I’d love to see a video where you discuss in more depth how you got started and maybe explore the pros and cons of learning through university vs the self-taught route. On a separate note - I was wondering if you’ve always been freelance or whether you’ve had the experience of working within a larger organisation? And when you say you’re a logo designer, where would you position yourself using industry standards? Senior designer, creative director, midweight, etc...
I think a creative can do many things that elevate them. Specializing in what you love is a different animal! Looking forward to watching. I don't have a niche but I like to think I bring something to my clients whatever that may be.
All about finding your niche personally. Be an expert at something. I speak a bit about this in the video I have done of becoming a designer. You defiantly have to dabble into most things to find what you prefer most.
This is something I endeavour to do in the near future. I love graphic design, in particular logo and type design. But I also love photography and recently I have been working on a lot of videography projects. It's hard to choose which one to pursue!
"Niching down means you can focus more on what you're good at" - spot on! I also agree that designers CAN get paid more if they niche, because as more of us begin to specialise the more sought after and valued those skills become for those who are looking for them. Has generalism had its day?
I just wrote an article on LinkedIn about Niching down. I used to think it was a good idea but with amount of competition going up every single day I think niching down too far is actually a detriment to most designers. If you have a giant following and can charge enough for your services to make a living from a single niche then yes it has benefit. However most people just getting started or struggling to find their client base niching is going to make their journey even more difficult. I think you have to limit your services to a group of services that work well together such as logo design and collateral design, but to be a brand strategist that also offers web design is too much of a difference and that's when you start to see issues. Go check out my LinkedIn article - would love to discuss this more with you and anyone else who's interested in the subject!
This makes total sense. I'm a newbie, been working with Photoshop for photo manipulation for a decade or so but never got into digital art until recently and just today I got an iPad and Apple Pencil to step up from my phone wirh Procreate. Really appreciate the insights you give, always really helpful info. I can't wait to find my niche, so far I'm just messing around a bit with art and lettering so I haven't found my passion yet but I've done a few logos and really enjoyed it so I'm excited to see where I can take this hobby and maybe eventually turn it into a job.
Great topic. As a beginner graphic designer with no formal education I think it is better to be a generalist, as it helps me learn and try the various disciplines of graphic design. Then I can find what resonates with me and focus on it. Is that a good approach?
@will, Instagram has become a personalized niche market. People create informational content to bring in their custom niche market so that they have a selected group of followers that they can farm off of. I am currently trying my hand at this business infrastructure. But this is where your video comes into play because i am trying to figure out what niche i want to fall into.
I finally decided to become a Freelancer Logo Designer, but i don't have any degrees or knowledge beyond the basics of Logo Design and Photoshop/Illustrator. Where do i start? Where and how do i start my career?
I'm in the same situation as you mate. A couple of days ago I stumbled upon a 50 day logo challenge, so I enrolled and set up a Behance account and a dedicated Instagram account to post the concepts I make during the challenge as some kind of portfolio, hopefully I can get some exposure and get hired this way.
So, basically, it's all simple - find what your passion is and stick to that path. But it can be rather hard to find that passion when there are so many opportunities and choices. One can spend a lifetime trying and failing. I agree to one of the comments below, it would be good if you shared your experience about getting started, finding your passion and so on.
thanks for sharing, I think that you right to advise to dive in the project which makes you guys feel fun and then we can see the passion goal.:) Hope that everyone can see the passion in our life as soon.
Although Instagram is becoming an informative space, isn't it better to the alternative of just being an image-based platform? Also, from an architectural standpoint, it can be a brilliant space to connect with like-minded people, network, find more resources and even find jobs! Niching is great because it lets you explore different aspects of your own skills too
Hey Will, thanks for the informative and educational video as usual. I was wondering if I could get your insights/opinion on the Affinity Designer software in comparison with for instance, Adobe's Illustrator. Would you recommend it for any beginner/mediocre or even professional designer or would you always suggest to stick with a "top tier" program such as Illustrator? In order to narrow down the premise of the question, let us assume that i'm strictly working on Logo Designs. Where do you see the advantages/disadvantages when using Affinity Designer?
Hey Will, Just yesterday discovered your videos. Awesome content! I really love your blackboard-wall! Can you tell me what it is exactly? Is it a wallpaper or really a bigass blackboard? Best regards!
