I’m Alex Singleton, editor of The Design Range. If you’re new to the creative industry or even if you’re just looking for some fresh ideas then this page is for you. The information here will get you started on the path to a successful career in design.
The Design Range is for just about anyone that works (or would like to work) in the creative industry. A lot of the time I’ll refer to ‘design’ or ‘illustration’ as these are fields that I personally work in, but almost all the advice I publish on the Design Range can be applied to all sorts of career paths. So whether your a photographer, a UI designer or a web developer; I’ve got you covered.
Depending on where you are with your career in design, you’ll find different tools to help you at The Design Range. A good place to always take a look though is the resource page where I list all the best tools I’ve come across and use daily in my work. Here are a few of my absolute must haves.
Recently I’ve switched away from the Kuru Toga, to the Staedtler Mars Leadholder as it’s been reccomended to me by a lot of artists that I admire, and I’m really loving it.
Instead of having a nib it has a bristles like a brush, meaning that you can still get the difference in line weight, but without the messy ink pots.
Seriously if you’re even thinking about purchasing a graphic tablet, just make sure it’s a Wacom, because I’ve used a few brands now and let me tell you – they are worlds apart.
Awesome hosting service. Almost all my websites are hosted on Bluehost. Crazy easy to get started with (1 click WordPress install is always nice) and outstanding customer service.
1. Contemplation. So your considering stepping into the world of design? Maybe you’re a student about to graduate or you’re looking to switch from your current job, maybe you’re even further away than that. The best place for you to start would be the Basics category where you’ll find tonnes of info on what to expect income wise for a design newbie, how to switch from your current job and even whether to bother with a degree or not.
2. Brand New. Ok you’ve decided that this is the career for you then, but how do you get things moving? The Finding Work category will help you with landing those first few jobs, and Client Relations will help you with keeping those clients sweet once you do.
3. Getting There. If you’ve been working in design for a while and are just looking for some ideas to improve your business, increase your earnings or find more work then you definitely want to take a look at the Advanced category. Also you’ll probably get a lot out of the Productivity section too – working smart is something you always want to be improving.
Oh hell yes. That’s an easy one – ask me another. Seriously though – no matter where you are in your career there’s always a way to increase your income. That may be working smarter, charging more, learning a new skill or even expanding. The point is, improving your business is just as important as doing great work. Do one well and it’ll make the other all the easier.
Sound good? If so, why don’t you consider subscribing to The Design Range Newsletter? You’ll be kept informed on all the latest articles as well as exclusive tips and tutorials on increasing your income from graphic design. The Design Range is also on Facebook and Twitter too if you prefer your updates to be a little more social.
We all need some help from time to time, (me included!) so if ever you need some help or have a question you need answering, don’t hesitate to hit me up. I’m no guru, but I work hard and I’m always looking for ways to get better, so if I can help you out I will. We’re all in this together, so if you want to reach out, or just say hi, you can do either by email, in the comments sections or on the Design Range Facebook page.
Not everyone enjoys confrontation. I certainly don’t. Even if you’re fine with confrontation you ideally don’t want to confront your client about the number of revisions they’re making or the additional work they’re adding to the scope of the project. Excessive revisions and scope creep can sometimes cause a little friction. Revisions If you’re working […]
