As another year has come and gone, January is the perfect time to reflect on the past 12 months to see what we enjoyed, and acknowledge the things we would like to change.
Being an Interior Design and Staging company, we at Picturebook have opted for design related resolutions this year. We have some big things coming (hint: new year, new us), take a look at our Instagram page for a sneak peak, but before we reveal ours… It is time for you to choose yours. From experience, the resolutions that stick are those which are easy to incorporate into your existing routine, so with that in mind here are a few ideas to get things started:
- A drawing a day
Improving a skill is most successfully done with consistent practise, so why not put aside 15 min a day with your morning coffee or evening tipple, to pick up a fineliner and stechpad? Begin with an everyday item such as a mug and each day look at drawing it from a different perspective (one point, two point, isometric, orthographic). If you need a little more help, this book may be what you need https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sketching-Architecture-Interior-Design-Stephanie/dp/178067564X.
2. Suscribe to a publication
Broaden your knowledge by finding new places to get your design fix from. Magazine subscriptions are a great place to start – most tend to have print and digital options, and large publications often boast great value sign up deals. Take a look at Denizen, Houses, Abode, or Homestyle for physical magazines, or sign up for newsletters at Dezeen or Arch Daily to get worldwide design news straight into your inbox.
3. Go outside…
Specifically to visit talks, exhibitions, galleries, trade shows and supplier showrooms. Immerse yourself in beyond your immediate interests and dive into all sides of art and design – it is only a matter of time before you have uncovered a new passion, one which perhaps you did not know existed. With that comes a group of new friends, new pastimes, and fresh ways to continue learning.
4. Network
For the designers amongst us, networking is key yet many of us neglect to invest time into doing so. The design world is a small community therefore it is important to keep good relationships with our wider colleagues – not to mention how maintaining good rapport with suppliers makes the day run more smoothly. A couple easy ways to do this would be by making the effort to visit showrooms during product launches, or breaking the ice with LinkedIn.
5. Learn new software
For design lovers – amateurs or trade professionals – it is hard to keep up with the constant new releases, and software developments are no different. Why not dedicate this year to learning a new programme – you could call it learning a new language, as it will require the same amount of learning and practise! Those with an iPad can get started on Procreate, and those with an interest in creating realistic visualisations should download Blender (it is free which is an added bonus). Anyone using Autodesk or similar, maybe put some time aside to research the best new plug ins – they have all be designed to make life easier, so it can not hurt to give them a go.
