Best Research Tools for Graphic Design Students
As a graphic design student, one of the most important skills that you can develop is research. The research process empowers you to understand your target market, explore different trends, and gather inspiration. It’s the foundation for any great graphic design project.
Why Research Tools are Essential for Graphic Design Students
Before we dive into the specific research tools, it’s important to understand why research tools are so essential for graphic design students. Here are just a few of the key benefits:
Enhancing creativity and inspiration
Research tools are a great way to gather inspiration for your projects. By exploring different designs, trends, and styles, you can begin to build a unique idea. This can be especially useful when you run into a creative block and need something new to spark your imagination.
For example, let's say you are designing a logo for a new coffee shop. By using research tools, you can explore different coffee shop logos from around the world. You can analyze what works and what doesn't work in these logos, and use this information to create a unique and effective logo for your client.
Streamlining the design process
Additionally, research tools can help you to streamline your design process. By being able to quickly gather the information you need, you can move more efficiently through the project. Plus, the research process can help you to identify potential roadblocks or issues before you even start working on the design itself.
For instance, let's say you are designing a brochure for a local museum. By using research tools, you can quickly gather information about the museum's history, mission, and exhibits. This information can help you to create a brochure that accurately represents the museum and its offerings.
Staying updated with industry trends
Finally, research tools help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry. From new design programs to emerging color schemes, research tools can help you to stay current with the latest developments in graphic design.
For instance, let's say you are designing a website for a fashion brand. By using research tools, you can explore the latest website design trends in the fashion industry. You can analyze what works and what doesn't work in these designs, and use this information to create a website that is both visually appealing and effective.
In conclusion, research tools are essential for graphic design students. They can help to enhance creativity and inspiration, streamline the design process, and keep you up-to-date with industry trends. By using research tools, you can create designs that are both effective and visually stunning.
Top Online Resources for Graphic Design Inspiration
As a graphic designer, you know that inspiration can come from anywhere. Whether it’s a beautiful sunset or a unique pattern on a piece of fabric, you can find inspiration in the world around you. However, when you’re feeling stuck or in need of fresh ideas, it can be helpful to turn to online resources for inspiration. Here are some of the top online resources for graphic design inspiration:
Behance
Behance is a social media platform that allows designers to showcase their work and connect with other designers. It’s a great place to find inspiration for your next project. You can explore different projects, check out the portfolios of other designers, and save your favorite work for later inspiration. One of the best things about Behance is that it’s a community of like-minded creatives who are always willing to share their knowledge and ideas.
If you’re a freelancer or looking for work, Behance can also be a great way to showcase your portfolio and get noticed by potential clients. Many companies use Behance to find talented designers for their projects.
Dribbble
Dribbble is another social media platform for designers. It’s particularly useful for exploring UI and UX designs. You can find inspiration for buttons, forms, and other interface elements. You can also find inspiration for illustration and typography here as well. Dribbble is a great place to see how other designers are solving design problems and get ideas for your own projects.
One of the unique things about Dribbble is that it’s a community of designers who share their work in progress. This means you can see how a design evolved over time and get a behind-the-scenes look at the design process.
Pinterest is a great way to curate design ideas and inspiration. By creating boards, you can save different designs that you like and organize them in a way that you can easily access later. Pinterest is particularly useful if you’re working on a project for a specific industry or niche. You can search for pins related to that industry or niche and find inspiration that’s tailored to your project.
One of the benefits of using Pinterest for inspiration is that it’s a visual platform. You can quickly scan through images and find designs that catch your eye. You can also see how other designers are using color, typography, and other design elements in their work.
Awwwards
Awwwards is a great resource for exploring web design. You can find examples of great web design, check out resources for website builders, and get inspiration for your own designs. Awwwards is particularly useful if you’re looking for inspiration for a website redesign or if you’re just starting out in web design.
One of the benefits of using Awwwards for inspiration is that it’s a curated platform. The designs featured on Awwwards are handpicked by a team of experts, so you can be sure you’re seeing the best of the best. Awwwards also offers resources and tutorials for web designers, so you can learn new skills and techniques.
Overall, there are many online resources available for graphic designers looking for inspiration. Whether you’re exploring social media platforms like Behance and Dribbble or using Pinterest to curate design ideas, these resources can help you find fresh ideas and take your designs to the next level.
Essential Software Tools for Graphic Design Research
While online resources are a great way to find inspiration for your work, there are also some essential software tools that you will need to complete your research. Here are a few suggestions:
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of software programs that includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. These programs are the industry standard for graphic design, and learning how to use them effectively will be one of the keys to your success as a graphic designer.
Photoshop is a powerful image editing tool that allows you to manipulate images in a variety of ways. You can use it to crop, resize, and adjust the color and brightness of images. You can also use it to create complex compositions by combining multiple images into a single design.
Illustrator is a vector graphics editor that allows you to create scalable graphics that can be resized without losing quality. It’s a great tool for creating logos, icons, and other graphics that need to be reproduced at different sizes.
InDesign is a desktop publishing tool that allows you to create layouts for print and digital media. You can use it to create everything from business cards and brochures to magazines and books.
Sketch
Sketch is an essential tool for UI/UX designers. With Sketch, you can quickly mockup designs for websites and mobile apps, test different layouts, and refine your designs until they are perfect.
Sketch is a vector-based design tool that allows you to create high-fidelity designs that can be easily shared with your team. It also has a number of plugins and integrations that make it easy to collaborate with other designers and developers.
InVision
InVision is another great tool for UI/UX designers. With InVision, you can create interactive prototypes of your designs, test them with real users, and get feedback that will help you to refine your designs and create the best possible user experience.
InVision also has a number of collaboration features that make it easy to work with your team. You can share your designs with others, get feedback, and make changes in real-time.
Figma
Figma is a powerful design tool that is completely web-based. It’s a great option for collaborative design projects, allowing for real-time collaboration and easy file sharing.
Figma is a vector-based design tool that allows you to create high-fidelity designs that can be easily shared with your team. It also has a number of collaboration features that make it easy to work with other designers and developers.
One of the advantages of Figma is that it’s completely web-based, which means that you can access your designs from anywhere and collaborate with others in real-time. This makes it a great option for remote teams or for designers who need to work on projects while on the go.
By using these essential software tools for graphic design research, you’ll be able to create high-quality designs that meet the needs of your clients and users. Whether you’re working on a print project or a digital project, these tools will help you to bring your ideas to life and create designs that are both beautiful and functional.
Graphic Design Blogs and Websites for Continuous Learning
In addition to online resources and software tools, there are also plenty of blogs and websites that you can explore to continue learning more about graphic design. Here are a few suggestions:
Design Week
Design Week is a great resource for keeping up-to-date with the latest industry news and trends. You can also find articles on design theory, interviews with prominent designers, and even job postings.
Creative Bloq
Creative Bloq is a blog that is focused on creative inspiration and technical knowledge. You can find tutorials on different design techniques, reviews of design software, and plenty of inspiration to keep you motivated.
Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine is a blog that is focused on web design. You can find articles on everything from responsive design to CSS animations, as well as tips and tricks for working with different design software.
The Dieline
The Dieline is a website that is focused specifically on package design. You can explore different packaging designs, learn more about design theory as it relates to packaging, and even find job postings for package designers.
Conclusion
As a graphic design student, research tools are essential for your success. By exploring different online resources, using essential software tools, and continuing to learn through blogs and websites, you can develop the skills and knowledge that you need to become a successful graphic designer.