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Why 99.9% Of Graphic Designers Choose Mac VS PC

There is a good reason why the majority of the creative industry decided that this was the best choice. Here’s why!

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Whether you are a graphic designer, sports athlete, or construction worker, there are tools relative to your area of focus that you require to do your job everyday. Luckily graphic designers don’t require too many. We can all agree that the one tool graphic designers need the most is a computer loaded up with all latest Adobe software and some extras as well. Just as you start your search for the one tool you need, the age-old question bubbles up. Do you choose a Mac or a PC?

As a graphic designer there are plenty of reasons to pick either a Mac computer or a PC. However a large majority of graphic designers choose Mac over PC because it is widely used across the industry, it’s simple operating system, and the amazing build quality Apple produces. These are just a few reasons 99.9% of graphic designers choose Mac over PC. In the rest of this article I’ll go into more detail with each of these reasons and more so you can decide if choosing a Mac sounds like the right choice for you.

Industry Standard

If you are planning on joining a design agency or design department of a company then chances are, they are currently using the Mac operating system. In today’s market a lot of design and creative companies use Apple products that come installed with the latest versions of Mac OS. Over the years I could count on one hand the times I’ve observed a workstation that wasn’t using Mac OS. As you grow in your design career and level up, you will most likely switch companies. Having the ability to go from one company’s Mac workstation to another companys’ without wasting any time due to learning a new operating system will definitely put you in good favor. Honestly there isn’t a time during an interview where the hiring manager will ask you if you use Windows or Mac because I think it is pretty much assumed that you know how to use a Mac. While there is nothing wrong with using Windows, if you plan on working with a larger team or within a company that is already using a Mac system. It might be a good idea to start familiarizing now and learning how to use a Mac. 

Simple Operating System

A big selling point for the Mac vs Windows debate that I find the most compelling is the simplicity of the Mac operating system. To provide a little backstory, I’ve owned multiple Windows computers all up to my final year of college. It got me through all of my design projects without any problems. I spent most of my time in the design studio’s at my school working on projects and transferring files from my Windows laptop to the Mac desktop station provided. This was not a problem as I would simply transfer everything using a USB drive. The one thing that would always drive me nuts however was how much maintaining I would have to do to my Windows laptop. Whenever I wanted to pack up and leave the studio, I would shut down my laptop and would be required to install a new update that had just been released by Windows. In some situations, multiple updates and drivers would need to be updated throughout the day. This is contrasted by the Mac operating system which rarely needs to be updated unless Apple releases a new version of the operating system itself. I’m sure there are nuances and complexities behind the reasons for this but as a consumer and user of these products, I don’t really care or want to know. I want to be able to turn on my laptop, get the job or request done, and not have to worry that my laptop might fail if I don’t install the most recent update. I want the tools I use everyday as a graphic designer to work effortlessly without having to worry too much about maintenance and with Mac it is made easy.

Apple Ecosystem

If you own an iPad, iPhone, iMac, or any of the other Apple products then you might already know about the interconnectivity that the Mac operating system offers. My first apple product was a Macbook with my second being an iPhone. Having the ability to send files back and forth between both devices as well as receive messages and calls was awesome. This subtle feature allowed me to stay focused while working on my macbook without having to worry about checking my phone every 5 minutes. As you continue to add more Apple products to your tool kit you will continue to see the benefits of the Mac operating system. This year I purchased a 2020 version of the iPad to sketch and take notes on for work. The iPad is a great tool to bring with me to meetings and working groups that allows me to stay attentive while also capturing important feedback and information. Once the meetings are over I can then send all the notes and sketches to my macbook within seconds. Sure you can do this a number of ways but Mac makes it so easy and again, effortless. If you have an Apple product like the airpods, then they can automatically connect and recognize what device you are using for audio. This attention to small details like this is exactly why I love the Mac operating system.  

Build Quality

There is no way I could write a Mac vs Windows article without mentioning the hardware and build quality of the products it is all packaged in. Apple is known for its elegant, sleek, modern design of all of their products. The aluminum unibody Macbook is so thin and sleek that it can catch anyone’s eyes when walking into a room. While not only do the products look good but they also last. Yes the sleek and modern design will be a little more costly than a Windows product but I have found that Apple products like the Macbook have a great lifespan. For example, my first Apple laptop was a 2012 retina unibody macbook that I bought in the summer of 2012. I was so excited to finally have that nice, sleek, aluminum laptop to work on especially since Apple had just released the new retina screen. That macbook lasted me all the way up to the fall of 2019 without any gripes or headaches! That laptop lasted me 7 full years and I more than got my money’s worth. It goes without saying that I make sure to take the best care of these things. These are tools that I use for work to provide an income for myself and without them I lose that opportunity. Never once did I have to get it repaired or replaced and that to me is a big win for Mac.

