Even with the conclusion of Design Versus Week, I still have something to say when it comes to designing a blog. With the latest redesign here, I have received many questions about the things I have done here. The question I have heard the most is “how did you learn to design?” And I thought I would dedicate an entire post to answering that question.
First of all, I just wanted to thank you for the great response about the new design. A lot of you love it, and that’s good because this is how I want Blogussion to look for a while. There are still some tweaks to be made, but this is how I want the blog to look for a while if you don’t mind!
I should just start off by making a few important points. I feel that most people who ask me how I learned to design don’t know much about designing and what it actually means.
- It’s not as easy as pointing and clicking
Tools like Photoshop make it easy to literally just point, click and design, but there’s so much more to creating a functional design than placing elements wherever. You need to know your audience and what they like (and more importantly DON’T like), design with different screen resolutions/browsers in mind, code with file size in mind, and just so much more. - It’s f***ing frustrating
I can’t tell you how many times I just want to give up, or how many time’s I’ve sweared at my poor, innocent computer because something didn’t work. It’s amazing how frustrating designing can be, and no matter how much you love to do it – you will start hating it at some point (but love it again when things starts working). - You can’t please everyone
No matter what, there are people out there who either don’t like something about your design, or don’t like your design at all. If you spend all of your time trying to please the people who don’t like something, you’ll be forgetting about everyone else on your blog. Just do what’s best for your blog, and don’t worry when two people say they “hate this design and want the old one back.” - You can never stop designing
What I mean by this is that you can’t just come up with one design and then quit designing for your blog. In the one year and three months this blog has been around, I have updated the design four times. This just goes back to #1, and if you understand what your community wants and are always working to improve your blog, your design will need to be updated from time to time.
That’s just a little about what designing is. It’s not all fun and games, it’s something you actually have to practice and spend hours doing. I can still improve the way I do things, and I realize that. It’s important to know that.
If you can’t understand those four things I mentioned above, you’re probably not cut out to be much of a designer. Obviously there are more things you need to know (principles wise), but what I mentioned really ties into my answer for this question:
How did you learn to design?
People ask me this a lot, and when I really started to think about it – I haven’t been giving out the best answer I could. I have always given out the most cliché answers. “Check out tutorial blogs” or “Look through page source codes.” Yes, these are all things I suggest you do and are things I myself have done.
But when people ask me a question like that and I give them those answers, I’m not really helping them. Chances are, they have already heard that answer before, and maybe even tried those things already. I do actually like to help people, so once I figured out I wasn’t really helping anyone, I began to rethink my answer.
So how did I learn to design? It wasn’t from reading tutorials (which I didn’t read many of), it wasn’t from going to design galleries (which aren’t helpful nowadays as any site listed in one must have ridiculous illustrations which isn’t my field), and it certainly wasn’t a result of getting a teacher. I actually feel bad for the people who choose to hire an instructor to help them design, they miss out on an experience and often never find their own unique style.
The way I learned to design is by simply wanting to be able to learn.
Okay, I know that sounds lame, and maybe even less helpful than my usual answers. But I did warn you before you started reading this that I had an answer you wouldn’t expect. Let me clarify.
How do you discover your passion?
It would sound a bit snarky if I were to say “let me answer your question with a question of my own” but how do you discover your passion anyways? It doesn’t often just come from nowhere, usually you are willing to do research and spend time learning it.
Most designers would say that designing is actually their passion, and when someone is passionate about something – they go after it. Some people need more help than others, and some can just do it on their own. When it comes to my passion (designing, go figure), I like to think I did a lot of it myself. I won’t credit myself for everything of course, as I do/did need to do some reading and studying from various sources.
But designing is something that gets easier to pick up on as you progress. Once you figure out one thing, it creates more ideas in your brain and you just start learning how to do things better.
Now stop asking questions
I don’t mean to offend anyone, but it seems to me that anyone who has the need to ask somehow how they learned to design is completely missing the point. Sure, sharing some useful tutorials (if any) is always great. But for someone to ask me what I did to design is now ridiculous sounding to me.
Once you start designing without looking towards galleries, or looking at dozens of tutorials, you will find that answering the question “how did you learn to design?” will become harder to answer with anything other than “because I wanted to.” When you look back on the things you did, all of the cusses you shouted at your computer, you will realize that you learned to design because you actually wanted to.
So stop asking me what I, and other people did to learn how to design. You know the answer now, and it’s up to you whether or not you actually want to do it. The truth is, anyone can design. It’s just that not everyone wants to be able to enough.
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?For the record, I really like your answer, Alex! Also important, “snarky” is the best word I’ve ever read on Blogussion! No real reason, I just like it.
You’re absolutely right. You learned how to design because you made up your mind to learn how to design. You’re lucky, Alex. You already know what you’re passionate about and that’s why you’re so dang good at it.
This reminds me of a quote I heard recently, “The key to success is hard work. The key to hard work is passion.”
.-= Nick Tart´s last blog ..Interview: Adam Horwitz, A Dude with Two 6-Figure Businesses =-.
