Training to be an illustrator
Becoming an
illustrator or a graphic designer is more tedious than simply creating loved art and designs for their directed audience. On a daily basis they face real
risks of failure due to the fact that as an artist there are no rules, no
rights and wrongs, and no set answers.
Graphic
design was introduced after the Second World War when we started combining
pictures with words. Beforehand, pictures and words assembled in separate settings
had their own powerful results; but when combined we find that they are more
powerful when they communicate together.
When going
through the problem-solving process on the way to developing a product of
graphic design, one methodology is used to clarify the issue. Edward De Bono
was responsible for creating this process, it is called “The Six Thinking Hats”,
defined by color they represent the following types of thinking:
The White
Hat – To gather information
The Green Hat – To explore and
generate ideas without criticism
The Yellow Hat – To assess the
strengths and benefits of each alternative
The Black
Hat – To assess the weaknesses and dangers of each alternative
The Blue Hat – To maintain an
overview of the progress and focus on the whole process
The Red Hat – To express intuitive and emotional views
that have no defined rationale
Another
problem-solving methodology is Jessica Jane Barlow’s “The Rake’s Progress”.
There are six steps:
1. Defining the problem
2. Gather the relevant information
3. Generating options
4. Evaluating the options
5. Selecting the best option
6. Implementing the chosen solution
Together,
these six steps are recommended for graphic designers everywhere as practice to improve and
better their work.