Accessories

I mentioned this a little bit before but the more Mac powered devices and accessories you add to your tool kit the more benefits you will see. Items like the airpods, Apple pencil, trackpad, and keyboard are all accessories that I have found to be extremely useful and unmatched by a lot of other brands in the space. Mac powered accessories are designed with simplicity and function in mind. When you have accessories that take full advantage of the gesture controls and features of the operating system, it is a win win for you. My absolute favorite accessory that I have purchased in the last year is the Apple pencil. The pencil feels so natural in my hand and while drawing on the iPad. I always thought I would remain a traditional pen and paper person but in the last year I have totally been converted to a digital notetaker. Not only can I take notes without worrying about running out of space or replacing a book. I can also share my screen to draw out ideas and notes right in front of my coworkers and clients for meetings. I am someone that loves to talk with their hands and use imagery to help convey ideas and this alone has allowed me to do that effortlessly.

Reasons to choose Mac over Windows

A quick recap of why 99.9% of graphic designers choose Mac vs PC

1. Mac is the most widely used operating system when working in the design industry.
2. The Mac operating system keeps things simple for you, so that you can pick up and start working without worrying about any maintenance or updates.
3. When you have multiple Apple devices, Mac operating systems allow for effortless connectivity between devices.
4. The build quality of Mac powered devices is unmatched and maintains a long lifespan for you to get the most out of your purchase.
5. Compatible Mac accessories take full advantage of the features and controls built into the operating system.

Apple and the Mac operating system make it very hard for a designer like myself to not like it. While there is absolutely a place and a time for someone to use a Windows powered device, I would strongly recommend any designer starting off or currently caught between the Mac vs PC question to choose Mac. If you have any questions you can always get in touch with me on my Instagram page here. Make sure you follow to stay up to date with all our podcast episodes and new articles.

The Number 1 Place to Download Free Fonts for Graphic Designers

Sure, you can download free fonts all over the web but don’t make that mistake without looking here first. This should be the top place to look for every project!

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As a graphic designer your job is to create visual solutions that fit perfectly for the problem at hand. This can come down to details such as using certain colors, imagery, and my favorite of all, fonts. There are so many different places to search for fonts out there that it can be difficult to know where to look. Another problem that I have found is that not all free fonts are created equal. There is the age old saying “Just because it’s free, doesn’t mean it’s good” and this still very much applies to free fonts as well.

My number 1 place to download free high-quality fonts is Google Fonts. Google Fonts offers 900+ free fonts for graphic designers to use in any commercial or non-commercial project. The Google Fonts website is an interactive directory that allows you to search for whatever font you need using a ton of different properties such as style, width, height, and more. I also want to make sure that I mention Google Fonts makes it easy for you to use their fonts on any web project you have.

In the rest of this article I’ll go over what makes a good free font, the various categories, how to download fonts from google fonts, and some of my favorites I think you should know and master. Make sure you read till the end of the article for my favorite fonts in each category and a free font pairing cheatsheet.

Problems with Free Fonts

If you search long enough you can find all kinds of websites that offer free font downloads. I know from experience and I have downloaded my fair share of free fonts over my career as a graphic designer. The saying “Just because it’s free, doesn’t mean it’s good” can certainly ring true for most free font downloads. There are a few problems that I have encountered after downloading free fonts and they are usually:

1. Incomplete or missing character sets
2. Inaccurate letter spacing
3. No commercial license offered

These 3 things can really put you at a disadvantage as a graphic designer especially when you are starting off. We all know, time is money and money is time. If you have to waste time fixing 1 or 2 of these points then you might as well have spent money purchasing a font instead.

What Makes a Good Free Font?

When looking for free fonts you want to make sure you cover each of the 3 points that I mentioned. The font includes a full character set, has appropriate letter spacing for each character, and offers a personal-use and commercial-use license.

Full Character Set

Making sure your font download includes a full character set is definitely important for any free font. You never want to be in a situation during a project where you are missing some punctuation, numbers, or even worse, a letter! This will definitely hurt your credibility as a professional who is supposed to be an expert when it comes to this.

Consistent Letter Spacing

When it comes to fonts, it is not just about how each letter looks independently but how they look collectively while in use. This means that the spacing between each letter when using the font should not have any inconsistencies or distractions. For example if the letter ‘o’ is symmetrical it should have similar spacing on both sides when next to another letter. A letter like ‘a’ will have spacing that differs from each side. This will obviously vary for each letter and most of the time you shouldn’t notice this if the font was created correctly. However it will be super apparent when that isn’t the case and I have included an example below just in case.