Hey Nick! Love your comments!
Lucky as in fortunate? I might agree. But I think it’s not that people don’t know what there passion is – they just don’t know what their passion feels like, you know what I mean? They are looking for buring desire, which most of them won’t find. Because at first, it might very well feel like interest and as you move towards it .. it turns into burning desire or something more.
They key to passion is seeking Joy. So key to success is seeking Joy and success is finding it.
Let’s be Awesome.
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Why ‘King’ Sidharth – the Secret Behind ‘King’ =-.
So, you’re saying… The key to success is joy?! Isn’t that an awesome life! Way to bring that full circle King!
.-= Nick Tart´s last blog ..Interview: Adam Horwitz, A Dude with Two 6-Figure Businesses =-.
Haha, I don’t even know where it came from, I just sort of wrote it and liked it. xD
I suppose it’s luck, but I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing and I hope to continue with it man.
Liking that quote too, it’s perfect.
Yeah, you’re right. Luck isn’t the right word. But don’t take your passion for granted because most people don’t have a clue what they’re truly passionate about.
.-= Nick Tart´s last blog ..Interview: Adam Horwitz, A Dude with Two 6-Figure Businesses =-.
Siddy here,
Trust me, I was expecting this answer. I mean really, there is no answer. You didn’t just sit one day and opened a book and learned, right? It was an inner calling (passion?) which made you see, observe, create and a lot.
I know, I give same answer for many things. So now I know.
As far as people asking you question, they will… now – more than ever. You shall see. Just get used to it or remember url to this post
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Why ‘King’ Sidharth – the Secret Behind ‘King’ =-.
I really will point people who ask me how I do what I do to this article. It’s important for them to understand this…I just hope they actually see the point!
And all this time I thought you learned to design from looking at the magazines I kept under my desk… TISK TISK.
Great article you wrote here Alex, and I can vouch first hand that trying to hire someone to teach you how to design won’t get you no-where. Designing is about having your own unique style and customization (at least from what I think) and hiring some bud to show you how “he” does things won’t make you any better. You will always lack the creative flow of design if you follow someone else’s way.
P.S. Still a tad bit disappointed that it wasn’t you reading my magazines under the desk… I paid good money for those! I wonder who it could’ve been then…? Hmm.. (Kidding haha)
So this is the secret! The secret case of Magazines under Rob’s desk! ha!
Now we know, Bad Alex! Didn’t tell the turth. Send me a copy, will ya Rob?
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Why ‘King’ Sidharth – the Secret Behind ‘King’ =-.
@King Haha I’ll send them over bro
I got a new batch of magazines coming this week. The “Spring” addition! Wooohoo! I was getting tired of of the Winter additions.
@Alex Haha not a problem bro, always showing my love here. & ayy! Don’t share with others my million dollar investment of magazines. At least you didin’t tell them about the doll that sits next to me, Tamika. She will help me become a Photoshop wiz, I’ll just sketch what I see… Oh snaps, let me stop haha.
But honestly… I’ve found Photoshop hard as hell. But, whenever I teach myself how to do something I learn how to build off the concepts. Yes… it takes me forever to learn something new like just add some style to the font, but what I learn sticks with me. Plus I wouldn’t want your horribly designing self teaching me how to design. Pssh dude, have you seen your latest work? It’ SUCKS! (Kidding haha) Love your work man.
Dude, I know what kind of magazines you keep under your desk and I know for a fact they’re not related to design.
You can learn some things from other people, sure. But there’s a very limited amount of what you can actually learn from them because of how much designing depends on YOU.
I can probably teach you the things I do to design, but it wouldn’t do you as much good as teaching yourself would.
Thanks for dropping by bro.
So Bilal was right eh?
Alex really KNOWS about those magazines! Haha!
.-= King Sidharth´s last blog ..Why ‘King’ Sidharth – the Secret Behind ‘King’ =-.
@King haha yes he does. & I’m tempted to read your article about the secret behind “King”
Hmm.. anyways do send me a copy
or at least a link to magazine’s website. haha!
Oh! Sure read it and do lemme know what you think.
Well said. It’s the same with college. You can take the courses and read the books, but it’s up to you to apply the knowledge. You have to be the one that wants to really learn it and learn it inside and out. There is no other way. It’s inner drive. It comes from teaching yourself and getting your hands dirty. That’s how I learned Photoshop, Diamontology, HTML… You just have to do it!
I sort of learned this lesson in school. As I get higher up in the grades, the teachers make you depend on yourself more than anyone else to get the work done. Besides the initial lesson, you’re basically on your own.
Good point Rich.
Interesting read.
I myself learned designing just by experimenting with programs like photoshop and just messing around with html and css, although I’m not a expert I do have the ability to develop a fully funcional website.
I know about the frustation, I sometimes really get pissed off when things arent going my way and mostly just go and do something else. Eventually when I come back with a fresh mind everything starts to pick up.
