graphic design daily tasks

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30-day challenges every graphic designer must try out, introduction.

What’s the one thing you practice every day without fail? Journaling? Playing an instrument? Your craft? It could be anything. But sticking to the topic, let’s discuss why we designers should practice short design exercises every day. The point is not why we should practice something every day. Rather, it’s what happens when we practice something every day. For me, the following things happened –

1.  It becomes easier to build a habit

2.  The power of compounding

When you do something every day, you naturally tend to get better at it and faster. Little by little, our skill becomes sharper, which contributes to an overall improvement in our designs.

3.  Learning by doing

The daily practice encourages learning by doing, which is the best way to learn anything. When we do something new, we run into roadblocks, which on overcoming, grant us a greater understanding than only reading or listening ever could. Multiply that with the days in the month, and you’ll be surprised how much these short exercises can help improve your skill.

4.   Improve productivity

5.   Letting go of perfectionism

We often tend to overthink our work, wasting much mental energy and time on non-trivial things. Having a time limit to complete a short task every day allows us to let go of perfectionism.  We learn to embrace our flaws and find the patience to seek mastery through practice.

30-day Design Challenges for Graphic Designers

1. the daily logo challenge.

graphic design daily tasks

The daily logo challenge is a popular design challenge. You can subscribe to the challenge for free using your email, and the prompts will be delivered to your inbox every day for 50 days. It is a great commitment to get better at design and build a worthwhile portfolio while doing so. They also regularly feature the design attempts on their social media handles. So, watch out for yours! Share your designs on social media, receive feedback, critique your peer’s work, and with each day of the challenge, get one step closer to mastering logo design.

2. Memorisely Monthly UX/UI challenges

memorisely

Memorisely, founded by the product designer Zander, is a fully remote startup that offers UI/UX learning resources. The Memorisely monthly UX/UI challenge is a free one-month challenge that holds the participants accountable to improve their skills every day. These challenges vary every month. To start, click on “start challenge” and fill in your details. Upon doing this, you’ll get access to Memorisely’s slack community, where you’ll see the daily tasks as well as connect with fellow creatives. At the end of the month, participants are encouraged to share their designs in a monthly showcase. This challenge is an amazing way to upskill yourself while getting active feedback from a community of creatives.

3. Daily UI design challenges

Daily UI

If you’re looking to get better at UI design, this is another great challenge for you. Started in 2016, the Daily UI Design Challenge now has over 250,000+ participants all over the globe (as mentioned on their website). Once you subscribe to the challenge with your email, you’ll get a unique UI design challenge every day from Monday to Friday. Practice design daily with the challenges, share your work on social media, and build a solid design portfolio. Another attractive aspect of this challenge is the rewards they give out randomly in the form of design resources, product discount codes, and more.

4. Inktober

Inktober

Inktober is a month-long art challenge that takes place every October. Created by artist Jake Parker, Inktober is a challenge that allows artists to see how much they can improve in a month. Funnily enough, Inktober has something for everyone, be it designers, illustrators, artists, or even writers (read the FAQs). The prompts are released on September 1 st every year, and you can start uploading your work from October 1 st . The best thing about this challenge is that there is no right or wrong way of doing it. The freedom to express your craft however you want allows you to break away from the everyday mundane tasks and get creative. If you’re reading this after October, you can still practice the prompts from this year or the previous years by yourself and participate in the official Inktober next time.

5. 36 Days of Type

36 days of type

Typography is one of the most important aspects of graphic design. Started as a personal project in 2014, 36 Days of Type has transformed into a famous Latin typography challenge with participation from designers, visual artists, and creatives from diverse fields. The dates for each edition of the challenge are released a few days before the start, between February and April. Upon commencement, the task is to design your interpretation of one alphabet or number each day, ranging from A to Z and 0 to 9. Practice manipulating type with this challenge and develop a better eye for it in doing so.

6. Behance Daily Creative Challenge

Behance Daily Creative Challenge

  • XD ( https://www.behance.net/challenge/xd )
  • Photoshop ( https://www.behance.net/challenge/photoshop )

7. Honorable mentions

  • Dribble Weekly Warm-up Dribble has Weekly Warm-up shots where they post a design prompt every week. It is not a challenge and is intended purely for the sake of design and nothing else. You can rebound each weekly Warm-up with your interpretation of the prompt with the hashtag “dribbleweeklywarmup.” Since it’s a common prompt, you can also track other entries that are shared with the hashtag.
  • Custom 30-day design challenge with prompt generators If you are not into any of the above challenges but would like to have your own daily practice, head on to this blog I wrote some time ago. This blog includes ways to generate design prompts that are more catered to your taste. As long as you hold yourself accountable, you can use these methods for your very own daily design challenge. Now, isn’t that fun?

I used to feel that I needed to practice for hours every day to get better. Because of that, I ended up procrastinating a lot instead of building a daily habit. The amount of confidence and skill-building that comes with staying accountable is priceless. Whether it’s designing Logos or User Interfaces, give these challenges a try. Remember to keep the tasks short and fun so that you don’t exhaust yourself. It’s okay if it isn’t perfect; it’s still a step forward. If you know of more exciting daily challenges, share them with us in the comments section. Good luck!

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7 comments on “30-day challenges every graphic designer must try out”

Price? How can I know more about this course?

Really good resources & information

I do this challenge seriously.😊

[…] tales of creativity, innovation, and resourcefulness shed light on how MacBook Air users tackle design challenges and leverage the machine’s strengths. Here, we delve into a few illuminating case studies […]

Yes I want to become a best graphic designer . So I am agree start practice with your . Plz guide me more.

All the best. We look forward to you acheiving your dream. Here is a link that might help you take the next steps - What I learnt in my first month as a Self-Taught Graphic Design Intern - Penthara Technologies

Thanks for this🙏. I am excited to try out the daily challenges i need❤

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What’s It Like to Be a Graphic Designer?

Thinking about becoming a graphic designer ? One of the best ways to decide on a career path is by getting familiar with the daily activities of professionals in the field and seeing if they match your interest and align with your personal goals. This article contains all the relevant information on the job of graphic designers and gives you insight into a day in the life of a graphic designer. 

What Is a Graphic Designer?

A graphic designer is a professional who creates visual content with the intent of communicating a message. They typically design posters, websites, billboards, packaging, logos, and other marketing and advertising designs. 

