Graphic Design is one of the oldest arts. It began thousands of years ago when men first began to draw figures in cave walls. Over the centuries, it has evolved into what it is today – a means of getting communication across using images and words. I’ll teach you all you need to know to be able to make money in Nigeria as a graphic designer, both online and offline.
First of all, let me tell you a story – yes, my story.How I built a career in Graphic Design
The thing is, I myself have a background in graphic design. I first learned how to use a graphic design software – CorelDRAW™ to be precise, in 2003. I did that course, graduated and began to work using my skills.
Back then, we were using CorelDRAW™ 10. This skill enabled me to get a job immediately I finished the course, for N5,000. Being a smart and intelligent young man, I didn’t just stop there. I upgraded and refined my graphic design skills by taking tutorials online, and by joining many forums and subscribing to newsletters such as CG Arena, Computer Arts, and Computer World.
My first salary like I said was 5K. I did another business center job for 5K. After that, at my next job I was able to negotiate a better salary of 15K in 2004, which was a cybercafe. After that job, my next job was a company, and the pay was 15K. From there, another company took me for 18K.
After that, I got a job with a design agency for 30K. Next job was a print house for 50K. That was the last place I worked before going freelance in 2008.
I’ve worked for many companies and organizations, even at a time for the government. It’s been over 20 years, and I’ve put all my experience together in an online course on graphic design, which is available on Udemy. Till date, the course still makes me money every month.
Why you need to learn Graphic Design
For starters, graphic design will not become irrelevant as long as human civilization continues. This is because people will ever need to communicate their ideas to an audience, and graphic design is the medium for that.
With the emergence of AI tools, some people fear that AI will replace human talent in graphic design. I don’t think so. This is because AI can never match human intelligence and creativity. Granted, some AI tools are quite good, but there is no way they will replace humans.
However, AI can complement human output and make it better. This same disruption is seen in other areas of human endeavor, not just graphic design.
Also, another reason why you should learn graphic design and build a career around it is because it is a high-income skill which will earn you a reasonable income for life if you are intentional and focused.
Graphic Design Aspects
There are key aspects of graphic design, and sometimes they overlap. However, the major ones are
- Web design
- Print design
- UI/UX design
- Motion design
- 3D design
It’s up to you to decide on the branch you want to specialize in. Some of us are generalists: we know some thing about each of them, like me. However, my main area of specialization is print design/web design.
You can comfortably build a career around each of them, especially UI/UX design which is hot right now. If you are able to work for foreign clients, you are made my friend.
What you need to learn Graphic Design
You need
- a good instructor,
- a laptop or desktop PC,
- a smartphone, and
- a relevant curriculum with the right structure and materials.
You may need internet data if you are going to take online lessons. However, if you are taking lessons offline and physically, you need a good instructor and a relevant and structured curriculum with the right teaching environment.
How to learn Graphic Design
You can learn graphic design in two major ways
- Online with instructor
- Offline/one-on-one with instructor
Online Graphic Design Training
In this case, you will need a course on graphic design, lots of internet data and some discipline to go through the course. There are lots of places you can get a course on graphic design. Like I said earlier, I have a graphic design course on Udemy which I designed and produced.
My course has lots of positive reviews – there is no 1 star or 3-star review. The lowest is 3.5, while the majority are 5-star reviews. These reviews are coming because the students found the course valuable.
The course has everything a beginner needs to master graphic design using CorelDRAW™. It has the relevant curriculum and structure. Besides, there’s a certificate of completion to be had once you’re done.
The good thing about an online course is the convenience and freedom it affords you – you are not in a rush to complete the lessons and you can take them from your room, at your own time.
Of course, there are other places you can buy a course such as Thinkific, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, etc. You can even take tutorials on YouTube, but it’s not recommended because there’s no structure. It’s basically random lessons here and there.
Udemy is the largest course marketplace in the world, and they offer great discounts for people from countries like Nigeria.
