Graphic Design Without a Computer: Part 1
Hey everyone. So, I got a
lot of messages being like, “I don’t have Photoshop. Can
I still learn graphic design?” and the truth of it is that
programs like Photoshop and Illustrator and
InDesign are just tools. Granted, pretty important
tools if you wanna be a professional graphic designer these days. But, a lot of the basic concepts can be learned with a lot
of practice and hard work and pencils and rulers and x-acto knives. I mean, think about it. Personal computers weren’t even around befor the 80s and the 90s and
the first version of Photoshop wasn’t released until
1990, which, funny enough, is also the year that I was born. I’ve never lived in a
world without Photoshop. But clearly, graphic design has been around since before 1990. Take a look at this graphic arts book, which was actually one of my
Dads text books in the 70s. There’s so much information in here and most of it is still very relevant. So, a great thing you can
do to really get a feel for typography and learn about letter forms is simply to draw them,
like in this composition that I did four years ago when
I was a sophomore at RISD. Just grab some tracing
paper, a sharp pencil and a few magazines and start drawing. You can try making some
that are really precise or have fun making
whole page compositions. But, as you’re drawing, really
pay attention to the curves and angles and details of the type, especially in Serif versus Sans Serif versus decorative text. And you don’t only have to use found type. Try printing out all of the letter forms of some of your favorite fonts and just draw them over and over again, paying attention to all the details until you can recognize it
without a second glance. And you can also experiment with different media besides pencils. Try pens or markers or charcoal. Once you get started
with projects like these, the possibilities just open up and it can start getting overwhelming. A good exercise to reign your ideas in is to give yourself limitations. See if you can make a composition that’s only two inches by two inches. Try to find and draw every
letter of the alphabet in a different font. Try drawing with your left
hand or with your foot and see what are the most
essential shapes needed in order to be able to
recognize each letter. See if you can make 30 compositions
in 30 minutes and so on. I think you see where I’m going with this. Another exercise is to try
copying layouts by hand as well. Once you strip out all of the text and distracting imagery, you can really get a sense for the balance and hierarchy of the page, especially if there are a
lot of different elements all competing for your attention. And you can start trying
to cut up your tracings and rearrange the elements to make different versions of the same layouts. But, by now, I think this
video has gone on long enough. This is only part one of graphic
design without a computer and in the next episode,
I’ll be talking more about page layouts and hierarchy. That video won’t actually be next week because I have a different
video planned for then. But, if you want to be
notified in two or three weeks, when that video comes out, you can go ahead and click
subscribe right above my head. I’d love to see what
you guys come up with, so feel free to send me
photos on Twitter or Tumblr and I’ll be retweeting and
reblogging my favorites. Thanks so much for watching. I’ll see you all next time. (theme music)
Another great video! Im so happy i have recently found your channel, i am going to uni next year to do Graphic Design and i love coming onto your channel, it really helps me out!
Awesome! really looking forward to the next vid!! ^_^
Haha, poster from The Guild in the background! 😀
Yeah, in my first graphics class (in high school) we didn't touch a computer for the first three months. Just scissors, glue, paper, and magazines.
i was born in the 90's too! my birthday is july 23rd when is yours!?
I am sure I've said this already on some of your videos, but you truly are one for the most inspirational YouTubers for me. Although I don't see myself trying any of these things I still love watching you talk about graphic design so passionately <3
im doing a typographical poster about the triangle shirtwaist fire and what it started got any ideas
Copying layouts by hand! My high school self is cringing. That was always my least favorite part of yearbook. This is going to be a great series. I'm so interested to see what you have to say about page design next time! :]
As a graphic design major at a university that's administration is deeming all fine arts classes obsolete and making my major all computer graphics, I really appreciate this video! I never thought about tracing typefaces in magazines before, but I'm now brimming with ideas for a weekend project. Thank you!
geez louise.
I really appreciate this video. In all my studies my teachers always say that design is culture and project, and computer is only A way to do this.
It's somewhere to start if you're not all that good at drawing free hand, then you can move on as you become more confident.
Please never mention that you were born in a year when I totally remember where I was. Merci =)
Crazy eyes O_o
Did I spy a Proportion Wheel? I was NEVER without one when I was in graphics..
Without a computer…except you need one to watch the video (and yes smart phones qualify as computers).
This is great! I graduated in 1982 with a degree in commercial photography and there was talk about digital cameras coming to market. I didn't get my first digital camera until 1996.
Looks like a lot of fun :).. no time soon though, lots of school projects coming up.
Strange Charm at the end, w00. Awesome ideas, I feel like trying some but I am more of a capture action kinda guy.
I love to hear that! I've definitely found that most people only need a small dose of inspiration before they can go off and come up with their own unique takes on the project. I'd love to see what you come up with!
this series is actually very helpful. thank you karen. i appreciate you finally giving unique and helpful information
Thanks so much! Good luck at school next year.
I love that poster 😀
That's all you really need to get started on the basics 🙂
Ooh, high school yearbooks. That would be a fun topic for a video!
Anything I can do to be more like ZeFrank!
It's so crazy to think of a world without digital cameras. I didn't get one until I was 15 or 16, but now nobody is ever without one.
Good luck! I'd love to see what you come up with.
In grade 10 graphics this year we had to do 4 fonts: serif, sans-serif, chancery, and old english letters. The old english stuff was so fun once I got the hang of it
Oh this looks so much fun! Makes me wish I did graphic design instead of psychology. Sigh.