Awesome! Thanks for this. I have a question. I'm 17 and I have started my journey n the design world 2 years ago by designing posters. Currently, I'm mainly focused on type. Is it too early for me to niche down to just type?
That trees dead as f*ck :( Thanks for making these videos. I am new to your channel but you've given me some things to think about... I'm trying to teach myself logo design and have been for a few months.. I think in my desperation to change career I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself and being unrealistic about it, therefore disappointment a plenty lol... Keep on trucking as they say :)
Not related to the niche viedo. But i had a question, if your a beginner at logo desing. Lets say i started with a desing and worked through it. At the end when i had a logo i like, am i suppose to group the whole logo together, leave it in its own sup set groups. Before i send it to, lets say a client or a printing place. How should my final logo be before being sent out or its fine as is because its vectorized?
@@willpatersondesign Acoustic blankets are an expensive fix, treat yourself to a lav mic (clips on your shirt) try a maono one from amazon for about £20... your body acts as a acoustic barrier and the sound is picked up clearly as its direct. your mic is an excellent mic, but for just speech like this, you really cant beat a lav mic. :)
Hope you guys enjoy the video and find it helpful! Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out when I upload another video.
Awesome!
Are you in the UK??👍🏻
I like the notes you make, but i'd really like to see the notes you're making as bullet points or some kind of list you're noting as you go.
I’d love to see a video where you discuss in more depth how you got started and maybe explore the pros and cons of learning through university vs the self-taught route.
On a separate note - I was wondering if you’ve always been freelance or whether you’ve had the experience of working within a larger organisation? And when you say you’re a logo designer, where would you position yourself using industry standards? Senior designer, creative director, midweight, etc...
I think a creative can do many things that elevate them. Specializing in what you love is a different animal! Looking forward to watching. I don't have a niche but I like to think I bring something to my clients whatever that may be.
Thanks for coming to watch! I do agree - creatives always like to do something new and exciting to add fuel to their creativity. :D
All about finding your niche personally. Be an expert at something. I speak a bit about this in the video I have done of becoming a designer. You defiantly have to dabble into most things to find what you prefer most.
Thanks for watching! Yes, becoming an expert is the biggest thing :)
@@willpatersondesign totally agree with everything you mentioned bro great vid.
This is something I endeavour to do in the near future. I love graphic design, in particular logo and type design. But I also love photography and recently I have been working on a lot of videography projects. It's hard to choose which one to pursue!
Yes. I'm just starting too and I feel like doing all. Lol however I know I'm doing logo and branding for sure
"Niching down means you can focus more on what you're good at" - spot on! I also agree that designers CAN get paid more if they niche, because as more of us begin to specialise the more sought after and valued those skills become for those who are looking for them. Has generalism had its day?
this came at a great time
I'm glad! Hope you're doing well :)
What kind of niching have you been thinking about Ryan?
Sure did!
Haha agreed!
I just wrote an article on LinkedIn about Niching down. I used to think it was a good idea but with amount of competition going up every single day I think niching down too far is actually a detriment to most designers. If you have a giant following and can charge enough for your services to make a living from a single niche then yes it has benefit. However most people just getting started or struggling to find their client base niching is going to make their journey even more difficult. I think you have to limit your services to a group of services that work well together such as logo design and collateral design, but to be a brand strategist that also offers web design is too much of a difference and that's when you start to see issues. Go check out my LinkedIn article - would love to discuss this more with you and anyone else who's interested in the subject!
Mike Pickett Design Co. put a link at least dude
I totally agree with you. I do think the solution or compromise is being very very good in one aspect (ur niche) and having knowledge about others.
This makes total sense. I'm a newbie, been working with Photoshop for photo manipulation for a decade or so but never got into digital art until recently and just today I got an iPad and Apple Pencil to step up from my phone wirh Procreate. Really appreciate the insights you give, always really helpful info. I can't wait to find my niche, so far I'm just messing around a bit with art and lettering so I haven't found my passion yet but I've done a few logos and really enjoyed it so I'm excited to see where I can take this hobby and maybe eventually turn it into a job.
Great topic.
As a beginner graphic designer with no formal education I think it is better to be a generalist, as it helps me learn and try the various disciplines of graphic design. Then I can find what resonates with me and focus on it. Is that a good approach?