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This job requires problem-solving, time management, typography, branding, presentation, and effective communication skills. Another asset is knowledge of Adobe’s creative apps and, most importantly, creativity.

What Does a Graphic Designer Do On a Daily Basis? 

A graphic designer will typically start their day by going through their calendar to see the scheduled events, then proceed to check their emails for new developments, messages from clients, and other important notices. The rest of the day will depend on these two actions.

  • Prepares their daily schedule . At the start of the day, these professionals prepare their daily plans by prioritizing important tasks, usually whichever ones have the closest deadlines. This can involve setting up client meetings, responding to clients, and arranging meetings with partners depending on their design firm or industry.
  • Reports and creates a schedule . Reporting on tasks and deliveries to clients or partners is an essential part of a graphic designer’s day. Customers need to know when to expect their projects and need to be kept up to date with any deadline changes caused by new developments. Delays can also affect the billable hours of work put in by designers. 
  • Meets with clients . After updating clients on tasks and deliveries, these experts often meet up with new or returning clients about new jobs and discuss the design process and their expectations. If necessary, they may also meet with existing clients to discuss the progress of ongoing projects.
  • Creates concepts, drafts, and prototypes . Prior to working on the main task, most graphic designers go through a creative process using the concept given by the client. They may work on a sample draft, then a prototype for the client to see the proposed outcome of the design. Not all designers work on a draft and prototype, however, as some choose just one option to demonstrate to the client.
  • Designs and finishes up the day . After going through a variety of design choices, they decide which one they like best. Then, they proceed to the actual work of designing or completing any outstanding work for a project that had already been started. They do this until the end of the day and finish by informing clients of new ETAs and developments.

How Can I Become a Graphic Designer?

You can become a graphic designer through various learning paths. The best path for you depends on your preferred learning methods as well as the opportunities you have. For instance, you can go to college and get a degree or you can also choose to learn through various online programs, visual design bootcamps , or certifications.

Graphic Designer Degrees

A college degree is a traditional way to break into any field. You get to learn beyond the basics of the field and can easily start a career upon completion. The same goes for graphic design. You can enroll in college for a degree in graphic design, graphic arts, or any related program. The program is typically four years long but could be more or less depending on the school.

Graphic Designer Online Courses

Online graphic design courses are a great way to start a career in many fields like graphic design. They teach you the basics and offer courses that can help you upgrade your skills in your field. Online programs can be taken by anyone but are more common among those looking to upgrade their skills or transition from another career.

Graphic Designer Bootcamps

Graphic design bootcamps aim to equip students with the relevant skills needed to become professionals in the field. You can join a graphic design bootcamp if you don’t want to go to college or are transitioning from another career. They are typically short-term programs that can be taken in multiple formats, including online, in-person, part-time, and full-time. They often include ways of connecting you to potential employers.

Graphic Designer Certifications

Graphic designer certifications are best for those who already have professional experience in the field. They generally serve as proof to employers of your skills. Certifications usually require the completion of an exam and are typically respected by employers. They help you secure jobs faster as they prove that you can deliver efficiently.

Graphic Designer Internships

Internships are a common way to start a career in graphic design. An internship allows you to work under professionals while learning and practicing the skills you’ve gained over time. They are more common among college graduates but are available to those who have learned through other means as well, as long as you’ve learned the necessary skills. 

Graphic Designer Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are programs that allow you to earn as you learn. They are open to people of all skill levels and are usually best for beginners in the field. With a graphic design apprenticeship, you can learn under the supervision of an experienced professional who can teach you the skills required to start your career in graphic design.

How Can I Get a Job as a Graphic Designer?

A man working on his Mac in an office setting. A Day In The Life Of A Graphic Designer

You can become a graphic designer by following these steps. They include getting an education, developing your skills, starting a career by freelancing, building a portfolio that can be showcased to clients, and becoming a member of the graphic design community. These steps will help you secure your first job as a professional graphic designer.

Steps to Finding a Job as a Graphic Designer

  • Get training or an education

Before you can get a job as a graphic designer, you need to learn the necessary skills. You can enroll in college, take online courses, join a bootcamp, or apply for an internship or apprenticeship. Any of these options will get you started on your journey and get you real-life experience.

  • Develop your skills

Once you’ve received training, you’ll have to keep practicing to develop your skills. While an education or training is beneficial, you’ll still need to practice on your own. This will improve your chances of landing a good job, as your honed skills will make you more hirable.

Freelancing is one of the easiest ways to start your graphic design career. You’ll have the opportunity to apply for graphic design jobs independently, build your client base, try out different kinds of projects, and set your earnings. This will help you earn more, learn new skills, gain experience, and discover your strengths and weaknesses.

  • Build a portfolio

A portfolio is your way of showcasing your graphic design skills. An image is worth a thousand words, and your work needs to speak for itself. Potential employers and clients will often ask to see your portfolio so that they can gauge your skills. You’ll build your portfolio as you grow and learn and increase your chances of securing a good job.

  • Join an industry community

Industry communities can provide you with the opportunity to mingle with other professionals in the field. They can update you on industry trends and share news of job openings at various companies. By joining a community, you would be at an advantage and stay in the know through workshops and other events they organize. 

What Is the Average Salary of a Graphic Designer?

The average annual salary of a graphic designer , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $53,380. While this is the general amount for graphic designers, their salary could differ based on other factors like the state of the industry, their skill and experience level, and the type of design they specialize in. 

Salary for an Entry-Level Graphic Designer

According to PayScale, an entry-level graphic designer makes an average salary of $39,659. This salary is calculated based on 564 survey responses gathered by PayScale and includes tips, bonuses, and overtime pay. Those who fit into this category have work experience of a year or less.

Salary for a Mid-Level Graphic Designer 

The average annual salary of a mid-level graphic designer is $50,272, according to PayScale. This amount is based on the data gathered from 5,752 salaries. A mid-level career graphic designer is one with between five to nine years of work experience. 

Salary for a Senior-Level Graphic Designer  

A senior-level graphic designer with 10 to 19 years of experience will earn an average annual salary of about $51,558, based on information gathered from 2,931 salaries from PayScale. Additionally, a senior designer in their late career with over 20 years of experience will earn an average annual salary of $53,062.