But… But I'm left-handed already…
I was also born in 1990! I thought you were older than me and now I feel like a loser who's done nothing with her life yet . . . :S lol
CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR EYE SIGHT
I almost missed the like button.
I just recently graduated from the art institute of tucson with a degree in graphic design, and this is basically the start of any project, the sketching phase. But it is also tradition typography which was my least favorite class, I guess I'm just to modern to want to draw lol. Plus its extremely meticulous.
aww, thank you so much. You sound just like me when I was in high school 🙂
Check out Recommended Graphic Design Books, How to Design a Logo, or Intro to Color Theory! Plenty of videos not about typography 🙂
This is all good but all this layout and typeface malarky is pointless if the concept is bad. I.e – you can't polish a turd.
I had no interest in graphic design but I found this video incredibly interesting.
you sound exactly like my typography lecturer.
You're amazing! I'm not a graphic design student but I really love how you're so passionate about your craft and it inspires me to at least…try it out. 🙂
you know. you're videos are simple but filled with tons of insightful ideas. Thanks so much!!
This is really inspiring. I want to be a graphic designer so bad, but i can't afford art supplies or computer programs. I'm chief editor of my high school yearbook, which is great, but that's the closest i've come to any real design, and i'd been wanting to get more practice.
In my college classes, my design teacher told us that it is important to also do some design work off the computer. Obviously not all of it, lol, but it can help a bit. I find that drawing something out and then scanning it in and redrawing it or enhancing it with the computer works really nicely. I like your videos! 🙂 Thanks for sharing. I've always wanted to start youtube videos about design but how does one start!? haha. 🙂
So why did like 40 of your videos suddenly show up in (take over) my subscription list, all of them saying they were published today….yet the comments on them are from forever ago?
its pretty easy to get photoshop for free on the internet (I do not promote piracy but I feel that if you use it to learn and not for any commercial work its fine )
A lot of good tips, but wow this vid was fast. I like your older typography videos where the pace is just down a couple notches
Is your dad a graphic designer because he has given u a lot if graphic design books great vid
some sound advice in what i found to be a fascinating little video.
i'm curious- is teaching/lecturing this subject something you've considered?
Great idea! What should I do if some of my favorite fonts, like Helvetica and Futura, don't come with PC and you have to buy them? On the Linotype website, they cost $35 for only one type in the whole family!
WHAT LAPTOP DO YOU HAVE?? im looking to buy one for graphic design, n should i get a mac or pc? why?
Wait you are so cool! -Aspiring.
I just found your videos and I spent at least an hour watching them. I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. You are so awesome, can we be friends?
I really love your videos! They're definitely inspiring some new summer projects…*evil cackle*
I think you are very weird but i like it, that's exactly what my second semester of graphic design is all about, I love it, more fun than computers !
thank you for this vid, Karen
WHAT?! WITHOUT A COMPUTER?! ARE YOU HIGH?!
This is really interesting!! I never really had any time for fonts and layouts in art class but watching (and re-watching) these videos are changing my mind. Thanks! 😀
Wanna be a graphic designer?… ThePirateBay. 😀
I need to get off my ass and do some designing asap.
You are going to get me through university I swear to God.
My graphic desighn gcse practicle has now begun! I've have to make an 8 side fanzine on tea
Cool video! But hey, not all of us are right handed (Me, for example)! I think you mean with your non dominant hand 😛
hehe.. love all this kind stuff you inspire Karen.. 😀
because sometimes I'm really tired of my computer.. thanks by share your genuine graphic design spirit.. keep your videos up… cheers for you.. 😀
-Nerdfighter! 😀
Those are some awesome ideas! I know photoshop and illustrator but it's good to get back to basics. Thank you for this video!
It's all shit if you don't have a gift )))
thanks a lots Karen Kavett ,your video has help me a lots 🙂
Thank you.. you are my hero
"Drawing with left hand" already left handed… I win
I love watching your videos. They inspire me to be a better designer and find ways to stay inspired. =)
You are awesome.. Thank you. Art, i was going to be a Chef, I was in a bad accident 3 year which left my arm paralyzed and my brain with some injuries that I am still recoveriny. But you Made my Art coing back, a new way. 🙂
waaaaa! thanks!
Aaa, I love your videos, girl!
Fingers crossed that I get to study GD next year. 🙂 (University of the Arts, London – high hopes!)
wow this is awesome! Totally useful!!! I'm hoping to go for graphic design/advertising in college, this should help with composition products in my studio art class!
was i the only one who was waiting for her to peek back into the shot at the end? lol
Karen,
Can I use your Graphic Design without a Computer video in a lesson that I created for teacherspayteachers? It is used in high school and middle school classrooms to teach students about the hierarchy of design. It is a paid product though and I wanted to check. Thanks, Sabrina Wingren
MARRY ME KAREN!!
I met one graphic designer who got out of the industry when it became computerized
please tell me the best graphic designing book for basic level
Karen you are officially my graphic design buddy who is challenging me to be a better graphic designer. Thank you for your videos.
🙂
my first graphics class was all off the computer until the last project…we used photo copiers a lot
I love you karen.
nice I want learn graphic design
nice video
OMG !!! really !…NO !….Your kidding me !….you are saying they had Graphic Design before Computers …BS..I don't belive you !