How to Transition from Graphic Design to IT Projects

Contents:

• About education and first job
• About graphic design
• About transition to IT
• Advice for those wishing to transition to IT

There's a common misconception that IT is only for programmers, testers, and analysts. However, designers also play a vital role in this field. Violetta Postnova, art director and partner at ESH Gruppa and a lecturer in the Design and Programming Department at the HSE School of Art and Design, shares her experience transitioning from graphic design to interface design. She explains how challenging such a transition can be and offers helpful tips for those ready to take the plunge. It is important to understand that interface design requires not only creativity, but also knowledge of the principles of user interaction with the product, which makes this profession in demand and relevant in the modern IT world.

Art director and partner of the ESH Gruppa studio, as well as a teacher in the Design and Programming Department at the Higher School of Design School of Economics.

Graduate of Boris Trofimov's workshop at the Higher Academic School of Graphic Design. She has a deep knowledge of graphic design and practical experience gained during her studies. She specializes in creating visual concepts and developing unique design solutions that meet modern requirements and industry trends.

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About my education and first job

From an early age, I had access to a computer and graphic editors such as CorelDRAW, Photoshop 5, and Macromedia Flash. I created funny cartoons and drew various images. I was interested in how my creativity could entertain viewers - family and friends. This hobby became the basis for my interest in graphic design and animation, which later influenced my choice of profession.

I began my studies at the Art Institute in Novosibirsk, in the design department. In my second year, we were drawing pots on a fabric background, and this did not meet my expectations. In search of new knowledge, I purchased an InDesign textbook, which contained not only guides but also the basic principles of working with typography. In 2008, I decided to drop out of the institute and moved to Moscow. Here, I found work as a layout designer thanks to a friend's recommendation. My first project was a book based on a layout by the renowned author Natalia Bisti.

In 2011, I completed my studies in Boris Trofimov's workshop at the Higher School of Graphic Design. In 2015, I received a bachelor's degree in design from the Institute of Business and Design, also under Trofimov's supervision. My experience in graphic design and my educational path allow me to create high-quality visual solutions.

I gained important experience: it is necessary to constantly monitor new technologies and actively participate in your own learning. Education is everyone's personal responsibility, and you should not rely on someone else to teach you. You need to learn independently to be competitive in the modern world.

Art director and partner of ESH Gruppa studio, as well as a lecturer in the Design and Programming Department at the School of Design of the Higher School of Economics. In his work, he combines a creative approach with a deep knowledge of design and programming, which allows him to effectively manage projects and teach students modern trends in these fields.

A graduate of Boris Trofimov's workshop, representing the Higher Academic School of Graphic Design, she possesses deep knowledge and skills in graphic design. Her education at this prestigious school provided her with a fundamental foundation and modern approaches to creating visual content.

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About Graphic Design

Until 2016, I developed brand identities, designed multi-page publications and printed materials, and developed navigation. In this field, I worked as a graphic and communication designer, creating visual solutions for various projects. My experience covers a wide range of design-related tasks, which allows me to effectively implement ideas and improve visual communication.

Graphic design began to disappoint me, as I realized that success in creating an identity largely depends on interaction with the client, and not just on my professional skills. This side of the profession often remains in the shadows, but personal qualities play a key role. Openness, friendliness, patience, and negotiation skills are necessary for success. It's also important to be able to adapt in crisis situations, sense the atmosphere, and smooth over conflicts. These skills make the collaboration process more productive and help achieve better design results.

At a certain point, I felt tired and didn't know how to make my work less stressful. It became important for me to be in a field where I could rely on numbers and factual research, rather than mind reading. I decided to study interface design, believing that it would help me overcome the difficulties that arose.

On the transition to IT

Studying the digital space became a necessity, as it requires a new approach to design, both conceptually and in terms of the tools used. This is just the beginning of the changes that affect the process of developing and implementing projects in the modern world.

I studied new tools, analyzed successful cases, and delved into design methodologies, research, and metrics. I subscribed to experts who shared their experiences in this field. I also carefully analyzed existing products that inspired me. To better understand Warframes and prototyping, I created my own UI kits and prototype builders. Most importantly, I tried to integrate the knowledge I gained into my projects, which contributed to their improvement and higher quality.

I decided to delve deeper into the profession through practical case studies and accepted an offer to develop my first interface project without a strict deadline. The project was a digital interface for Moorea, dedicated to exploring an island in French Polynesia.

The project proved quite complex for a novice interface designer, and I worked on it independently. To reduce the likelihood of errors, I sought the advice of an expert. This was Nikolay Reutin, the current head of the design department for RBC projects. I presented him with my sketches and asked key questions, which significantly helped me complete the project. This experience highlighted the importance of professional opinion in the interface development process, which is critical to achieving a high-quality result.

Today, there are services where you can get a consultation from a specialist for a small fee. Before, I had to summon all my strength to write to a stranger, but I respected Nikolai and ask him for a meeting. This decision seemed difficult to me at the time, but now we've become good friends.

As I developed, I began studying web layout, creating landing pages and small websites. I actively studied articles and training materials available online on this topic. The transition to this new field was gradual, and I successfully combined my work as a graphic designer with commissions for web interface and application design. This experience allowed me to develop skills in creating functional and attractive websites, as well as gain useful knowledge about the interaction between design and technology.

After a year of freelancing with Nikolai, we founded our own design studio, where we jointly developed and implemented IT projects. Our company operated successfully for several years. Soon, I received an offer to join the ESH Gruppa team as a partner and art director for digital projects. This invitation came after the successful creation of a website for the Praktika Theatre.

Communication has become an integral part of my work in IT, and it's not easy to get away from it. This aspect of our profession plays a key role: it is necessary to develop soft skills, study literature on rhetoric and negotiations, and constantly work on yourself. The success of the Sovremennik Theatre's website and ticketing system launch at the end of 2021 depended largely on the quality of the negotiations. Developing communication skills not only improves collaboration with colleagues but also contributes to the successful implementation of IT projects.

Advice for those wishing to move into IT

• Changing your profession or field of activity is as difficult as learning any new skill: a language or playing a musical instrument. If learning new things is part of your life, it's not so scary.
• Be prepared to encounter resistance. This isn't a reason to stop, it's an indicator that you're on the right path and need to persevere.
• Set goals. Plan realistically where you'd like to be in a year or two and what you can do to get there.
• Choose not a place to study or work, but a person with whom you'd like to work or from whom you'd like to learn.
• Plan your work time so that there are hours in your week during which you work on your portfolio.
• Expand your network of professionals.
• Don't forget to maintain a balanced schedule and take care of your mental and physical health. A good designer is a healthy and able-bodied person who has eaten, slept, and walked.

Read also:

• What is UX/UI design and how to get into this profession
• UX designer: how to become and what to study
• What does a graphic designer do and what skills are needed to get started