A Companion Guide On The Journey To Becoming A Graphic Designer
Professor Carole Maugé-Lewis has worked as a graphic designer for over 20 years, and is a Professor Emerita at Kennesaw State University. During her time there, she founded the graphic communication program within the School of Art and Design, which has won multiple student awards. She has received the Distinguished Teaching Award on two occasions in the School of the Arts, and been recognized by GDUSA as a ‘Person To Watch’ and as an ‘Educator To Watch.’
Maugé-Lewis’ new book – So! You Want To Become A Graphic Designer: A Resource and Guide — available as an eBook and in paperback — is for aspiring graphic design students, career changers, self-taught designers, entry-level designers, art and design students, creative entrepreneurs, design enthusiasts, educators, and instructors. Edited by Cherie Miller, the Foreward by GDUSA Publisher Gordon Kaye states: “This book is a testament to Professor Maugé-Lewis’ dedication to making design education accessible to all… It is a comprehensive resource, a compendium of wisdom distilled from year’s of experience, enriched with her students’ works, practical advice and industry insights.”
The eBook has been sitting in the #1 New Releases since its debut in late April.
The intent of the book is not so much a step-by-step guide on becoming a graphic designer but to serve as a resource and guide for understanding the core principles of graphic design. It emphasizes the importance of learning design programs and participating in graphic design communities; the significance of typography and color; offers a few beginner layout tips; addresses the importance of the design process in creating solutions based on design briefs; and showcases creative solutions created by university students who followed a simple design brief for each project.
The book also highlights the value of building a portfolio of design projects and provides information on finding inspiration for creating design mockups. Additionally, it suggests exploring the design marketplace for further inspiration. Other sections of the book explore finding a niche market and whether offering services for free at the start of a career is beneficial. It also addresses the question of whether having a website to showcase mockups is necessary, as well as the importance of obtaining a graphic design degree. Self-taught designers will benefit from the recommended list of resources that cover various aspects, such as books on layout design, the history of design, lists of renowned logo designers, notable typographers, and famous illustrators. The book also includes information on job opportunities and online universities that offer graphic design degrees.
Maugé-Lewis says that she hopes that both students and instructors will find this book an excellent go-to curriculum resource for teaching or learning more about graphic design, in order to guide their students towards careers in graphic design.