Job Outlook for a Graphic Designer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected employment growth of graphic designers is three percent. This is slower than the average when compared to all occupations but is still significant. The BLS also reports that graphic designers are expected to have about 23,900 job openings every year. This is due to the need for companies to have an online digital presence, which makes graphic designers essential.

Should I Become a Graphic Designer?

Yes, you should become a graphic designer if you are passionate about design and have the skills required to pursue it. The graphic design industry is highly rewarding, especially for those who are hardworking, skilled, and up to date on industry trends. If you follow the proper steps combined with a love for the work, graphic design is a promising career to delve into.

A Day in the Life of a Graphic Designer FAQs

Every day, a graphic designer creates concepts and design ideas, brings those ideas to life, communicates with clients, sets up meetings, and delivers on deadlines.

Being a graphic designer is fun if you are creative, have a love of design, and enjoy working on multiple projects in different areas. It can be even more rewarding when working as a freelance graphic designer as you can work with clients from various industries while setting your own salary and workload.

Graphic design isn’t a dying field. Its professionals have many job opportunities, as the projected job growth is positive. The advancement of technology and more companies going digital will provide more career opportunities for graphic designers.

Yes, graphic design is a promising career to go into in 2021. The salary is rewarding and the job growth is stable, making it an excellent career to jump into now.

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A typical day for a graphic designer (how projects get done).

graphic designer daily routine

Updated December 2023

Graphic designers are experts at using images to communicate ideas and solve problems.

They create logos, posters, banners, infographics, websites, game interfaces, album covers, magazines, product packaging, promotional videos, and more.

The final product needs to not only look good, but also meet specific branding and business goals.

Ultimately, a graphic designer’s job is to use visual elements to inform and inspire an audience.

But how do they go about doing that? What does a graphic designer’s daily routine look like?

In this post, we walk you through a typical workflow for a graphic design project.

Learn more about the steps designers go through and their role in project development.

1. REVIEW THE CREATIVE BRIEF

The first step is to make sure you understand the client’s needs and expectations. This is done through a creative brief.

The creative brief is a document that outlines the vision and strategy behind a design project.

It helps you and everyone else on the project team understand who the target audience is, what message you need to convey, and what deliverables need to be produced.

An account manager or creative director typically writes the creative brief and gets the client to sign off on it. You then use the information in the brief to guide your design choices.

Your role is to implement creative solutions to meet business objectives.

Whether you're working on a new website design or developing a book cover - the process always starts with a creative brief and a discussion about client needs and goals.

2. PERFORM MARKET RESEARCH

Even if you have a detailed creative brief, it’s wise to undertake some market research.

You need to gather information on your client’s competitors so that you can figure out what designs are out there, what works, and what doesn’t.

The goal is to make sure you create something unique that helps your client stand out from the pack.

It’s also important to learn as much as possible about who you’re designing for.

What kinds of images does your target audience respond to? What sort of content do they engage with on social media?

3. BRAINSTORM IDEAS

It’s time to start thinking about actual design ideas.

The creative brief may include examples of designs that the client likes, so that’s a good starting point. Use those designs as inspiration, but don’t copy them. You need to be original.

While you’re brainstorming, it often helps to create a mood board.

A mood board is a collection of elements that evoke the kind of emotion you want from your design. It can include anything from photos and colours to illustrations, patterns and fonts.

You can use a mood board to settle on a visual direction before beginning any design work.

4. CREATE MOCKUPS

Now you’re ready to begin making some rough sketches or mockups.

Many designers like to start with hand-drawn sketches on paper before moving to software programs like InDesign or Photoshop. But you can use whatever tools you prefer.

At this stage, you’re just looking to communicate your basic design ideas to the client to make sure you’re on the right track. Don’t waste your time making things look too polished or final.

Your client will probably have feedback and requests at this stage, so you'll need to make changes (more on that next).

5. GET CLIENT FEEDBACK

Next, you need to get the client’s thoughts and opinions on your proposed design.

It’s critical to get their reaction to your mockup to make sure you’re on the same page before you invest time and energy in completing a full design.

You need to be open to comments and suggestions, but you shouldn’t hesitate to offer your professional expertise about what changes may not work.

Remember: it’s the client’s vision that counts. Don’t get so attached to your design that you’re unwilling to pivot in a new direction.

It may take a few rounds of back and forth with the client before you settle on something that works.

6. BUILD THE FINAL DESIGN

This is when you flesh out your concept into a full-fledged, polished design. Even if you didn’t use design software in the sketching stage, you certainly will now.

The final product should meet the goals outlined in the creative brief. It should also differentiate the client from their competitor and resonate with the target audience.

And of course, it should make the client happy.

Once the client has approved the design, it’s time for production.

7. PREPARE FOR PRODUCTION

The final step is packaging your design for production.

You need to deliver your work in a specific format or file type, depending on the intended output (print vs digital).

Make sure everything is the correct size and resolution and that all necessary elements, such as fonts or image files, are included.

At this stage, you might collaborate with a web developer to make sure your designs function as planned (if you're working on a website, app, or other interactive digital product).

WANT TO GET STARTED AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER?

It all begins with some quality training. You don't need a university degree to become a successful designer. A college certificate is enough to begin your career.

Have a look at the graphic design program offered by Herzing College. The program provides thorough training in graphic design principles and Adobe software. And it takes just 10 months to complete.

Students get real work experience through a six-week internship and graduate with a portfolio of both print and digital projects.

Wondering if Herzing’s graphic design training is right for you? An admissions advisor can answer all your questions and help you determine if the program is a good fit.

Click below to learn more about the program and chat live with an advisor. We’re here to help!

Learn More About Graphic Design Training at Herzing College

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Daily Life of a Graphic Designer

Discover what it takes to build a career as a Graphic Designer. Learn about the daily tasks, specializations, and the important skills you need to excel in this creative field.

