how to be a graphic designer in 2025 (free resources & my best advice)

Summary

In this video, the creator shares essential tools, resources, and advice for graphic designers. They discuss the hardware they use, including their MacBook Pro and iPhone, alongside key software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Procreate. The creator emphasizes the importance of learning by doing and advises aspiring designers to practice daily, experiment with different styles, and embrace imperfections in their work. They also touch on resources such as font libraries, mockups, and design inspiration. The video is filled with practical tips for those looking to grow their design skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 The creator uses a MacBook Pro M4 for most design tasks, highlighting the importance of a powerful laptop in graphic design, but notes the MacBook Pro M1 was sufficient during the start of their freelance career.
• 😀 The creator uses an iPhone 16 for photography and videos, with past experience using the iPhone 12, both providing high-quality camera performance.
• 😀 The primary design tool used is Adobe Illustrator, a vector-based program that allows for scalable and high-quality illustrations and designs.
• 😀 Adobe Photoshop is used for photo manipulation and texture addition to designs, although the creator is more experienced with Illustrator.
• 😀 Procreate is occasionally used, but the creator prefers Illustrator and Photoshop for most of their work, especially since they don't do freehand drawing.
• 😀 Figma is used for web and product design, making it easy to create website layouts, pitch decks, and social media templates, with a strong preference for its resizing features and image handling.
• 😀 Canva and Adobe Express are both mentioned as good design tools, with Adobe Express especially useful for background removal and animation, within the Adobe Creative Cloud.
• 😀 Premiere Pro is highlighted as an essential tool for content creators, especially for video editing and long-form content.
• 😀 When sourcing fonts, the creator gravitates toward free and commercially licensed fonts, using platforms like Adobe Fonts, Google Fonts, and others for diverse font selection.
• 😀 Mockups are essential for bringing designs to life, with recommended platforms such as Mr. Mockup, Unblast, and Graphic Pair. The creator emphasizes the value of a lifetime subscription to Graphic Pair.
• 😀 For portfolio and website creation, the creator uses Squarespace for its ease and sleek design. They recommend exploring Framer and Readymag for more customizable options with unique animations and features.
• 😀 The creator shares their personal design journey, advising to practice creativity every day, embrace imperfection, and focus on learning through hands-on experience. They stress that the process of becoming a designer takes time and dedication.

Q & A

What hardware does the designer currently use for their work?

The designer currently uses a MacBook Pro M4 with specific specs, an iPhone 16 for photography and videos, an LG My View Smart Monitor, and a Logitech Pop Icon keyboard and mouse.

What is the most important tool for the designer?

The most important tool for the designer is their laptop, as they primarily work with it. All other tools and devices are secondary.

Why does the designer recommend the MacBook Pro M1 for beginners?

The designer recommends the MacBook Pro M1 for beginners because it got them through most of their college years and the start of their freelance career, offering a solid performance for starting out in graphic design.

What are the main software programs the designer uses for graphic design?

The designer mainly uses Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and sometimes Procreate. Illustrator is their primary tool for vector-based work, while Photoshop is used for photo editing and adding textures. Procreate is used occasionally, primarily for freehand drawing.

How does the designer feel about using Adobe InDesign?

The designer does not use Adobe InDesign, as they never fully learned it and found it uninteresting. They prefer using Illustrator for layouts instead of InDesign.

What resources does the designer use for fonts?

The designer uses several resources for fonts, including Adobe Fonts (free with a subscription), Google Fonts, and other font foundries like Open Foundry, The League of Movable Type, and Velvetine. They also recommend exploring paid font options for clients willing to invest in high-quality fonts.

What are some key mockup resources the designer recommends?

The designer recommends using resources like Mr. Mockup, Unblast, Graphic Pair, and Anthony Boyd mockups for finding quality mockups. They particularly recommend Graphic Pair, as they purchased a lifetime subscription for it.

What platform does the designer use for their portfolio website, and why?

The designer uses Squarespace for their portfolio because they like the templates and the ease of formatting for both desktop and mobile use. They previously used Wix but switched to Squarespace for its more intuitive interface.

How does the designer approach learning and improving as a graphic designer?

The designer emphasizes learning by doing. They suggest creating something every day, even if it's not perfect. They recommend experimenting with different styles and mediums, watching tutorials, and practicing consistently. They also advise being patient, as it can take years to start liking one's own work.

What is the designer's advice for overcoming the fear of creating bad designs?

The designer advises lowering expectations and allowing oneself to be bad at first. They emphasize that every attempt is a step toward improvement and that making mistakes is part of the learning process. The key is to practice every day, even if the designs are not perfect.