I'm a designer.. are you?... I need a little guidence

[bollenbach]

Okay so.. I don't expect any of you to know me but anyway.. I'll give you a little bit of background info

my names Ryan

I'm from Winnipeg, 19, and I love this forum.

Okay so.. on to what's on my mind.

Right now I'm currently studying graphic design, video editing, and animation at my local college. I'm not sure if any of you out there are designers.. but if you are you know what I mean by... there's so many aspects of it. I'm finding myself constantly trying to be in tune with things.. but it never seems to be enough. I try to focus or something.. and then something else needs to be focused on.

So here was my big problem:

We got faced with a quick little 5 mark exersize to make a quick edit of these videos for this 30 second short. I thought that I totally bombed.. basically all I did was add text and effects.. and a few bars of colour. I just found that I was in a real creative bind.. which I hate. I mean I truly love design and I try to better myself, but I'm finding that I feel like I'm spending my time in the wrong places? I get jealous too.. when I see other people doing such amazing work (such as my girlfriend).

Gah i know it sounds silly.. but I just want to get over it... But yeah.. I study design quite a bit I just don't practice enough.. or check out as many artists as I'd like to.

I'd really appreciate any insight you guys may have on this..

thank you for your time

Ryan Bollenbach.

[Alvin]

Hello,

I was trained in 3d animation and worked in graphic design, motion graphics and 3d animation for about 3 years before I switched careers.

Your cause and solution is listed right there in your post:

Gah i know it sounds silly.. but I just want to get over it... But yeah.. I study design quite a bit I just don't practice enough.. or check out as many artists as I'd like to.

As an artist, you need to check out other people's work, study what they do, how they do it, why they do it, and practice, practice, practice. There really is no other way around it

[skydust]

as alvin pointed out, you seem to know part of your 'problem'. inspiration is a major part of creating good design. always keep an eye out for work you like, and admire, as it will serve as inspiration for you to get better. stick it on your wall, intend yourself to learn how to do it.

i used to be jealous about peoples work too before i realised that if it wasnt for them i wouldnt improve. if i was the best designer in the world, and if there were no others making work that had me think, damn i want to be able to do that, then what is the point? then you cant grow. so be greatful for those people who inspire you. see them as reflections of your possibility.

also, the second and most important thing (for me at least) was to realise that other peoples success does not equal my failure. if someone has done amazing work, it does in no way affect the work i have done. i can only do what i do, and hence it is unnecessary to make comparisons to anyone except myself. when i improve my style, or quality of work, i feel good about it. but i will always know that theres is so much more i want to achieve, by looking around and seeing work that makes me feel all bubbly inside and unbearably excited.

[bollenbach]

hmm yeah this is interesting

I got a really cool book in the mail about push pin graphic!...

it's so awesome.. it's actually called the push pin graphic... I <3 amazon.