Key Insights:

  • Graphic Designers work with digital design tools to create designs, illustrations, and work on large-scale projects to meet client's specifications.
  • A Graphic Designer is a creative professional who uses text and imagery to share a message with an audience through various mediums such as advertising, social media, or product packaging.
  • Graphic Designers may specialize in areas such as brand identity, package design, digital design, and layout and print design.
  • Managing daily workflow efficiently and being able to respond quickly to feedback are important skills for Graphic Designers.
  • Graphic Designers often need to work overtime to meet project deadlines, especially when unexpected changes or issues arise.
  • Noble Desktop offers graphic design classes and certificates for those looking to start a career in graphic design, providing foundational skills in popular design programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Graphics Designers are responsible for creating designs and illustrations using digital design tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator. They will work closely with teams of designers to see that large-scale design projects are completed on time and meet a client’s specifications and desires. Their daily tasks will be largely dependent on what stage of the design process they are working on at any given moment. Early in the process, they may spend most of their time meeting with project managers, brainstorming design ideas, or mapping out large projects to ensure that workflow is being optimized. Later on in the process, designers will spend more time working on individual aspects of the project, collaborating with other team members, and ensuring that the finished product is polished and ready to be presented. At the end of the process, designers will respond to client feedback and iterate on the design to make sure that they are delivering the exact product that their clients intended.

What is a Graphic Designer?

A Graphic Designer is a creative professional who combines text and visually appealing imagery to share a message with an audience. This could be through advertising, social media, or product packaging, to name a few. They are well-versed in design principles like color and typography and are committed to staying up-to-date on the latest trends. Whether they work for an agency or freelancer, they collaborate with clients and other team members to create high-quality designs that appeal to new and existing customers. 

In addition to proficiency in professional design programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator , a successful Graphic Designer must also work well with others. Graphic Designers rarely work alone, and since their job is to create a product that matches a client's vision, they must be willing to accept feedback and suggestions from others. Time management skills are also crucial for a Graphic Designer; since most of them work freelance, they often work on multiple projects for many clients simultaneously. 

Read more about what a Graphic Designer does . 

Graphic Designer Specializations

Because graphic design is such a varied career path, many professionals choose to specialize in one or two types of graphic design before branching out to others. One popular choice is brand identity , which relates to creating logos and other easily recognizable images that customers can quickly associate with a brand, whether the image is on a billboard or a business card. Package design is another specialization within graphic design. People in this role are responsible for creating visually appealing and informative packaging since most packages need to provide instructions on how to use the product inside.

Digital design focuses on creating the interface and other graphics for web and mobile applications. Coding skills may be necessary if you choose this route, but you can browse specific job listings to learn more about the required skills. Layout and print design are all about balancing images and text when creating layouts for things like brochures, magazines, and newspapers. These professionals are particularly skilled in typography and composition and usually use Adobe InDesign to achieve their designs. 

Read more about other job titles related to Graphic Designer .

Starting Your Day

Most graphic designers will work in one of two places. Either they will work in a design studio alongside other designers, or they will work from home. In either case, most of a designer's time will be spent either in brainstorming meetings with clients, project managers, or other designers or will be spent in front of a computer working on digitally-aided designs. The amount of time spent working with other designers and project managers is mostly contingent on whether or not a designer works for a large firm or is self-employed. 

For most Graphic Designers, the start of the day will be focused on catching up on developments that may have caused projects to shift since the last time they were picked up. Whether this involves checking emails from clients and project managers, participating in regular Zoom meetings, or simply checking relevant Slack channels, designers will get into a groove that helps them navigate a rapidly changing project workload. If they are at the beginning of a project, they may receive specs or even brand-new assignments. At the end of a project, they may start their day by checking if there is any significant feedback or last-minute revisions they need to prioritize during the day. In many cases, Graphic Designers will be expected to be willing and able to change their designs at a moment’s notice, so they are likely to be checking their workload for changes daily.

Since Graphic Designers are most likely to be employed by design firms or as self-employed individuals, they are likely to be working on various projects. Designers working at firms are likely to be working on a single project at a time, though they may be tasked with working on multiple aspects of that project. Self-employed designers are far more likely to take on many individual commissions at one time, so they will likely juggle a few different projects simultaneously.

Designers tend to work on large projects fairly regularly, including everything from designing company logos to entire advertising spreads in newspapers or magazines. This is especially true for self-employed designers who will have less of an established footprint and need to accept a more diverse range of jobs to stay financially solvent. Freelance designers will eventually learn how to manage their job requirements and work at the pace that best suits their needs, though they are far more likely to juggle multiple projects at once and work outside of regular work hours.

Almost all designers will need to maintain constant contact with their team leaders (if they have one) and their clients to ensure that the work aligns with the overall design goals of their assignments or commissions. This may be in-person, or it may be through digital telecommunications channels. In some cases, this may be done through a series of email exchanges.

Graphic Designers will receive regular feedback on their work because it is important that they are meeting the specifications of the project that they have been assigned. This will usually take the form of annotations on their work, though in some cases, they may meet with team leaders and clients in person to discuss a given project. Graphic designers will need to be able to quickly and effectively respond to this feedback as a part of their job description, especially for freelance workers who are hoping to build positive relationships with potential clients. 

Graphic designers will manage their daily workflow by moving through different assignments and finding the work cycle that works best for them. This will be dependent on the number of different assignments that a designer has to complete at any given time, but overtime, designers will become more and more accustomed to the nature of their workload.

The process of wrapping up your workday as a Graphic Designer will depend on where in the process you are and what kind of assignments you are working on. For many graphic designers, at the end of the workday, you’ll send off your work to your project manager or editors for evaluation and approval so that you can come to work the next day ready to move on and receive feedback or requests for alterations. Near the end of the project, you may also bring a client into the loop.

For self-employed designers, there won’t be a team of managers and colleagues to be sharing work with, so you won’t really be engaging with anyone else until you are prepared to send a design to a client for approval. This also means that self-employed Graphic Designers have greater freedom to decide what constitutes the end of their workday, since they aren’t likely to be providing as many daily updates as their counterparts working at large firms.

Graphic Designers, either self-employed or otherwise, may need to do a lot of meaningful crunch work as deadlines approach. If a project has not been going smoothly or there have been meaningful last-minute changes to a commission, designers may be forced to work overtime to meet deadlines. This is something that is likely to be obvious early on in the process, but it is an issue worth considering when contemplating what your daily life will look like as a Graphic Designer.

Graphic Designers will need to work overtime if snags in the early stages of a design project cause a backup of work that needs to be resolved before a deadline. Sometimes a difficult client will ask for changes and sometimes an issue with one team will cascade into problems wrapping up the design process. This is likely to only cause issues near the end of a project and one of the minor silver linings is that it rarely comes out of left field. Teams of designers know that they are behind well before they reach crunch time, so they know that more intense work will need to be done.

