Attention Graphic and Web Designers: Here Are Your 51 New Year Resolutions

Does anyone still make New Years Resolutions and actually carry them out anymore? Regardless if you are one of the 10% of people who actually do follow through or the part of the larger offending percentage, everyone should always be open to advice.

Below are 51 Resolutions that would benefit any graphic or web designer's career, year after year:

Graphic Designers, Code your first web site

Web designers, Design your first set of business cards, a logo, or a poster

Design and Code your first wordpress theme

Learn the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator

Learn the principles of usability in any design setting.

Get a twitter account if you don’t have one. (If you have one, you can follow me too. I know–shameless plug.)

Try out some sort of new online social media.

If you freelance, raise your rates.

Find new and better ways to connect with clients (Google Voice, Google Wave, etc.)

Study Typography more in depth and apply it in your designs

Try a color scheme you have never even imagined

If you are a freelancer, try an office job. If you are in the office, try freelancing.

Get all the info you need from your client by asking the right questions

Start a blog or write for other blogs

Get involved in the online community

Learn the basics of XHTML and CSS (web designers: learn something new–perhaps CSS3 or HTML5)

Take up a new hobby that doesn’t involve design in any way

Exercise the left side of your brain more (give the right side of your brain a rest)

Learn the basics of copywriting

Update your portfolio to meet industry standards

If you don’t have an online portfolio, get one. If you don’t have a print portfolio, get one.

Update your resume

Do some volunteer design work

Use at least one project to defy all the rules you have ever learned

Break the mold of design (especially on the web)

Take an extra class about design at a local university, college, or community school

Teach a community class on design

Give speeches at your local Chamber of Commerce (US) or other business organization in order to find clients and establish a reputation

Learn more about some designers who created things before computers were popular

Subscribe to top design blogs and frequently read from their feeds

Follow top designers on twitter and interact with them

Save for that dream computer you’ve always wanted

Have the guts to buy it (see #32)

Take on odd jobs that sound impossible or above your level of expertise. Then force yourself to be good enough

Start your design process with good sketches and brainstorming

Learn how to market yourself or your client via social media

In your next meeting with a client, be a little more professional

Really impress your clients–current and new

Have confidence in your work. Show that confidence by bringing a contract to the first meeting

Help someone rebuild or fortify their branding

Redesign something just for fun

Learn the basics of advertising and marketing

Take time to be inspired

Simplify your life and Simplify your design.

Avoid logo design mistakes

Be a little more patient with your most annoying clients

Embrace Failure. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or admit your don’t know something

Clean your desktop off. No, Really.

Go against the grain. Don’t follow design trends

Sell something besides your services. Code a wp theme, write a book, etc.

Organize your time and be more efficient

Hopefully you already have several of these tasks already marked off of your list but if you don't for any reason you might want to copy these down. It is a great outline with over 50 tasks of things you can start doing today to ensure a long and successful graphic and web design career.

What can you add to this list in the comments below?

Article Source: Graphic Design Blender

Image Source: Flickr