Lifelong learning: returning to design
I’ve come to a bit of a crossroads with my career. My photography is taking off slowly but nicely again, after coming to a full stop in 2020, when I was a gnat’s chuff away from selling all my gear, another pandemic hurdle. I’ve actually been asked to write an article for Scotland’s top documentary photography org, about one of my projects, which is a complete turnaround.
But in the process of getting back up and running I’ve come to realise that I actually really miss graphic design. There was a podcast episode I listened to recently which was about the hierarchy of design elements as they relate to everything from botched Oscar announcements, to 3 mile island, which made me realise I have more knowledge than I give myself credit for.
Then I decided to redesign and relaunch my website. I’d been putting this off because I’d sworn off design after the last UX job I had about a decade ago. Much to my surprise I really loved the process. I really enjoy playing with fonts. I love colour theory, and playing about with colour palettes. All that jazz.
It’s also become obvious that my work is very often influenced by my design years anyway, whether I do it consciously or not, so it makes sense to start letting both sides of my creative brain flex and work off each other.
Practically speaking, it all feeds into my health too. Which frankly sucks at this time of year. Ever since the CFS/ME started, February has always been my hibernation month. I just don’t have the oomph to get out and make photo work. I do, however, still have the ability to write and design. In fact I feel the need to do something, in the absence of having my camera gear on my back. So I can do this, from the comfort of my chair and an iPad Pro, or I can head into the studio and work there if I need peace.
If, heaven forbid, things get so bad that I can’t continue as a ‘tog, then I’ve got a way forward too.
All of which is a very windbag way to say I’ve started a new series of design courses which will get me back up to speed over the span of a year. Some of the courses are Adobe certified, which I think will mean I’m Adobe certified too, which will be great. The main thing is that I’ll have a better grounding in the discipline. I was self taught, and had a fairly instinctive grasp of design concepts, but I didn’t have the lexicon to explain them or learn more. I got by because I was at a basic level, reasonable at design, but it was things like being very good at talking to clients and interpreting their needs that saw me through.
So this time round, I’m giving myself a framework to really improve and understand the medium.
The courses, if you're interested, are at a well respected educator site called Yes, I'm A Designer.
It's already filling me with enthusiasm for a medium and art form that I'd always missed. I can already see how it's going to help me with my practice as a photographer. From designing books and zines, to improving this site, to helping me vocalise better ways to compose images than the simple rule of thirds rote mantra that can stagnate image making (grids for the win), I believe design can help me move forwards as an artist, and my photography is a godsend for my design.
Fingers crossed this may turn into a positive feedback loop. Even if it doesn’t, it feels good to be learning again.