Commercial and Personal License

While the first two points are important when downloading a free font, making sure you have the appropriate license might arguably be the most important. When downloading free fonts, most websites offer a free download for ‘personal use only’. This means that you should only use the font for personal projects or projects that do not intend to benefit financially. If it is discovered that you are using the font beyond the agreed license, legal action can be taken.

When you download a free font you want to make sure you take into consideration how you intend on using it. If you would like to use it for a client project but aren’t clear on the license that is granted then you should contact the creator before using it. Most of the time a commercial license is available to purchase.

Font Categories and Uses

When you are designing you will notice that there are different ‘styles’ or categories of fonts. Each category has its own visual characteristic and is associated with different scenarios. Here are some of the different categories of fonts that you will see on Google Fonts.

1. Serifs
2. Sans Serif
3. Display
4. Handwriting
5. Monospace

Serif

Serif is the word used to describe the line or stroke attached to the ends of letters in a certain font. Serif is also used to describe an entire font that makes use of serifs. Some popular serif fonts include Caslon, Garamond, Baskerville, Times New Roman, and Mrs. Eaves.

Sans Serif

The word ‘sans’ means without therefore sans serif is a font that does not include a serif at the end of each letter in a font. San-serif fonts are also known to have less variety and width variation in the letterforms than serif fonts. Popular sans serif fonts include Arial, Helvetica, Futura, Avant Garde, and Gotham.

Display

A display font is a font that is intended for use at large sizes because it may include details that would get lost at smaller sizes. These are also meant to be used for short headings rather than long extended bodies of text. Popular display fonts include Cooper Black, ITC Benguiat, Caslon Antique, Papyrus, and Windsor.

Handwriting

In full transparency this is a category on google fonts that I shy away from. Handwriting fonts are meant to emulate the aesthetic and strokes of physical handwritten letters. Popular handwritten fonts include Comic Sans, Market Felt, and Lemonade.

Monospace

Monospace fonts are fonts whose letters and characters each occupy the same amount of horizontal space. Monospaced fonts were widely used in early computers which often had extremely limited graphics capabilities and unpredictable space limitations. Popular monospaced fonts include Courier New, Lucida Console, Monaco, and Inconsolata.  

How to Download Fonts from Google Fonts

Using free fonts from Google fonts is an easy 3 step process. When visiting Google fonts there are two ways you can use and implement the fonts for your designs. The first use is for implementation on a website which involves inserting some code into your html files. The second use and the one we will be focusing on is downloading the fonts onto the desktop of your computer and installing the font using the system provided software.

Step 1 – Select Your Font

Select the font that you would like to use by clicking into the individual page. On the font page you will see the option to ‘Select this style’ or ‘Download family’. ‘Select this style’ will add that individual font weight to your collection. ‘Download family’ will add the entire font-family to your collection. Click either of these buttons.

Step 2 – Download Your Font

Once you have added the selected font to your collection, it will then open up a side drawer within the browser. At the bottom of the drawer there will be a button to ‘Download family’. Click that and it should open up a save dialog within the window. Save it to your desktop or folder so you can begin installing.

Step 3 – Install Your Font

After you have saved your font to your desktop or a selected folder you should now have a zipped file. Double click that file to unzip it and reveal your font files. You should be able to double click each of those files and have them automatically install onto your computer using the provided system application. Once that is done you should now be able to use the font in your editing software.

Now that you know how to use Google Fonts and install them onto your computer. In the next few sections I’ll cover my five favorite fonts in each category that I think every graphic designer should know and master.

Favorite Serifs

Merriweather

Merriweather was designed to be a text font that is perfect for reading screens and digital devices. The project is led by Sorkin Type which is a type design foundry based in Wester Massachusetts. 

Lora

Lora is a balanced serif inspired by calligraphy. It does not have too much contrast and is also perfect for large bodies of text. I have personally used this font for website and book projects.

Robot Slab

Roboto Slab is described to have a robotic and geometric structure. It has thicker slab serifs and does not show a lot of variation in it’s characters. One of the reasons I enjoy this font so much is that it offers a variety of different weights that can solve for all kinds of briefs.

Source Serif Pro

While Source Serif Pro does not offer as many font weights as Roboto Slab, it is a font that is very legible and does a lot of work with the weights provided. I also love the contrast and variation in the letterforms of Source Serif Pro.

DM Serif Text

DM Serif Text is my favorite of the five serif fonts. This weight is intended to be used for smaller sub-headings and text sizes. It also happens to be produced by one of my favorite type foundries called Colophon.

