh, they're there alright. Just tucked back for maximum aerodynamics. ;)

[PhotoDamage]

As far as the actual design aspect goes you can know the software up and down and still have issues.
For the principles of design I use this as a good reference.
Mundi design (http://www.mundidesign.com/)