And if you don’t believe me, just read some blogs and/or forums where someone who managed to put together an image that somewhat resembles something recognizable. Suddenly, because they figured out how to make an orb with a reflection on it they are “graphic designers” and ready to start offering their “services” for money.
This is an ongoing and slightly disturbing trend I’ve seen growing over the last several years towards minimizing the need for study of a craft before trying to sell the practice of said craft professionally. And it’s not about formal education either. Rather, it’s about understanding that there is so much more to being a graphic designer than simply knowing how to add a reflection to make a flat blue dot look like a glass orb.
It’s understanding the how’s and why’s of what they did that made their novice attempt turned out so well. Do they understand that there are properties and principles regarding light, shadows, textures, and angles? Do they grasp that reflections require not only the right attributes but correct placement and opacity and why?
Maybe I’ll start doing this for others!
Please. Don’t.
It’s so easy to follow a step-by-step tutorial and get a great result but the real learning comes when trying to apply the same technique to something else without the benefit of a step 2, step 3, and step 9.
Study and learn the craft, then maybe you’ll be ready to sell your “graphic design” services.
Technorati tags: Graphic Design, Learning Design, Design Techniques
