I’m working as a layout artist. This job is on the rise because it helps companies with their content for advertising and marketing. Then, their products can easily catch potential customers’ attention.
If you want to work in this dynamic industry, learn about it now. In this article, I will talk about a day in the life of a layout artist to help you decide if it’s perfect for you. So what are you waiting for? Let’s check!
Who Is A Layout Artist?
A layout artist creates texts, illustrations, and other parts of publishing, marketing, and advertising. These products can then hook the readers.
Aside from the primary duty as above, the layout artist is also responsible for:
- Creating specifications and schedules for deliverables
- Designing conceptual artwork
- Arranging page elements
- Modifying graphics
- Choosing the best text size, style, and font for the product
- Working with the publication team
- Correcting mistakes in the layout
A Day In The Life Of A Layout Artist
I’m a full-time artist. Thus, I have to work eight hours a day, but sometimes it’s not enough because I have many tasks. Here is what I do daily and how I can deal with tight deadlines.
At Work
I have two lives: at work and after work. Let’s talk about my office life first.
Meet with clients
Before starting any project, I need to meet with my target clients to understand their needs. Then, their requirements will be the guidelines for my layout.
Often, we discuss the concept and message of the artwork. After that, we agree on the features and color theme. Once I have an overall picture in mind, I can quickly move to other steps.
Establish specifications
Layout design involves working with visual elements, such as images, shapes, and texts. Together, these stunning visuals can convey a message.
To nail this task, I focus on every aspect before establishing specifications for the artwork. For example:
- Images: They can be illustrations, infographics, and photos. If the project only requires images, I often choose a large one to catch readers’ attention.
- Shapes: I use squares, circles, and other shapes to give a page more graphic elements. They can also split the layout into easier-to-read parts.
- Texts: Texts in layout design are titles, headings, paragraphs, headers, and footers. If I design a website, I need buttons and menus, too.
- Lines: The lines come in handy when I want to direct the reader’s eyes toward a point in the layout. Another case to use them is to set boundaries between different sections.
- White space: I sometimes leave some white space between the visual elements to help them stand out. That blank area also helps avoid overwhelming the layout with too many details.
Design and modify graphics
Design is the core of my job. I use different tools to create appealing designs, depending on the project’s needs. Here are some of my favorites:
- Affinity Designer: I love this tool because of its user-friendly interface. There are also many features, such as comments on the artwork and changes in real time.
- Placeit: I can create designs with more than 50,000 templates in the library. Hence, I often choose it if the project requires quick progression and eye-catching pictures.
- Adobe Illustrator: This tool is a must for almost every layout artist. I use it to produce free-hand designs and scale my project to the desired size.
- Procreate: I sometimes work on my iPad, and my go-to choice in this case is always Procreate. It allows me to get my favorite fonts and brushes from Photoshop. Then, I use a Valkyrie kit to improve the features.
- Gravit Designer: Like Affinity Designer, Gravit Designer offers a user-friendly interface. Moreover, since it’s HTML-based, I can customize my artwork easily.
- Figma: One of the best things about Figma is the vast cloud storage, even though I just use the free package. The numerous features are another plus.
Collaborate with publication teams
I work with creative publication teams when running our project. Together, we can easily coordinate elements and features in the layout. If needed, we will edit them until they are perfect.
Check page proofs
As a layout artist, I have to examine the page proofs. Most of my layout work is completed on my computer. However, sometimes I work on printed materials. It means I must check their page proofs as well.
This step is crucial and taken with care for online dissemination and printing. I always watch for these details when checking the page proofs:
- Content: The product’s bulleted list should contain essential information.
- Spelling: Spelling mistakes are unforgivable.
- Fonts: The text fonts must be intact and in place.
- Photos: My manager often asks me to include photos and logos in the artwork, so I must also check them.
- Colors: My company gives me an approved palette. Hence, as a layout artist, I must consistently ensure that my artwork reflects brand colors.
After Work
After a hard day of work, I always use my free time to relax and charge my battery for the next day.
In the evening, I love reading books and watching movies. I also spend quality time with my family and friends by gathering around the TV and chatting about our jobs.
On the weekends, I like playing sports. And if there are any conferences about graphic design in the area, I will attend to meet with other experts in the field. It’s an excellent chance to extend my knowledge and network.
Besides, I’m eager to learn new things. Hence, I’m taking an online design course. Despite my years of experience, I still need improvement to apply for a higher position. And learning is the best way to do it.
Conclusion
A day in the life of a layout artist is exciting yet rewarding. I have to carry out many tasks, which all help my company grow its brand awareness.
So, if you find this career suitable, why don’t you try it? For further information about your learning curve and application, don’t hesitate to contact me.