Favorite San Serifs

DM Sans

Continuing from DM Serif Text, DM Sans is the geometric sans serif designed sibling. Perfect for use at small text sizes, DM Sans supports a wide set of characters.

Open Sans

Open Sans is a sans serif designed by Steve Matteson. It contains over 897 characters and has been optimized for print and digital projects. It has a number of different weights and is approachable and very legible.

Roboto

It’s no coincidence that Roboto is both a favorite serif and sans serif font. It is just so versatile and works in almost any situation. Definitely a powerhouse font that every design should get to know and not forget.

Montserrat

Montserrat is probably one of the most popular fonts in the world and for good reason. It contains a ton of different font-weights and it is just so familiar. The font was inspired by the signage and posters in the Montserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires.

IBM Plex Sans

IBM Plex Sans is a unique sans serif font that was created to capture IBM’s rich history and to illustrate the unique relationship between mankind and machine. Because of this the font has excellent legibility for print and digital based projects.

Favorite Display

Bebas Neue

Bebas Neue is a narrow sans serif font perfect for headlines, captions, and packaging that will surely grab viewers attention. Although it only has one font-weight, that is all you will need.

Stardos Stencil

I think it’s always good to have a stencil font in your repertoire and Stardos Stencil should be that font. It comes in regular and bold because let’s be honest here. This is display font and if you have even the slightest idea of using this for anything else then we aren’t friends.

Poppins

Poppins is a popular sans serif font and I see it being used more and more in all kinds of projects. However I think the beauty in Poppins is the contrast and variation in its letterforms even though it is a geometric sans serif. For that reason it is a shame to use it at smaller sizes where those beautiful details would get lost.

Playfair Display

Playfair Display is a gorgeous serif font that captures the beauty and elegance of traditional ink pens. It has beautiful thin elements as well as wider variations in its characters that really show how sophisticated it can be.

DM Serif Display

DM Serif Display is obviously part of the DM font family that I have already said enough about so you should probably just get to know it already.

Favorite Handwriting

I’m going to keep my notes about these fonts short and brief as I don’t use any handwritten font regularly in my design projects. My perspective on handwritten fonts is that they have a time and place that is rather specific for when you should use them. I also believe that a handwritten font should never be the focus of your project but rather an accent if needed. If you want a handwritten font to be the focus on your design then you should either create it yourself or collaborate with someone that is an expert in handwritten typography.

Favorite Monospace

Roboto Mono

Roboto Mono is a wonderful addition to the already robust Roboto family of fonts. Some monospaced fonts can feel quite clunky and imperfect when attempting to read larger bodies of text but Roboto Mono does not.

Space Mono

Space Mono is another font designed by my favorite type foundry, Colophon. It is a font developed for headlines and display use-cases. It was inspired by the headline typefaces of the 1960s which were adopted by science fiction films, television, and literature.

Inconsolata

Inconsolata is not your stereotypical ‘programmer font’. It is designed for printed code listings as well as larger editorial headlines at high resolution. The font was partly inspired by the monospace font Consolas that was used for Microsoft Vista.

Source Code Pro

Source Code Pro is a monospaced compliment to the Source font family. Designed with coding applications in mind, this font family comes with additional weights all the way up to Black.

IBM Plex Mono

IBM Plex Mono is another great addition to an already robust and utilitarian font family. Don’t be afraid to venture on your own and use any of the IBM Plex fonts as they are all equally wonderful to use and design with.

Conclusion

I hope I’ve peaked your interest and you’ve found some new favorite fonts to use in your next graphic design project. I’ve also put together this free font pairing cheat sheet to help you get up and running quickly with new font combinations. Sign up using this link and I’ll send you the free font pairing cheat sheet.

Best Free Graphic Design Software You Can Use Today Desktop, iPad, iPhone

If you were starting off a graphic designer tomorrow and didn’t have any budget to purchase a creative cloud subscription then I would strongly recommend you download and learn these programs right now!

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Being a graphic designer as my full-time job I am able to pay for the software and applications that I use through my work. I specifically use the Adobe creative suite as the industry standard and couldn’t say enough good things about it. However, if I was just starting off and didn’t have the ability to purchase a paid program, which free graphic design software would I download today?

Even though the standard programs that graphic designers use require payment. There is still a ton of free softwares and resources that will allow you to get any job done when it comes to graphic design. The best free graphic design softwares you can use today are:

In the rest of this article I’ll go through why I would download and use each of these programs today. I’ll also make sure to include links for where you can download and use each of these free graphic design programs. Also make sure to read to the end of the article where I include my favorite 3 softwares that I use currently today even though they are free.