For freelance designers, there isn’t a set schedule you are required to follow, so there isn’t really a post-work time period. If you feel the most comfortable working late at night, then there is very little to stop you from doing this, assuming you meet clients’ deadlines and can keep in consistent communication with them. However, self-employed Graphic Designers are far more likely to end up in a position where they need to work overtime, either by falling behind in their own work or underestimating how tight a deadline is.

Learn the Skills to Become a Graphic Designer at Noble Desktop

If you want to start a career in graphic design, the graphic design classes offered by Noble Desktop are an excellent place to start. Students can take all their classes remotely or in-person at their Manhattan campus. For students who want to start slow by just learning one popular design program, Noble offers an Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp , an Adobe InDesign Bootcamp , and an Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp . These beginner-friendly courses take just a few days to complete and will provide students with foundational design skills.

For those who feel ready to dive into a more comprehensive program, Noble Desktop’s Graphic Design Certificate might be a better fit. Students will complete hands-on assignments using popular design programs, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. This program is ideal for those hoping to start a career as a Graphic Designer. Certificate students at Noble Desktop receive individual career mentorship, where experts in the design industry help craft resumes and portfolios and provide helpful tips for finding lucrative employment. 

If a class isn’t feasible for your current schedule, Noble Desktop has a host of resources on its website to help start your graphic design career. You can browse their collection of articles about Photoshop , Illustrator , and InDesign if you’re curious about how each program works. You can also review information about other design tools to see if another field might interest you more.

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What Do Graphic Designers Do On A Daily Basis?

by Taylor Slattery | October 24, 2023

what-do-graphic-designers-do

Surgery. Crab fishing. Putting out fires. Those are just a few of the things graphic designers don’t do (that last one is debatable). Graphic design plays such an integral role in such a wide variety of industries that it’s actually easier to list the things graphic designers don’t do than to list the things they do. But we’ll try to give you the basics and help answer that burning question: exactly what do graphic designers do during their daily jobs?

What Do Graphic Designers Do?

Graphic designers often engage in a variety of creative and technical tasks on a daily basis. This includes brainstorming and sketching out new concepts, creating or editing images and layouts using specialized software, and conducting research into current design trends or materials for specific projects.

The design work is often a collaborative effort, involving discussions and meetings with clients, team members, and other stakeholders to ensure the final product meets the desired requirements and objectives.

The Role of Graphic Designers in Sales

It should come as no surprise that images and words are powerful tools for selling things and graphic designers know how to do this well. Graphic designers understand how to capture attention, control the viewer’s eyes, and leverage psychology in order to craft compelling emotional appeals and designs.

When you know how your customer thinks and what motivates them, it’s not too difficult to tap into their subconscious and start pulling some strings. By appealing to the viewer’s fears and desires, graphic designers can generate interest in products, services, branding voices, and so much more.

When you think of sales, you might think of a smooth talker willing to tell you whatever you want to hear to close a deal, but you can be surprisingly persuasive with just visual design alone. Eye-catching visuals, paired with some clever copy, will outsell even the best salesman a million to one.

So how do graphic designers accomplish this? The answer is…

banner_graphic-design-info

Graphics Designers Tell Stories

Graphic designers use colors, type, and imagery not only to explain what a product or service does, but to build an atmosphere around it so customers also know who it’s for. The combination of these elements allows graphic designers to communicate feelings and ideas in ways that words or images simply can’t convey by themselves. 

This is essentially what branding boils down to. The way we as consumers differentiate between the available options to choose the best solution for us depends on the story that a brand is telling and whether or not it aligns with our own. 

Whether we view ourselves as no-frills, cost-conscious pragmatists or aficionados for whom only the best will do, graphic design is a tool brands use to signal those values and more to capture the right parts of the market that share those same values. 

Sales and marketing tend to get a bad rap, and I’m sure all this talk of psychology is coming off a bit manipulative, but in reality, at the heart of all graphic design is service.

Graphic Designers Help People

What I mean is that graphic designers help people find what they’re looking for. In some cases, that may be helping someone find a product that solves a problem they’re having. In other cases, like signage, it’s more literal.

But generally, the main job of a graphic designer is to communicate a message. To do that well, over time, graphic designers have found shorthand ways and established conventions for the organization of information to help people more quickly and easily find what they’re looking for.

Graphic designers take on the difficult task of collecting complex information and distilling it into its simplest form to make it more digestible. An example in print would be the use of page numbers, headlines, and a table of contents to help readers navigate. In marketing, that might be something less obvious, like a specific combination of colors, imagery, and typography a brand can use to signal to potential customers, “Hey, you might be one of us.”

banner-online-graphic-design-degree

Project Management Within Graphic Design

In addition to all these creative and inspiring aspects, graphic designers also manage the logistical side of projects. This involves keeping track of multiple projects, timelines, and deadlines, as well as preparing and presenting design concepts to clients or team members.

Another part of the daily life of any graphic designer involves handling administrative tasks such as responding to emails, organizing files, and performing quality control checks to ensure that all design aspects meet a client’s specified standards before they are finalized and submitted.

Skill Development for Graphic Designers

Skill development and portfolio management are other crucial aspects of a graphic designer’s daily routine. Continual learning is essential in this ever-evolving field, whether it’s mastering new design software or staying updated on industry trends.

Additionally, updating your portfolio regularly with new work not only showcases your most recent projects but also highlights your ever evolving skill set as well. This is especially important for freelancers and those looking to advance in their careers as designers.

The End-Goal of Graphic Design is to Communicate

In summary, the field of graphic design is much more than just creating appealing visuals. It’s a discipline that intersects with psychology, storytelling, and business strategy to communicate messages effectively and drive results. This is what graphic designers do day in and day out.

Whether you’re an aspiring designer or someone looking to understand the value of design in your business, it’s never too late to delve into this exciting field and event make a career change to become a designer yourself.

To take your skills to the next level, consider enrolling in a specialized graphic design degree program  offered at Sessions College. Our courses are designed to equip you with the latest industry knowledge and practical skills.

graphic design daily tasks

Taylor is the Managing Editor of Notes on Design. Taylor is a graphic designer, illustrator, and Design Lead at Weirdsleep .

If you are interested in developing your graphic design skills, Sessions College offers a range of graphic design courses for students at all levels. Contact Admissions for more information.

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What do graphic designers do on a daily basis?

What do graphic designers do on a daily basis?

