what kind of graphic designer you are?

[3headcat]

I was just thinking
Would it be nice to actually know who is here on this forum? We all have interest in graphic design but I was wondering about the level of influence of it on our lives.
Do you do it for a living? Just for fun? Expect to do if for a living? How much time of your day you spend in front of Photoshop? What was your last design? Did you do for the money or just for fun? Where your entire project eventually goes? To the client? deviantart? Drawer? Website portfolio? How big is web of clients? Just friends and family or do you actually get clients from outside the circle of friends?
Just tell us about yourself and what kind of graphic designer you are
( I promise when I have a moment I will participate

 

[ibclare]

Is that a lick and a promise, a promise to the moon, or are your promises like pie crusts? They are made to be broken . . .

I do a little freelance, logos and the like. Mostly I use Photoshop for fun or family. I will retouch old photos and so forth, but my passion is artwork. I am currently doing a lot of composites, manipulations, and these are just for fun. I just posted one a bit ago, "Statuesque."

I have an account with deviantart but no gallery as yet. I've just recently been thinking about starting one. I spend way too many hours a day in front of Photoshop and this forum! But I've been unemployed since the end of the year, so I get to do things I love, in between the housework and errands, and taking care of my animals.

Your turn.

 

[IamSam]

Do you do it for a living? No. And I probably wont.

Just for fun? Yes, mostly.

Expect to do it for a living? No.....I like eating to much!

How much time of your day you spend in front of Photoshop? 4 to 5 hours on most days. More on weekends and days off.

What was your last design? I do one tutorial per day.....let's see, it was a 3D tut from NAPP. Last design was a handout/flyer for a local store.

Did you do it for the money or just for fun? Both, but mostly fun.

Where your entire project eventually goes.

To the client? Sometimes.

deviantart? No

Drawer? No ????

File on your computer? Yes.

Website portfolio? Not anymore. Although I may add some stuff to NAPP.

How big is Web of clients? Some friends and almost never family. My count is around 20 or so now.

Do you actually get clients from outside the circle of friends? Yes. Word of mouth. All local.

 

[dv8_fx]

Looks like a resume, Sam...

 

[3headcat]

So I’m at work again and that’s mean I do have a moment

I remember creating my first 3d animation back in the days when I was 12 on Amiga computer using Lightroom and them trying something couple years later in Flash and then there is big black graphic design hole I my life for around 10 years ( I think that thing I regret the most.. I could be much further by now if I only continue but well.. )

Around 3 years ago when my daughter was born I felt a great need for a dslr camera and I think that how it’s started for real

So eventually now I got deep in to photography and graphic design and I do hope in the near future (no not hope. I will dammit!) do it for a living
I mostly do manipulations but that just for fun for now and to develop skills but I also do brochures, textures, mock-ups, and I’m trying and sometimes actually manage to sell them.

Since last year I got my hands on my own legal Photoshop cs6 copy and since them I can see some movement. Create couple accounts on online graphic markets, start getting flow of passive income from them ( not a lot but it will grow) and from time to time I get a real live project ( just 2 people from outside the circle for now, rest of them was somehow connected to me: friend of a friend, company that friend work in, HR department of the place I work in (soul sucking, depressing IT support) etc. I also manage to to get some of my photographs display in galley.

The fact that I spend most of my time I’m my current job is successfully stopping me to get more project done or to spend more time in front of Photoshop but I slowly crawling my way towards graphic design industry. I’m currently trying to get my head around html and css ( I can design a graphic layout of a website but cutting it to pieces and code is is still back magic to me but time will sort this out), and waiting for delivery on my home photo studio ( lights, sofboxes ect. - I have no idea how I’m going to get food now but.. well I could lose some weight anyway)

Now – 3 websites, 3 advertisement projects, additional 3 brochures , and couple logos and I can start sending cv around ( please please someone give me 2 month pay so I can take 2 months of holidays and do it)

well..That’s more or lest it for now

 

[IamSam]

Looks like a resume, Sam

Do you remember those "questionnaire" type emails that used to go around? The ones where you were supposed to copy and paste and answer all the questions.....................that's more what I was going for!

Maybe before your time!

 

[dv8_fx]

Excerpt from my profile.....

Occupation .... Graph-Yeeks Die-Wreck-tore




In 1977 BC (Before Computers) and Photoshop, I was involved part-time in manual production of artwork (ie cut and paste , manual airbrush, screen-printing and off-set printing).

With the era of computers, my career spans almost 20 years in computer graphic design ranging from brochures, logos, flyers, and reports to commercial billboards and company/product advertising. I also specialize in computer generated Architectural renders.

My early years were spent working in a couple of graphic/advertising companies. Till I decided to go full freelance in 2005 - better than working for peanuts , more money to be made and more time for myself and family (I hated overtime)..... lol..... lazy me. Even then, I still work into the wee hours of the night into a new day just to finish a project.

My clients range from simple Mom and Dad stores to medium-size companies and various Government Departments here in the country I reside.

I don't have an online portfolio. Never needed it. And at my age, it would be pointless. I'm half bloodhound when it comes to finding clients. And I have a fair stream of return business from former clients. Besides, nothing will replace going out to personally find or see clients. It's better than hoping and waiting for someone to visit your web profile or your account in online freelance graphic sites. That's the way I see it.


I don't consider myself great with Photoshop. A lot of you guys are much, much better than me, that's for sure. But its not WHAT YOU KNOW ... its HOW YOU USE Photoshop in what you want to do in life.

I've seen a lot of people ask .... "Is There Money In Photoshop"?

Unless you are a photographer, my answer is this.... By itself, not much. To be a complete DESIGNER, you have to know and use other support graphic applications. You can do manipulations and other image magic with Photoshop. But in putting together the artwork for more complicated stuff, you WILL need other graphic applications - be it for the web or for printing material.

 

[ibclare]

No regrets. get with it. I assume you're still pretty young. I tried twice to get into web design n graphic rt but the competition from younger kids killed it for me. I too did regret giving up graphics when I was young. I liked animation too. When i think of what I gave up, well . . . now I have fun in Photoshop!

Don't give up; pretty soon you'll be wielding that black magic but you'll make white magic of it. Be careful what you wish for. You might get laid off and have those two months after all, lol. Not the worst thing. I'm getting unemployment right now.