Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign

Since I started studying graphic design I’ve found that I am the most confident when it comes to Illustrator. I love using the pen tool and drawing with it. Over the course of my studying I have really been able to further my skills on illustrator and get better and learn some different techniques.

When I designed my infographic on shoes I had to draw a lot of shoes and create different icons and though I enjoy using illustrator it can be very time consuming. This is why I like to practice in my spare time to get quicker and just maintain my skills. When it comes to my design process I like to nail my ideas early on so that I can have plenty of time to tweak my design otherwise you end up rushing it all.

Photoshop has always been a mixed one for me. It’s like having a sibling; you love it but it knows how to push your buttons. I must admit I do feel confident when it comes to photoshop but I feel it is more footery than anything else. It took me a lot of time to learn certain techniques and how to use the tools but when you see your finished work, there is such a good feeling and I remember that I do love Photoshop.

InDesign is now one of my favourite programmes to use. I can’t create stationery or design a poster without it. When I started my course I had no idea about InDesign. I had heard of it but was never been brave enough to explore it. That all changed when I got to design my first editorial piece in class. It was a 16 page cultural magazine and from that moment on I knew I was going to love InDesign. It was a fun project and allowed me to learn the basics of the programme and I really saw just how much you can do with InDesign. From changing the kerning on a font to creating paragraph styles that can easily be copied into large amounts of text.

I am obviously still learning how to use these programmes to their full potential, as they are constantly changing and upgrading but I look forward to expanding my knowledge and maintaining my skills for each one.