AdobeXd

AdobeXd is a vector-based user experience design tool for web and mobile applications. Now those might sound like scary words but I love AdobeXd for its simplicity and ease of use. Even though it is described specifically as a ‘user experience design tool’, you can absolutely flex AdobeXd to serve many purposes and I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. It is completely Free! Yes, AdobeXd is free to download and it has all the features you would need to make it as a growing graphic designer.

Adobe Lightroom (iPad & iPhone)

If you are looking to edit images to use in your designs then look no further as Adobe’s Lightroom for iPad and iPhone is all you need. Adobe Lightroom allows you to manipulate photographs that you take yourself or find on the web and export for use in your graphic designs. Also did I forget to mention that it’s free to use on mobile devices. If you have an iPad, iPhone, or Android device you can export your image from there and share it with another program.

Google Fonts

Google fonts isn’t necessarily a software but I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t share this one with you. Google Fonts is a library of 900+ fonts that can be downloaded and used in your designs for free. It includes popular fonts like Montserrat, Open Sans, Roboto, and many more that will have your designs looking sharp and professional. Google fonts offers a powerful search feature that allows you to search by type, font-weight, width, height, and category to fit any project you may have.

Adobe Spark Post (Desktop, iPad & iPhone)

Adobe Spark Post is another software from Adobe that allows you to create graphics through your browser or mobile device. The wonderful thing about Spark Post is that you can create reusable templates for your projects and then easily change the branding, colors, and fonts depending on the client. A tool like this allows you to get up and running quickly without any of the setup time so you can get to the fun creative part immediately. Adobe Spark Post is free to use but also offers a paid account to use premium templates and other features.

Figma

Figma is a cloud based design tool that allows you to build websites and mobile applications, similar to AdobeXd. Figma also comes with a free account that allows you to create up to 3 projects before you have to switch over to a paid account. Figma is being used by more and more professionals in the industry today and it isn’t a bad idea to jump into this piece of software and start learning. Figma also offers a desktop app that you can download if working through the browser isn’t your favorite way to work. Figma is also a great tool for collaborating with other members on a team and allows you to simultaneously edit the same file.

Canva (Desktop & iPhone)

Canva is a design platform that allows you to create graphics, social media content, posters, presentations and more. You can use Canva directly through your web browser without any download required. Canva is also available through a mobile app download on your phone so you can bring the software with you anywhere just in case a last minute request comes through the door.

Adobe Photoshop (iPad & iPhone)

Adobe Photoshop! The original king of the Adobe programs is free for iPad and iPhone and the learning curve is way easier than the desktop version. I really can’t thank Adobe enough for offering their mobile applications for free as they are great introductions for new designers like yourself to being to learn industry standard applications that you will continue to use as you grow.

Adobe Sketch

If you enjoy bringing hand-drawn elements into your designs then Adobe Sketch is the perfect place to start. Adobe Sketch offers 24 available brushes for use in any design you need to create. Adobe Sketch is available on the iPad and iPhone so that means you can take your work mobile and never miss a moment of creativity. Adobe Sketch also allows you to export your drawings and designs up to 8K resolution so image quality will never be a problem in this app. This app would be great for the designer that loves to work with traditional elements like type and integrate their own hand-drawn designs to liven up the project.

Vectr 

Vectr is a really awesome free vector graphics tool that allows you to create right in the browser immediately. I was a little hesitant to include this in the article but as soon as I clicked ‘Use Online’ on their website I was able to immediately start using the tool and wow was I impressed. Vectr is very similar to the core features of what I use in Adobe Illustrator (paid program). I primarily use vector graphics when I am creating icons or small spot illustrations for projects and I can see using Vectr to solve exactly for those situations. You can create your assets in Vectr and then export them as high-resolution PNGs or JPGs as well as a bunch of other formats if needed.

GIMP

GIMP is a free and open source image editor that has been around since I first opened up Photoshop. GIMP offers a variety of features that closely mirror the bigger and paid applications. For full transparency I can’t say that I have ever enjoyed working within GIMP. While it can absolutely get the job done for some reason the interface never stuck with me. But if I had to start all over I would probably start with GIMP and give it another try.

My 3 Favorite Free Graphic Design Programs

If you made it down to this part of the article, thank you for reading! As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I use 3 of these programs today at my full-time job even though they are free. They provide me with all of the features and capabilities to create professional designs that circulate around a large company and even onto into the world for other people to use. Just because the software or program is free does not make it less worthy of being used by yourself.

My 3 Favorite Free Graphic Design Programs Include

1. AdobeXd
2. Adobe Lightroom (iPad & iPhone)
3. Google Fonts

These 3 free graphic design programs are my absolute favorite and there isn’t a day where I don’t use all 3 of these. If you were starting off a graphic designer tomorrow and didn’t have any budget to purchase a creative cloud subscription then I would strongly recommend you download and learn these 3 programs right now!