  • August 26, 2023
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  • Articles & Posts

In the world of design , graphic designers stand as the architects of visual communication.

Their daily routines are filled with a symphony of creativity, problem-solving, and craftsmanship.

Have you ever wondered, exactly what do graphic designers do on a daily basis?

In this blog post, we’ll explore the duties, creations, and workdays of these talented individuals who bring our visions to life.

What are the Duties of a Graphic Designer?

When it comes to the duties of a graphic designer, they wear many hats and possess a formidable range of skills.

Let’s dive into some of their core responsibilities:

The Art of Visual Storytelling

Graphic designers are the storytellers of the visual realm.

They artfully blend typography, color palettes, imagery, and composition to create designs that evoke emotions and convey messages.

Their duty lies in translating concepts and ideas into captivating visuals that resonate with audiences.

Crafting Memorable Brand Identities

One of the primary tasks of a graphic designer is to develop brand identities that leave a lasting impression.

They meticulously design logos , choose appropriate fonts, and establish consistent visual elements that represent a company’s ethos.

By creating cohesive and memorable brand identities, graphic designers help companies stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Breathing Life into Marketing Collateral

Graphic designers play a vital role in developing marketing collateral that captures attention and drives engagement.

They create eye-catching brochures, posters, social media graphics, and other promotional materials that communicate key messages effectively.

Through their keen sense of aesthetics, they transform information into visually compelling narratives that captivate audiences.

What Do Graphic Designers Create?

Graphic designers are like magicians, conjuring up a wide range of creative assets that enchant and inspire.

Let’s take a glimpse at some of their remarkable creations:

Logos That Speak Volumes

Graphic designers are ambassadors of brand identity, meticulously crafting logos that embody the essence of a company.

They blend symbols, typography, and color psychology to create visual representations that become the face of a business.

Captivating Web Designs

In the digital age, graphic designers are indispensable in shaping user experiences on websites and apps.

They immerse themselves in the world of user interface (UI) design, carefully selecting layouts, creating intuitive navigation systems, and ensuring visual harmony to captivate users from the moment they land on a website.

Print Materials that Leave a Lasting Impression

Even in the ebb and flow of digital media dominance, print design remains vibrant.

Graphic designers create stunning magazine layouts, book covers, packaging designs, and other print materials that make a tangible impact.

Their attention to detail, typography choices, and color schemes bring stories and products to life on paper.

How Long is a Work Day for a Graphic Designer?

The world of graphic design is fueled by passion and dedication, with designers investing significant time into their craft.

While workday length can vary, a typical graphic designer dedicates around 8 to 10 hours per day to their creative endeavors.

However, it’s not unusual for them to go above and beyond, investing additional time to meet project deadlines or perfect their designs.

Graphic designers are the artisans who transform ideas into captivating visual experiences.

Their dedication, imagination, and relentless pursuit of excellence make the world a more visually compelling place.

Graphic designers leverage their expertise and creativity to craft captivating marketing designs that engage audiences and convey brand messages effectively.

By combining their deep understanding of design principles, typography, color psychology, and visual storytelling, they create visually stunning assets that leave a lasting impact and drive meaningful results for businesses.

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A Day In the Life of A Graphic Designer

life of a graphic designer

Featured Image: iStock/Polina Kacharaba

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a graphic designer looks like? Whether you hope to become a graphic designer yourself one day or are simply interested in learning how a designer spends their day, this blog is for you. It is commonly believed that the experience of graphic designers is limited to creating and designing logos.

But in reality, their work is centered on visual communication of different kinds ranging from designing logos to websites to animations and much more. The purpose of their work is to communicate ideas and knowledge to an audience by sight. Let’s break down a graphic designer’s day and take a look into their lives.

Daily Team Standup

A standup is a daily meeting held by many companies to discuss the status of everyone’s work and responsibilities for the day. Project deadlines and client issues are also discussed in this meeting and everyone is briefed on the changes that they may need to make in their work. It helps bring the team together to discuss any issues they may have and start the day right by planning out collaborative tasks beforehand.

The daily work life of graphic designers also begins with this meeting as they contribute to it with their suggestions and receive instructions about the work they need to complete for the day. In case these meetings are canceled or are not part of a company’s daily schedule, the graphic designer is required to keep track of their responsibilities on their own and report back to their manager timely. Whenever there is a graphic designer for hire , they are generally informed about their daily duties during the recruitment process only.

Reviewing Client Brief

Graphic designers perform many important duties and tasks daily to complete their projects. They tend to create banners, infographics, websites, game interfaces, album covers, logos, posters, and much more depending on the type of company they work in . They start by reviewing the client brief that is provided to them. This helps them understand what the client wants from them and develop the vision and strategy of the given design project.

Nike

Take a look at the example given above to see how a typical client brief appears. It also holds information about the message they need to convey in the project and the audience that they are targeting. Now, when a designer is developing a book cover, for instance, they will be guided about the theme of the cover and the color palette that the client wishes to incorporate into it. Similarly, for visual branding and marketing , professionals will follow the brief given by the company.

Market Research

Market research is the second step in their daily work. A graphic designer must research what the competitors are doing to be able to understand what kinds of designs are already out there and which designs work well or which do not work well.

For example, the designer for Coca-Cola must keep an eye on designs published by Pepsi to have a clear idea of the competitor’s strategy so that they would work to outperform it. The designer will also do research about images that the target audience usually responds to and the kind of content that gets the most engagement on social media.

Creating Mockups

A mockup is a sample design of the actual product that the designer is working on. It is a rough design created before the actual design is finalized to get a glimpse into the final product and make any changes that need to be made. This is done in the form of rough sketches on paper by many designers before they make the actual product.

However, the mockups are only created after the designer is done brainstorming all their ideas. A mood board is also created before the mockup as it serves as a visual direction for the designer to follow when creating the actual design.

Food Blog

This is an example of a food blog mockup design. Mockups are simply created to communicate the basic design ideas shortlisted by the designer with the client to make sure that they are on the right track and the client is on the same page with them. The client is supposed to provide feedback on these mockups and the designer will implement the feedback to create the final product which they are aiming for.

Receiving Client Feedback

This is an important element of the duties performed by the designer. Without the client’s feedback on the mockup, a designer cannot proceed with their work and it is never recommended to skip this part of the process. To avoid wasting time and energy investing in creating a final design and getting it rejected by the client, designers should get the client’s feedback on the mockup and be open to any criticism given by them.