Offline Graphic Design Training
In this case, you meet with an instructor and have an agreement to be trained for a fee. This is also good. However, you may not get the full benefit of a relevant and structured curriculum. They might just end up teaching you just how to use CorelDRAW™ as a design tool, neglecting all other topics you should have covered.
It’s up to you whichever one to go for. Just be sure it’s the best for you. I usually recommend an online course if you can’t find an instructor around you and you have internet data/access. On the other hand, if you want a one-on-one training, then by all means get it.
Graphic Design Tools
Here are some graphic design tools you may need.
Vector Drawing/Illustration Software
- CorelDRAW™
- Adobe Illustrator™
- Sketch™
- Figma™
- Canva™
Page Layout Software
- CorelDRAW™
- Adobe InDesign™
- Microsoft Word™
Image Editing Software
- Adobe Photoshop™
- GIMP™
- Affinity Photo™
- Adobe Express™
This are just the few that comes to mind. There are lots of different apps out there, both for mobile and Windows platforms. There are also AI tools which can do amazing things like cutout objects from photos, create logos, etc.
How to position yourself as a professional Graphic Designer
First of all, you need to present yourself as a professional, not just someone who knows how to use CorelDRAW™. This is why many graphic designers don’t attract high-value clients. They think small and act small. Simply because you know how to use an app, doesn’t make you a graphic designer.
Here’s a list of things to put together in order to position yourself, whether you’re a freelancer or looking for regular employment.
Your Resume
You should have a well-designed resume highlighting your skills and competencies. This will sell your skills during a job hunt.
Your portfolio
You need a portfolio of your best work. It’s one of the first things you should do, though some employers will still want you to take a test during interviews. However, the portfolio is still necessary.
Your website (optional)
You may decide to setup a personal website for your services. This is also optional.
Social media profiles
You must have well-designed social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).
Business Cards
You need to always present your business cards when the occasion demands.
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What about freelancing platforms?
Freelancing is very popular today, and many designers are taking to it. Some popular platforms include Upwork, Fiver, Freelancer, and Guru, among others.
If you chose to become a graphic design freelancer, you should know that it’s a different terrain from a paid job. You are totally responsible for your success and failure. Here are a few things to have in mind.
There is high competition: It may be difficult to get a gig because of the high competition on these platforms. You are competing with hundreds of thousands of other designers, so the probability of getting a job is low.
You may be discriminated against: If you show in your profile that you’re a Nigerian, there’s a chance of being discriminated against, simply because you’re Nigerian.
Receiving Payments may be a problem: This is because most clients prefer to pay via PayPal, which doesn’t allow Nigerians to receive payments nor withdraw their funds directly to a local bank account.
Personally, I wouldn’t advise anyone to get on these platforms, unless you have ways of working around these challenges like using VPN. It’s entirely up to you.
How about Smartphone Graphic Design?
This is a new trend among Nigerians, where you can create designs using your smartphone, levering mobile apps. I think it’s a good thing, but don’t build your career around it. Smartphone graphic design is for amateurs.
You can’t possibly tell a client that you’re going to use your phone to handle jobs. That’s suicidal because they won’t take you seriously.
However, it’s nice to know that you can quickly knock together a piece of design using your phone. Here are some apps for smartphone graphic design. This is just a few. Every few months more and more apps are being built.
- Pixellab (very powerful)
- Adobe Spark (doesn’t install on all devices)
- Canva (popular and easy to use)
- GoDaddy Studio
- Desygner
- Photoroom
I personally use some of these apps, though I use them with discretion. For me, nothing will completely replace desktop design apps, because of one thing: they allow you to own your original files.
Concluding thoughts
Have you ever contemplated going into graphic design in Nigeria? What are the challenges you are facing with trying to learn graphic design? Did this article meet your expectations?
Let me know in the comment section below. Don’t forget to share this article using the button to your left. Check out other articles you may like.
Good luck.
