DARE TO EXPERIMENT
EXPERIMENT WHILE YOU CAN
When just getting started like I do now, it is a good time to experiment. Why? Because you still have to figure out your own personal style in the beginning and that comes with time and practise. While not having client work, the time can be used to experiment a whole lot and to find out which style suits you and which one is not for you. Of course style always changes but you need a starting point because it will also determine the kind of clients you will attract in the end.
ENJOY THE EXPERIMENTAL PHASE
Why enjoy? Because it will not take forever and then you'll have found your signature style. I admit it, I am in the deep phase of experimentation. Also because I have not been involved in design for quite some time. After college I was working in customer support and tourism in Spain, back in Germany I was teaching German and working with refugees until I realised that I could not continue the work I do since my heart is deep-rooted in graphic design, it always has and now I dared taking the leap to peruse my freelance journey finally.
FIND YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE
So experimenting is key for me now. I feel drawn to different styles but while experimenting I realise how drawn I am to minimalism, everything organic and floral, black and gold/silver, fashion illustration, lots of white space, blue and turquoise and a very Mediterranean touch, hand lettering I also like very much and I still work on improving my skills there. So I experiment with all these things that I like while figuring out my unique signature style.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO CREATE CRAP IN THE BEGINNING
I experiment so much that sometimes a few weeks later I look at something that I designed and wonder what I was thinking. But I think it is normal, of course not everything that you do is great, quite the opposite. While learning and practising you will produce a whole lot of crap and that's okay, because that's how you learn and evolve.
I lately read an article on medium.com where it was said that everything we put online should be our best piece. I don't agree here, I think we should take some time (especially in the beginning) and just experiment and dare to put our work out there, even if it is still far from what we expect from ourselves. But that is okay, you will never get to that stage of being proud of your work if you set your standards way too high in the beginning, because you have to produce a whole lot before you even can get there.
How did your creative journey start out? Please share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments.