@will, Instagram has become a personalized niche market. People create informational content to bring in their custom niche market so that they have a selected group of followers that they can farm off of. I am currently trying my hand at this business infrastructure. But this is where your video comes into play because i am trying to figure out what niche i want to fall into.
truth
Thanks Will, just the video I needed. Very good insight and encouraged me to continue cultivating my passion!
I finally decided to become a Freelancer Logo Designer, but i don't have any degrees or knowledge beyond the basics of Logo Design and Photoshop/Illustrator. Where do i start? Where and how do i start my career?
I'm in the same situation as you mate. A couple of days ago I stumbled upon a 50 day logo challenge, so I enrolled and set up a Behance account and a dedicated Instagram account to post the concepts I make during the challenge as some kind of portfolio, hopefully I can get some exposure and get hired this way.
This is just the kind of value I need my youtube channel to have. Your doing a good job. Keep it up. 💯💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥
So, basically, it's all simple - find what your passion is and stick to that path. But it can be rather hard to find that passion when there are so many opportunities and choices. One can spend a lifetime trying and failing. I agree to one of the comments below, it would be good if you shared your experience about getting started, finding your passion and so on.
You probably did me a huge favor with this video...deep thanks 😊
thanks for sharing, I think that you right to advise to dive in the project which makes you guys feel fun and then we can see the passion goal.:) Hope that everyone can see the passion in our life as soon.
Thank you Will Paterson! :)
Although Instagram is becoming an informative space, isn't it better to the alternative of just being an image-based platform? Also, from an architectural standpoint, it can be a brilliant space to connect with like-minded people, network, find more resources and even find jobs! Niching is great because it lets you explore different aspects of your own skills too
Hey Will, thanks for the informative and educational video as usual. I was wondering if I could get your insights/opinion on the Affinity Designer software in comparison with for instance, Adobe's Illustrator. Would you recommend it for any beginner/mediocre or even professional designer or would you always suggest to stick with a "top tier" program such as Illustrator? In order to narrow down the premise of the question, let us assume that i'm strictly working on Logo Designs. Where do you see the advantages/disadvantages when using Affinity Designer?
Thank you so much for this!
thank you for this video it will help me a lot and prove a point that i been telining my friends
Hey there Will hope u doing good man perfect vid especially right now
Hey Kevin! Thank you so much for watching, good to see you again! Hope you're all safe and well :)
Another great video, High Wizard Designer Extraordinaire! ;)
Thanks David! You are correct in calling me that! Hahah
Hahahahaha
Instagram carousel posters are trash
@@mattrinehart2852 time for a rebellion brother
I feel this is only helpful towards freelancers, not people who want to work for an agency
Hey Will,
Just yesterday discovered your videos. Awesome content!
I really love your blackboard-wall! Can you tell me what it is exactly? Is it a wallpaper or really a bigass blackboard?
Best regards!
It's a wall I painted with chalkboard paint :)
Awesome! Thanks for this. I have a question. I'm 17 and I have started my journey n the design world 2 years ago by designing posters. Currently, I'm mainly focused on type. Is it too early for me to niche down to just type?
That trees dead as f*ck :(
Thanks for making these videos. I am new to your channel but you've given me some things to think about... I'm trying to teach myself logo design and have been for a few months.. I think in my desperation to change career I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself and being unrealistic about it, therefore disappointment a plenty lol... Keep on trucking as they say :)
HI will. Thanks for your great advice. do you think web design could be a niche? thanks.
Due you think it's a good idea to be a Jack of all trades designer when you're applying for jobs in graphic design.
Not related to the niche viedo. But i had a question, if your a beginner at logo desing. Lets say i started with a desing and worked through it. At the end when i had a logo i like, am i suppose to group the whole logo together, leave it in its own sup set groups. Before i send it to, lets say a client or a printing place. How should my final logo be before being sent out or its fine as is because its vectorized?
Nice thanks for sharing hope this will help my channel
appreciate it
❣❣
Is there noise reduction on your mic?
There is De-reverb, need to get some acoustic blankets ha. Can you tell? What do you think of the audio? :)
@@willpatersondesign Acoustic blankets are an expensive fix, treat yourself to a lav mic (clips on your shirt) try a maono one from amazon for about £20... your body acts as a acoustic barrier and the sound is picked up clearly as its direct. your mic is an excellent mic, but for just speech like this, you really cant beat a lav mic. :)