My Graphic Design Journey
My Graphic Design Journey
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Reflecting on 33 Years in the Evolving Design Industry
My journey in graphic design began in 1990, when I was just 16 years old and enrolled in a Graphic Design & Production Skills course at Bedford College.
At that time, digital design didn’t exist—not a single computer was available for students in the design department. Computers were used primarily for word processing, and there was a dedicated classroom for that purpose.
Graphic design work was entirely hands-on. We used drawing boards, marker pens, pencils, paints, and rulers to create print materials like menus, book covers, and typographic layouts—all by hand.
The First Steps into Digital Design
My first full-time job in the mid-1990s was as an Office Junior. One of my duties was covering the reception desk during staff lunch breaks. The reception computer had a simple program installed—Microsoft Paint. I quickly found myself fascinated by it, spending time creating pixel-based images and text. It was my first taste of digital creativity.
Years later, in 2001, I returned to study Access Art, Design & Media and finally got my first personal computer: a second-hand iMac G3. I installed QuarkXPress to create layouts and print designs. Shortly after, Adobe released its Creative Suite in 2002—just as I began my BA (Hons) in Communication Design (2002–2005). This marked a major turning point in how I worked.
The Adobe tools worked in harmony. I used Dreamweaver for websites, Flash for animated banners, InDesign for print layouts, Illustrator for logos and vector graphics, and Photoshop for image editing—back when removing a background took a great deal of time and patience!
The Rise of Digital and the Need to Adapt
Technology began evolving rapidly. As a designer, I had to stay up to date—not just with tools, but also with trends and user behavior. New digital devices were being released constantly, each with different screen sizes and resolutions, which introduced fresh design challenges.
Technology began evolving rapidly. As a designer, I had to stay up to date—not just with tools, but also with trends and user behavior. New digital devices were being released constantly, each with different screen sizes and resolutions, which introduced fresh design challenges.
The rise of smartphones transformed both personal and professional life. Between 2003 and 2007, platforms like MySpace, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, Flickr, and Facebook became part of everyday culture. Social media changed how people consumed content, and as designers, we had to adapt quickly.
Designers were no longer working solely for print—we were now designing for screens of all kinds: desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. With users becoming increasingly tech-savvy, expectations around digital experiences rose.
The Shift Toward Minimalism and UX
With these changes came a shift in design aesthetics. Clean, minimalistic layouts became standard, helping users navigate content across multiple devices. User experience (UX) became the cornerstone of web and app design.
Today, many people build their own websites using drag-and-drop platforms. Thanks to countless tutorials on YouTube and social media, DIY web design is more accessible than ever.
At the same time, having a website is now almost a necessity. Online branding and marketing have become 24/7 operations, and success often depends on search engine visibility (SEO) and analytics. Compared to the days of traditional print-only design, today’s reach is truly global.
What Hasn't Changed
Despite all this evolution, one thing remains constant: the core principles of graphic design. Whether in print or digital, the goal is the same—to give expressive form and clarity to content in order to effectively communicate a message.
That’s what continues to inspire me, even after three decades in the industry.
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