Even though I not studying web design or IT at school I still enjoy web design and think its a fun thing to do in my spare time.
See man, that’s all it takes! I can’t remember ever reading a tutorial for Photoshop, I just dove right in and started messing around. Now, I can design for myself. People want resources, but really, they’re their own resource.
That’s usually what I do too when it comes to coding. When things don’t work as they should, it really makes me frustrated and I just stop what I’m doing and wait it out.
When I was 12, I started going through tons of tutorials on design. After finishing the basis of my first website, I posted it on DP to get some feedback. One person said “the designer should be hit with holy water.” I had to laugh at that, but looking back, I would agree with the comment.
Luckily, soon after that, I discovered CMS’s (Joomla than WordPress). Basically, it proved the all the information I learned from the tutorials pointless.
The day I really started designing was when I purchased Thesis. I asked questions on the forum, and actually learned coding from looking at other people’s code. Now I can design, and am getting better every day.
Like Alex said, it’s passion that really matters. If you want to learn design, the only one holding you back it you. I, like many others, thought design was too hard, but now that I am doing it, I really enjoy it.
I started out on DP too (here’s my profile, wow what history this is to me: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/member.php?u=82670) and sold designs for like $20 a pop. Crazy thing, when I came up with the design for the original Blogussion, I almost sold it on DP. So happy I kept it!
Thesis pretty much changed my career. I’m all Thesis now, couldn’t imagine Wordpress without it!
I think asking other people who don’t create sites to browse your blog can also help you learn how to create a good design for your readers.
.-= Julius´s last blog ..How to Caption Videos in YouTube =-.
That’s very true. I like to think that sometimes the best designers really aren’t designers at all.
lol, it is f’in frustrating, I do mine redesigns with a lot of trial and error, its not easy but it does get better with practice.
.-= JR @ Internet Marketing ´s last blog ..Greatest Content Spinner Tool – Last Chance to Try for Free =-.
It gets less frustrating as you get better, but things are still prone to not work. Being experienced and having things not work is actually very frustrating, so maybe I was wrong to say it gets less stressful? xD
For me: I want to, search in google for the tips, and then do the design.
.-= Dana @ Blogging Tips Blog´s last blog ..How To Create Blog Logo Easily by Using GIMP #5 (Finish) =-.
Do you do anything as a result of experimenting, or do you just learn through tutorials?
I think that some people ask because they want to know if you had formal education, natural talent, learned from trial and error, read a specific blog, picked up a particular book, etc. Some people are just hoping to get some idea of what the best resources are for getting started with something. Because let’s face it, there are tons of tutorials out there, but some are crap while others are gold. They’re just hoping you might be able to point them in the direction of a good starting point.
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..HootSuite for Blogging – Twitter Management for Bloggers =-.
That’s true, and I guess I wrote this post out of experience where I didn’t ask anyone. I just sort of picked it up on my own, and I was hoping more people could read this and try to do it the same way. It’s much more rewarding!
Not to be the schmuck of the bunch, but I need to ask…
All those 6-7figure graphic designers out there that were first “taught”; they’re, what, lucky?
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..New Updated Long Detailed Comment Policy Coming very SOON! Among Others… =-.
Yes I agree. Designing is quite hard and actually coding everything is even harder. Whenever I design a new layout a lot of thinking goes into it then when it’s time to code that’s when the headaches arrive. I agree to Alex as you get better the designing and coding gets easy. I’ve been designing in coding for 4 years and I can design a layout in have it coded fast so if you keep working hard and keep trying you will get there
Great post Alex!
.-= marcellpurham´s last blog ..Quick tip: How to create a custom related post section with wordpress =-.
What an excellent answer. It makes sense to me anyways. I have to give you credit, you have knack for it too so that helps. I get the ideology of designing, but I can’t design for squat lol.
You could have written this same post in one line stating “Mistakes are stepping stones to success”
Totally have to agree with you on this… I wasted months asking other people how to make a good blog, rather than just trying it out myself….
Of course tutorials and examples are great, but experimenting is even better, as you actually learn what the coding does rather than knowing which code to copy and paste
.-= Siddhu´s last blog ..NASA makes robots that can work for space stations =-.
“But designing is something that gets easier to pick up on as you progress. Once you figure out one thing, it creates more ideas in your brain and you just start learning how to do things better.”
I really agree with these words. It’s hard to start design from zero, but when you found something new, your brain will start it’s creativity and will start a better one.
If you dont have the passion just outsource to get someone to do it for you, this is getting cheaper to do all the time. Otherwise buy Thesis and learn how to use it.
.-= Brad´s last blog ..Surfing Angourie Back In The Day =-.
Thankyou for the information!
Hey Alex,
I have seen many , many , Blogs , and I like your Design the best.I still haven`t found the right Template for my Blog and will keep searching for a long time to come.Keep up the Great work.Anyone that doesn`t like Blogussion is Blind.
Gary,
That is definitely not an answer I expected. However, It is very true, the purpose of design it to just be creative. Set your mind free and let the design come to you.
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