Education and Design
The key to a career in graphic design is a good foundation in art and design. This education can be obtained at a qualified graphic design school. Graphic designers often take web design courses in order to expand their skill sets and make themselves more marketable.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
“Employment is expected grow about as fast as average. Keen competition for jobs is expected; individuals with Web site design and animation experience will have the best opportunities…
“…Graphic designers with a broad liberal arts education and experience in marketing and business management will be best suited for positions developing communication strategies.”
Receiving the best education for your graphic design career at a graphic design college may be of great benefit to you if you want to open up opportunities for employment or strengthen your skills through continued education.
Web Design Eye Candy
In Graphic Design Inspirations I we covered examples gleaned from different fields in graphic design. In Graphic Design Inspirations II we viewed some interesting examples in poster designs. In part III of this series we’ll show you some unique and attention-grabbing web design layouts to demonstrate how simple ideas can be transformed into intriguing concepts.
To visit these websites click on the bold blue text in each heading. To see a larger image of the website graphic click on the images.
One-Page Website Design
What do you do if you need to create a website that requires only one page, needs to provide a good deal of information, and is eye-catching? You do what web designer Basil Gloo did.
He created his website by using visual perspective, a balanced symmetrical layout, and a bit of whimsy featuring him as the main graphic element.
The website isn’t “fancy” but it achieves its desired goal of being informative and visually appealing.
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Effective Use of Text and Graphics
Australian graphic designer Rob Morris has gone through several design variations of his website. The one shown here was created in 2008 with the theme “Hero for Hire.”
The text in the website layout immediately piques your interest and the graphic of a man running and pulling a long line of graphic designs is humorous, while also demonstrating the creativity of the designer.
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Pop Icons
WeLoveIcons.com uses one of the most recognizable pop icons in modern culture…the iPhone.
The clever transformation of the high-tech gadget into a wooden object is brilliant. Using the iconic image of the iPhone is also very effective as a unique user interface for viewing different graphic images.
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Good Utilization of Flash and Graphic Elements
Dave Warner, designer and jack of all trades, created his website with a scrapbook motif.
The elements on the webpage are interactive and by clicking on various images you are taken to other pages that highlight the selected topic.
Warner has designed a website that is fun to navigate, a bit quirky and captures the viewer’s attention by his effective use of flash, design elements, and multimedia. Visit the “about and contact” portion of his website to find out more about him.
Great job Dave!