Designers try to strike a balance between the client’s ideas and the designer’s vision related to the project to make sure that creativity is not compromised. This requires some back-and-forth communication between the designer and client and can take up some chunk of the designer’s day but it is all worth it in the end when they come up with a definite solution together.

Final Design Creation

A full-fledged, polished website, logo, brochure, or app design is created with a lot of effort and time. This constitutes most of a designer’s day as they work on creating their final product for hours each day and need to make sure that it is exactly how they want it to be.

This image shows how a designer starts by creating a wireframe which is then, used to create a mockup. Then, the approved mockup is used to create a prototype of the final product.

They are careful that the final product meets the goals which are presented in the client brief, is compelling enough to attract the target audience, and is unique enough to make an impact. The designer waits for the client’s approval after the design has been created to proceed with its production.

Collaborating For Production

The graphic designer cannot complete the entire process on his own and at this step, they need the help of a web developer to assist them in production. Firstly, they package their final design in the form that it is supposed to be delivered whether that is digital or print.

Then, they align the necessary elements as well as the size and resolution of their design with the instructions given in the brief to avoid any issues. Finally, the web developer helps the designer makes the designs function as intended by checking for any bugs or errors and completing the process smoothly.

Weekly Design Meetings

Even though these meetings do not take place daily, they are an important part of a designer’s weekly schedule. These meetings are attended by graphic designers to brainstorm design ideas, plan upcoming events and update the team on their work. They can also get feedback on their work from the internal team before it is sent out to the clients during these meetings.

Weekly design meetings are made productive by implementing an agenda :

  • Going through important tasks and company priorities at the start of the meeting.
  • Sharing the latest research results done by all the designers on the team during the week.
  • Sharing random design tips that each designer may have.
  • Discussing an important topic such as organizing the style guide for the company’s profile or suggestions for improving presentation skills.
  • Finalizing an action plan to implement changes discussed in the meeting and allocating tasks with clear deadlines to each person in the meeting.

graphic design daily tasks

Take a look at the example of the style guide of Walmart given above. In the agenda or meetings, graphic designers may work on a strategy to follow the guidelines for creating visual elements for digital and print mediums.

Planning The Next Day

Some graphic designers love to stay on top of their game. They make sure that they never miss deadlines or fall behind in their projects due to poor planning.They like to have a short but highly productive planning session each day.

They log in all their meetings for the next day in their Google Calendar and also prepare a to-do list of the tasks they need to perform the next day. If the designer is stuck on something or waiting for feedback, they like to prioritize chasing up the client for an immediate response so that they don’t waste any workday.

Wrapping Up

The daily tasks and responsibilities may differ for every graphic designer. Every single day may not look the same for one graphic designer either. However, there are certain elements of the job description of a person in this field that remains the same no matter where you work. These points have been highlighted in this blog.

They help you understand how varied and diverse the work of a designer is. They do not simply create websites or work on banners but every day you will find them working on something else and using their creativity to come up with something new. It is a job well-suited for anyone who is enthusiastic, passionate, and creative and loves to play with digital and print designs but can also work according to client’s instructions and deliver effectively what they are asked to create.

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About The Author

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Raquel Addams

Raquel Addams is a professional blogger and graphic design enthusiast who employs a unique combination of journalism, communication design and marketing strategy to help her clients to position and launch their enterprise or start-ups.

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metro_map_2030_3d

2030 Moscow Metro map

Personal project in collaboration with Natalia Moskaleva ・2021

Creating a Moscow Metro map is one of the most complex design challenges imaginable. The Moscow Metro can be compared to a tangled ball of threads that you have to unravel to figure it out. We designed the map in collaboration with Natasha Moskaleva, based on long-term development plans for the construction of the Metro. It shows what the Moscow Metro will look like in 2030s. More information about the map can be found on the project’s website.

station_circle_metro_map

Israeli railways’ map

Personal project・2022

Israeli cities are connected by railroad running along the sea shore. Some cities can only be reached by bus. I designed a new Israeli railways’ map that includes bus routes to major cities with a population of 20 000+ people. The map’s design is based on a classic 45-degree graphic grid. The geography of the country is simplified to a vertical rectangular format bounded by the Jordan River on the right and with the Mediterranean Sea shore on the left. For the convenience of the users the distance between the stations roughly corresponds to the real map. This allows the cities within agglomerations to be visually combined together. Permanent routes are visually separated from those that only run during the rush hour or on a special schedule. The map also shows shorter versions of each route within every line, which is not represented on the official map. 

The Map of Tel Aviv Metropolitan Transportation System

For Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd (NTA) In collaboration with Daria Vinokurova  ・2023

A new transportation system is under construction in Tel Aviv, consisting of three subway lines and three light rail lines. It will connect Tel Aviv with the rest of Dan area through fast and comfortable public transportation. The project is very ambitious and highly anticipated in Israel. NTA, the company in charge of its design and construction, approached us for a new map of the system that would clearly and vividly show its structure to future users. The map represents the final state of the system. By the time the map was created, the red line had already been built and was being prepared for launch, and the green and purple lines were under construction.

NTA_main_min

Night bus routes map

For the Department of Transportation of Moscow・2016—2022

Since the Moscow Metro does not work at night, night bus routes were launched in 2013 as an alternative. The route network partly duplicates the Metro lines: 14 routes depart from the city centre and go to the residential areas, and one extra circle route goes around the centre along the Garden Ring.

Striving to improve the readability of the map, I simplified the geometry of the city by straightening the lines just like it was done on the Metro map, so I got 14 rays diverging from the centre. In the centre of the map, I worked out the geometry, so that a complex interchange area looked as simple and impressive as possible. 

Night_bus_poster_Moscow

New Paris Metro map

Personal project・2013—2016

Paris_map

In 2013, I lived in Paris for several months and fell in love with the Paris Metropolitaine — it is old but so cozy. I disliked the official metro map of the Paris subway. I found it chaotic and complicated, so I decided to draw my own version of the map. The project took about 2.5 years. In my free time, I tested various map design approaches. As a result, I got a map with a round circle line and a unique graphic grid of 60°.

Many Parisians liked the map; people buy it to hang on walls of their homes. The map’s website is visited daily by thousands of Parisians and visitors to the city who need to plan their journey. I wrote a big article about the map’s design process for Smashing Magazine. While working on this project, I truly fell in love with the process of transit map design.