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Your Friendly Guide to 16 Most Popular Places to Find Graphic Design Jobs

From one designer to another, these are the best places to look for graphic design jobs. I know from experience!

If you’re currently a full-time graphic designer or just entering the professional field you may be overwhelmed by the thought of searching for that new perfect job.  There are so many places to look now but which ones will give you the most chances? In addition, not only are there so many places to look but there are so many platforms that you should have a profile on.

Fear not! Take a deep breath and I promise by the end of this article you will know exactly where to look for your next graphic design job. Also make sure you read to the end to see my top 5 favorite places that I use everytime I’m looking for my next graphic design job.

16 Most Popular Places to Find Graphic Design Jobs

WorkingNotWorking

Founded by Justin Gignac while he was repeatedly contacted during his freelance design days, WorkingNotWorking is a creative job board that has the attention of major brands and companies in the entertainment, media, marketing, and consumer industries. WorkingNotWorking has been mentioned a few times on the podcast by MTV’s VP of digital design, Rich Tu and Alex Center the founder and creative director of Center.

Toptal

Toptal markets itself an exclusive network of the top 3% of freelance talent. I have had experience with Toptal, working to hire and be hired. In both of those situations I was very much impressed. The jobs and companies they work with tend to lean more towards the technology and startup companies which can be great for getting experience in growing industries.

Linkedin

While you can find just about any job under the sun on LinkedIn, it is also a great place for graphic design jobs. Whenever I start my search for a new graphic design job I usually start on LinkedIn as you can find a good variety of companies from all different industries.

Coroflot

Coroflot helps designers make connections to jobs and opportunities with design-driven companies. Over the years I’ve seen Coroflot become more and more tailored for graphic designers and I completely welcome it. Coroflot is still a great place to look for jobs.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a marketplace for freelance services but graphic design is one area that is always in demand on this website. Being a graphic designer myself I can understand that some people may have issues with fiverr as prices are perceived to be less than what you would normally collect. However I think fiverr is a great way to make some cash as a graphic designer.

Upwork

Very similar to Fiverr, Upwork is another marketplace for freelance services with graphic design also being in high demand. I tend to use upwork more than fiverr. Not really sure why but I haven’t had any bad experiences yet.

Behance

Behance is a wonderful community for creatives including design, illustration, photography, and more. It is extremely easy to set up a profile and get running as a graphic designer. I also suggest if you don’t have a portfolio to use Behance as a good starting place.  

Indeed

Indeed is a more universal job board but still has plenty of graphic design jobs. On Indeed you can find jobs from all over and companies sometimes list the compensation. 

Wethemakers

I believe WeTheMakers started as an instagram page, or at least that’s where I found them. It always has jobs specific to designers and located all around the world. The variety of design jobs is also something that I haven’t seen anywhere else when it comes to graphic design job boards.

Dribbble

A very very popular creative community and network that tends to lean more towards graphic designers, product designers, and illustrators. Having a profile on Dribbble is probably a good idea as a lot of companies scan this platform to look for designers.

Krop

Not only is Krop easy on the eyes when it comes to looking for graphic design jobs it also boasts a great portfolio of companies that use it. Companies like Nike, Tesla, Netflix, Apple, HBO, MTV, ESPN, Twitter and many more use Krop to hire. Krop also offers a portfolio website builder that can make getting seen and hired a lot easier.

NODESK

Just like the name says NODESK helps people find remote jobs which means that there are a ton of opportunities to find graphic design jobs you can do from anywhere! In my experience companies that list their open roles on these boards are more flexible and sometimes more interesting.

#epicjobs

Epicjobs is like the twitter feed of graphic design jobs. While all the jobs listed are not just for graphic designers, it is really easy to find graphic design jobs on this website. Just quickly scrolling through I was able to find jobs listed for popular companies such as Twitter, Slack, Mailchimp, Typeorm, AKQA, and more.

If You Could Jobs

A very welcoming and illustrative job board for creatives specific to the UK. This job board does a fantastic job keeping their postings updated and letting you know when the applications close.

AngelList

Angellist is a fantastic place for graphic design jobs in the startup community. There are so many new companies that need graphic designers to support them as they grow. This also presents a great opportunity to get into a company while they are young and grow along side them. 

Craigslist

Yes, Craigslist is still a place to look for graphic design jobs. I cannot count how many times I’ve heard legendary stories of amazing graphic designers getting their first jobs through craigslist which then opened up the next 5 doors down the road for them. Always proceed with caution and do not complete any services until you have payment in hand.

