How to improve graphic designing visualization and conceptualising skills?

[angelhardy]

How to improve graphic designing visualization and conceptualising skills... i mean thematic conceptualising .. what visuals ( images) to use .. what combinations to use? i.e. layout, color, texture, patterns and typography , etc.

[idyll]

It all depends on what the project calls for... ? I am not sure what you are asking :(

[Techguy172]

Look for other peoples work that you like and determine why you like it. That should help with overall better design.

[LeviG]

I am not sure what you are asking :(
The op kind of looks more like one of those intro's for a tutorial or similar :confused:

If its what I think it is - ie how can you improve your own skills in these areas then its not exactly an easy one to answer.
From a personal perspective, my style has progressed with business expereince, personal projects (ie just fun sketching etc) and from my uni, college and high school art and design type courses. As you become more familiar with other peoples work you get a feel for things you like (as said) and these will ultimately blend into your style of work.

But having said that you still need to be able to adapt because not every project is going to require the same style/presentation etc.

[ezekielrage_99]

It all depends on what the project calls for... ? I am not sure what you are asking :(

I was thinking the same thing.... I wasn't sure what the question was relating to.

Sorry to sound stupid but I would be guessing there is an Idiots guide out there for this?

[RainForRent]

...I would be guessing there is an Idiots guide out there for this?

There are no idiots in design. :rolleyes:

[InLikeALion]

There are no idiots in design. :rolleyes:

Sarcasm?

[RainForRent]

Sarcasm?

Sarcasm = very yes.

[Simplesimon101]

I think if you want to get really good you need to work hard... these are the main points i can think of at the moment.

immerse yourself in design

Buy books, read magazines, check design blogs (http://www.itsnicethat.com).

seriously this is the best way to develop your eye... the best way to become the best is too look at the best see what they do, why they do it and then learn from them (not copy!). Look at work and try to quickly deconstruct it to understand what makes it a success or not (visually and/or as a piece of communication...).

Do it alot

try it... alot, experiment, have fun. Don't be too precious with one piece of work... if you try something quickly 10 ways you'll probably stumble across something thats far better than something you've slaved over for hours on end.

when you've done it ask people who's opinions you respect what they think of what you've done (designers will be able to give you far better feed back on specific ways to improve work)

that's it really...

there are websites that'll teach you how to get the best from your software (I subscribe Lynda.com which is pretty good).

There isn't really a book out there that will give you the answers though some may try (i found one called Graphic Design School gave me some of the basics when i first started)

I think the best way to learn what works is to keep being exposed to great design and keep trying to meet (or surpass) that standard.

hope that ramble helps.

[wcalderini]

Pre-conceptualize.
I started back in the ad business as a graphic artist a few years before the first Macintosh came on the scene. Everything was done by hand then. Type had to be ordered from specialty houses, photos had to be shot via something called a "pmt" to be properly screened for newspaper reproduction. A mistake would cost you days instead of seconds. No command Z existed back then.
That taught me a LOT as an artist and I think that it gave me an advantage when the digital age did arrive, and suddenly we had all of these wonderful new toys to play with.
I was so used to "pre-concieving" an ad, right down to the type face, that I became a lot quicker at doing what I was able to do. (Just in time too as deadlines suddenly went from a week to a day beacuse of this new fangled technology stuff.
It's great to be working on a design and have a "happy accident" happen that changes everything, but don't count on it always.
Sketch. Think. Doodle. Approach it as you would with an ink pen on a sheet of paper. Know what you want to do BEFORE you start and it goes a long way to making your work cohesive and consistent.
The most important part for me to any design is what happens BEFORE I even click on a mouse. It's the THINKING that makes it work.
Just my 2 cents.
And 24 years talking.

WRC

(Edited for an accidental space between THIN and KING in the word THINKING, although "It's the THIN KING that makes it all work". DOES read much funnier)