Pictograms of Moscow

Personal project ・2017—2020

Moscow offers a huge variety of attractions of different historical eras. I drew about 100 of the most recognisable buildings of the city in a uniform style. Today these pictograms are used on Moscow maps, transit schemes and other elements of wayfinding. While working on the project, I tried to preserve the recognisable proportions of the buildings and to convey the details. The uniformity of the pictograms makes it practical to use the entire set in various projects. Thanks to their conciseness and easy recognition, they look extra good in small size on maps, diagrams and similar formats.

mosicons

Moscow Metro logo

For th e Mo scow Metro・2013—2014 In collaboration with Art.Lebedev Studio

The Moscow Metro’s logo in the form of a letter “M” emerged simultaneously with the opening of the subway in 1935, but for a long time there was no standardised; in fact, the logo changed its shape often and quite chaotically. I conducted the research and studied the history of the Metro symbol, and later we designed a standardised logo based on the historical image of the symbol in collaboration with Art.Lebedev Studio. The updated sign became the official logo of the Moscow Metro. I described the design process in detail at the Art.Lebedev Studio website.

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logo_metro-min

For the Department of Transportation of Moscow・2018

In 2019, the Moscow Central Diameters were launched in Moscow. It is an analogue to Berlin’s S-Bahn or Parisian RER: pre-existing railway lines are integrated into the subway system to improve transit connectivity between the central city and the suburbs. I designed an official logo for the new service.

Signs for the MCD lines

For the Department of Transportation of Moscow In collaboration with Natalia Moskaleva・2019

The new MCD service needed not only a logo, but also the signs to indicate five new lines. The goal was to design signs that will blend in with the icons of the metro lines, but at the same time stand out to show that the MCD is a separate entity. Graphically, the signs are similar to the MCD logo due to the same shape, so it is easier for passengers to understand what service they represent. We selected unique colours for the signs that have not yet been used on the metro map. We also studied the prospects of the development of the subway system in order to choose the right colours so that lines with similar colours don’t intersect with each other on the map in the future.

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Photos: Sasha Derivanov

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Pedestrian wayfinding in Moscow

In collaboration with the team of the Department of Transportation of Moscow・2016—2018

In 2016, we designed the pedestrian wayfinding stands in collaboration with the team of the Department of Transportation of Moscow. The stands contain all the information needed by tourists or Muscovites in an unfamiliar area.

Detailed large-scale maps showing the surrounding area are always rotated to match the direction of sight. This allows to quickly orient yourself in space without thinking where north and west are. We created stands of different widths for various streets: narrow stands are used on small streets not to interfere with the passage, and wide “queen size” stands with a huge map are placed on the squares and in the parks, allowing to plan the most complex route.

Nowadays there are more than 1000 wayfinding stands in this design installed in the streets of Moscow.

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Photos: Alexey Solnyshkov

Design for the GULAG History Museum

For several years, I had been doing projects for the GULAG History Museum in Moscow. I visualised complex historical data both for the museum’s exposition and for external projects related to the history of Stalin’s repressions.

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The map of the resettlements of the peoples

When talking about the repressions in the USSR, we usually recall either the GULAG camps or the mass executions in the 1930s. However, another important component of the repressive machine of the era were the forced resettlements of the peoples. The relocations took place against the will of the people, based on their ethnicity, social class or political views. It was almost impossible to show the full scale of the migrations in a single frame (too many episodes of the resettlements happened simultaneously), so I decided to make a visual animation. Dots flash chronologically on the USSR’s map showing when and where people were forcibly resettled. The radius of the starting point represents the scale of the event: the more people were relocated, the larger the circle is. The map is part of the permanent exhibition of the museum.

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The map of the GULAG camps

I visualised the geography of the forced labour camps in the USSR during the Stalin era in collaboration with the GULAG History Museum scientific team.

We collected data on the largest camps, each confining 5000+ people at a time. In order for the museum’s visitors to better understand the scale of the tragedy, I visualised the population of each camp based on the data from the museum’s scientific department. The red line at each camp represents the number of prisoners: the longer it is, the more people there were. We mounted the map in a way that the visitors can come close to it, find the city of interest and the camps next to it. 

Two years later, we decided to convert the map to a digital format so that everyone could have access to the data online. In collaboration with the team of developers and map specialists form URBICA, we designed a website with a digital map of the camps. We added data on the number of the deaths in the camps and a timeline that allows to learn about the scale of the camp system throughout the years.

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Interactive website with a map of GULAG camps

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A fragment of the exposition of the GULAG History Museum that shows how the radical statements of the leaders of the Great October Revolution of 1917 gradually made way for the legal acts, and later for the repressive Stalinist laws of the 1930–1950s. On a large wall, we mounted quotes of political figures and fragments of legal documents in a chronological order. The most stringent laws that included long terms of imprisonment, exile of relatives and the death penalty as punishments, are placed on the right. The plaques are interconnected with red threads showing how particular statements and events could make way for the particular laws in the future. We used threads as the most appropriate visualisation of how political views and decisions of the leaders can lead to mass repressions against their own people.

The legal basis of the repressions in the USSR

In collaboration with  Dasha Vinokurova

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Stop-motion animation

In collaboration with Irina Neustroeva, we founded a video production studio Teeter-Totter-Tam, where I used to shoot commercials and festival videos in a frame-by-frame and time-lapse animation techniques. From 2010 to 2018, we shot several works that participated in 40+ festivals and shows around the world. Stop-motion animation is a fairly complex process that requires attention to detail: each frame is a separate photograph, and fast-forwarding frames creates an illusion of objects coming to life.

More projects

I described the most significant and interesting projects in detail on this page above. But there were lots of other fun projects.

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Today I live in Israel, but for almost all my life I lived in Moscow, hence there are so many projects about this city in my portfolio. I love to work on large and complex projects in the fields of pubic transport and museum design.

Work experience: Freelancer 2017 — Now

Art director at the GULAG History Museum 2015 — 2017

Lead designer at the Department of Transportation of Moscow 2014 — 2016

Designer at Art.Lebedev Studio 2013 — 2014

Animation Director at Tetter-Totter-Tam Animation 2010 — 2018

Education: Bauman Moscow State Technical University Electronic Equipment Design and Technology 2006 — 2012

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