My Top 5 Favorite Places to Find Graphic Design Jobs

If you’ve made it to the bottom of this article, thank you and congratulations. All 15 of the job boards I listed are all great places to look. However anytime I am looking for a new graphic design job I have my top 5 favorite places to look and here they are in order.

LinkedIn

I like and use LinkedIn a lot for a few reasons. First of all they have a ton of jobs and most of the companies in my area used LinkedIn to hire regularly. It is probably the first place most hiring managers go. Second, when it comes to hiring graphic designers, your previous experience can say a lot about your skills and what it’s like to work with you. Having that information readily available for the hiring to view easily I think really helps with the job application process. For both of these reasons LinkedIn sits as my number 1 place to look for graphic design jobs.

AngelList

AngelList is somewhat tied for second and third but I really like it as a place to look for graphic design jobs. As I mentioned AngelList has a lot of opportunities for jobs in the startup community. This usually means that you will be joining the company at an early stage and sometimes even be the first design hire. This is a great chance to learn what it takes to grow the design function of the company. Also within the startup I tend to agree that the companies are just more interesting to work and doing cooler things than traditional companies.

WorkingNotWorking

Like I said, this is tied with AngelList for second and third. I think WNW does so much for the creative community. Not only does it have a ton of companies looking on their site to hire graphic designers but WNW also offers opportunities for you to connect with other creatives and designers. In addition to those two things it provides resources on their blog and podcast that offer great tips to grow. WorkingNotWorking is definitely a place that you should have a profile and showcase your work if you aren’t already.

Behance

Similar to WorkingNotWorking, Behance offers a great community, resources,  and profile feature for graphic designers. I look on the job boards for new jobs but I tend to have more luck with having companies actively reach out to me which is great and why I suggest you make sure to have a profile on this website as well. Behance makes it easy for you to have a professional looking profile that showcases all of your work and this is a big must when looking for graphic design jobs.

Dribble

Finally, and my last favorite place to look for graphic design jobs is Dribbble. Now in full transparency I don’t have much luck on Dribbble. Not because there aren’t companies looking to hire there. That is not the case at all. Matter of fact I have graphic designer friends that get most of their jobs from Dribbble. I actually don’t have a lot of my work on Dribble and don’t stay active on the platform. 

With that said, don’t make the same mistake I have. Here are 15 popular places to find graphic design job. If that sounds like too many to choose from then take my recommendation and use my 5 favorite ones including, Linkedin, AngelList, WorkingNotWorking, Behance, and Dribbble to find your next perfect graphic design job. If you need help getting started checkout our creative jobs tool kit which includes a free resume template, portfolio template, and cover letter to help with the job application process. You can download the templates here.

5 Tips To Jumpstart Your Creative Portfolio + Examples

Whether you are just about to start your creative career or building your way up, a creative portfolio is a valuable tool that will help you level up.

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I was recently adding some new work to my website when I thought back to my very first creative portfolio. Creative portfolios come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can include as little as 3 projects all the way up to dozens. If you’re thinking about going to school for art or applying for a job in the creative industry then chances are you will have to submit a creative portfolio. Hopefully this article will be helpful.

A creative portfolio is a collection of creative work that showcases your thinking, technical abilities and aesthetic choices. A creative portfolio can include photographs or high resolution scans of the works you’ve made. You can showcase your creative portfolio on a website, digital PDF, or print physical copies.

In the rest of this article I’ll go over what a creative portfolio is used for, the types of creative portfolios, what goes into one, and how to make your own. 

What are creative portfolios used for?

A creative portfolio is something that you will always have if you decide to live a life working in the creative industry. Creative portfolios can be used to showcase your work in a few different scenarios that I have listed below.

1. Creative portfolios can be used when applying to visual arts programs in high school or for college. Schools and Universities usually ask for creative portfolios as a part of the student application process. Incoming applicants can be asked to submit 10-20 images of their strongest work along with some other materials. Each school will have different requirements when submitting a portfolio so make sure to check the guidelines if you are looking to apply.
2. Creative portfolios can be used when applying for jobs in the creative industry. If you are pursuing a career as a graphic designer, illustrator, photographer or other creative role, companies will ask for creative portfolios as a part of the job application. Companies will review portfolios to make sure the applicant’s work aligns with the company’s values and goals.
3. Creative portfolios can be used when pitching work to potential clients or partners. If you are more experienced in your creative career then a creative portfolio will be your tool for winning new business and attracting more clients. New clients, whether they are founders of a startup or a director within a larger company, love to see portfolios with your previous work. This will help them decide if your work and creative approach aligns with their mission.    

