Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

paulscottondesign

41 Years Experience

Marbella, ES

Male, 58

I have been in the graphic design industry since 1981 working in London, Los Angeles & Spain. My career started in the traditional way on a drawing board, using Rotoring Pens, Magic Markers, Pantone Pens & Letraset working as a Designer/Visualiser/Artworker. My design career has taken me through the music, toy, t-shirt, packaging & print industry. I am now a freelance graphic designer (British) based in Spain with many clients worldwide ...now using Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign on a Mac.

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Last Answer on September 13, 2021

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Hi! Im creating a logo and need help creating a "logo breaking though a wall" look. Any advice? I am using illustrator and/or photoshop. any sites you recommend that might give tutorials?
Thanks so much!
Ariella

Asked by Ariella over 11 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Basically its down to how good you are at illustration and perspective drawing and plenty of research on the web. Here is a helping hand with sample images... http://www.google.com/search?q=logo+breaking+through+wall&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SKJnUYCQDcjwhQe38IGoDA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1749&bih=1082

But as for tutorials, I havent seen any that fit your requirements, but the images on the link I sent you are a starting point. Research is the key point ...but do not do direct copies of other peoples work.

This tutorial may help with perspective drawing in Illustrator... http://tv.adobe.com/watch/illustrator-cs5-feature-tour/perspective-drawing/ ...its a bit advanced though.

Hope this helps.

I've been doing some graphics for a non-profit company and I've been using some stock from the internet. I know some or most of the images might be copyrighted. What would be the best way to approach this issue?

Asked by Adam about 11 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Well, whether the company is non-profit or not you should not use copyrighted material without either asking permission to use it, buying it or including a link to the owner (if they agree on you using it). Maybe approach the company that you did the work for and explain that you accidently used some copyrighted material and need to replace it ...they should understand  the reason as they could be in trouble too. Then you need to find or buy some uncopyrighted material to replace it with.

i am currently studying graphic design in mexico and im moving to the UK when ive finished would i have trouble finding a job...

Asked by gabriela over 11 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Even though I am British I have been based in Spain for the last 10 years so not sure on the job opportunities in the UK. It might be worth finding a company that takes on student exchanges which will get your foot in the door at least ...then it is up to you to prove your worth. Otherwise you need to do an extensive search online for companies recruiting around the time you move there.

Sorry I can t give more help than that. Good luck for the future.

Are graphics designers and web designers the same thing?

Asked by Trickett over 11 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . It's a mistaken belief by many clients that they are ...but in my opinion they are 2 different careers. I am a graphic designer and never say I am a web designer. I say I design web graphics but not the whole package. Many web designers though like to think they are graphic designers but in reality they usually use off the shelf templates. Most web designers are developers/coders and have no interest in design and visa versa for graphic designers.

I personally outsorce all coding/programming to web designers I collaborate with, but I do design web page layouts in photoshop ...which I admit I find a little boring so usually give it to a junior designer to do who are usually happy to take it on for experience.

Hope that answers your question.

How many years do you think web design standards last before they look outdated? For example: do you already look at things from 2010 or 2011 and think Man, that looks so outdated!

Asked by TrezChic over 11 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . I think web design i 2010 / 2011 is not much different to now ...for years web templates have been used and they basically all look the same. I personally do not use off the shelf templates if I have to design a site ...but its not my favourite job and always pass it to a junior.

I am sure over the next few years there will be a big difference to how websites look, especially with all the new technology being used now ...and that Flash is not really being used due to the fact it doesnt work on ipads or iphones etc. Future websites, in my opinion, will start to look more basic but with more functions and interactivity.

Hello. I am a 'go between' for a few designers. Must I have Illustrator to be able to download/share .ai files? Is there an option beside using a 'dropbox' like tool? Thanks!

Asked by nicole over 11 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . No you dont need Illustrator to download or share .ai files ...only if you want to open them. I use DropBox to share files with clients so it is a good solution for the requirements ...but there are many file sharing options out there ...too many to list, but another one I use is sendit.com

I am always receiving files from clients and they all have their own favourite way of sending them.

I saved all my photos onto some flash drives, they were all fine when I first transferred them, but now almost all of them are choppy and distorted. I have no other copies of these photos, is there anything I can do to fix them? Thanks.

Asked by Hannah over 11 years ago

Well, firstly I am not sure why the photos would have gone like that on your flash drive ...only a PC techy could answer that one. And as for fixing them it really depends on how badly distorted they are. If not too bad you can restore them in photoshop ...thats is if you are good at photoshop and retouching images. Other than that all I can suggest is always keep photos, documents etc backed up in more than one place (too late for you now, but good to do it from now). I learnt my lesson the hard way ...about 4 years ago my hard drive crashed and I lost 7 years of photos and music because I never backed up my personal stuff ...but luckily I did back up my clients work. Now I have my back up running every hour onto an external hardrive and now and again I copy the back up onto another drive.