The types of creative portfolios

Now that you have a better understanding of how a creative portfolio will be used, we can discuss the two different types of creative portfolios. 

Printed Creative Portfolios

The first type of creative portfolio-and the slightly more traditional-is the printed portfolio. A printed portfolio is a physical collection of your work printed on paper and organized using folios or folders. This can sometimes be referenced as your ‘book’ of work. There are different approaches to how you may want to create your printed portfolio depending on the creative role you are pursuing. As a designer I have created my printed portfolio as a PDF that I can print out and bring with me for any job interviews or client pitches. If you are looking for some help getting started then don’t worry. I created a creative portfolio pdf template that you can download here to get you started quickly. I print out this creative portfolio PDF and bring it with me for every job interview that I go on so I hope that you find it helpful as well!

Digital Creative Portfolio

The second type of creative portfolio is the digital portfolio. A digital creative portfolio is exactly what it sounds like. It is a collection of your work that has been digitized for use on the web or sharing through communications like email. These can be photographed images or digital scans from the projects you have completed. Your digital creative portfolio will act as your personal billboard on the web to advertise your creative skills and abilities. If you would like to learn more about building your creative portfolio online then sign up for our newsletter here so we can notify you when we publish our next article.

What goes into a creative portfolio?

Creative portfolios can include a variety of work from projects you completed recently or from years past. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that your creative portfolio should contain your strongest work. Whether you are applying for a visual arts program or pitching a new potential client, this should be the work you are most proud of and want to show everyone. 

Although a creative portfolio will be a tool that you will keep with you for your entire creative career the work inside will constantly change depending on your goals. As I mentioned a creative portfolio can be used when applying to an arts program. Although the guidelines will be different for each application, the work you may want to include will show a variety of your interests as you enter a new chapter in your creative career. If you are applying for a job that requires a creative portfolio as part of the application, you will want to tailor the work you include in your portfolio to align with the type of that company creates. The same guideline applies when also pitching new clients and partners.  

How to make my own creative portfolio

Now that we know how creative portfolios are used, the types of portfolios, and what goes into one, you are ready to start making your own creative portfolio. Below I have listed some tips to get you started today!

1. Gather – depending on what your goal is make sure to gather all of your work that you have completed and are really proud of. Don’t be afraid to pull in work that you created years before or that you just finished.
2. Organize – now that you have a nice sized collection of your projects, try to put them in an order as if you were creating chapters in a book. You can do this by the medium you used, colors, subject or other themes you can come up with. This will help when presenting your work to others.
3. Document – after your work is organized you can now photograph or scan it so that it can be included into your creative portfolio. During this step you want to make sure do everything in your power to create fantastic results. That includes reaching out to friends who may be better at photography to help out with photos or going to your local office supply store to use their high-resolution scanner. If you are photographing your work you also want to make sure details such as backgrounds and lighting are all inline.
4. Organize Again – yes you want to take another moment to organize your work again. Take a step back and look at your finalized photographs and scans. Make sure everything looks like it belongs in your creative portfolio.
5. Publish – finally you are at the last step of making your own creative portfolio. At this step there should be no doubts about any of the work you included. Everything is looking it’s best and you are ready to share with the world…or just the next job application.

Conclusion

Whether you are just about to start your creative career or are currently building your way up, a creative portfolio is a valuable tool that will help you level up within the creative industry. I hope you found this article and steps for getting you started on your creative portfolio today helpful. If you would like more detailed tips and articles about building your creative portfolio then signup for our newsletter here. This will help us learn what we should write next.

Create From Home Video Interview Series During COVID19

Before the weekend I video chatted with a few friends of the podcast to see how they were doing during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Before the weekend I jumped on a bunch of video calls with some friends of the podcast and chatted about how the Coronavirus has effected their professional lives as well as their personal.

I recorded a total of 5 video calls with Amber Vittoria, Jon Key, Alex Center, Carly Ayres & Sebastian Speier, and Rich Tu.

In our conversations, we spoke about how creatives are fortunate to have the ability to work remotely and if this will solidify that understanding. We also talked about daily routines and using this time to try and incorporate new positive habits. You can listen to each conversation below:

Amber Vittoria

Jon Key

Alex Center

Carly Ayres & Sebastian Speier

Rich Tu

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It is kind of crazy to think video chatting will potentially be something we do more of in the future to connect with friends and family.

What are your thoughts on working remotely? Have you done it before? Is it something you enjoy or dislike? Leave a comment below this article and let us know.

Also if you like this article, sign up for our sumday supper party here. It’s our free serving of new podcast episodes, articles, and updates we send directly to your inbox without you having to lift a finger.