Learn Graphic Design and Freelancing Blog — Mariah Althoff – Graphic Design + Freelancing Tips

Teaching aspiring graphic designers to learn graphic design and freelancing skills.

How to Design a Feminine Brand (and Resources to Help You Do So!)

If you’ve been struggling with how to start a branding project – whether it’s for yourself or a client – look no further! I totally understand how overwhelming the branding process can be, especially if you’re new to brand design.

The thing about branding (or graphic design in general) is that you never have to recreate the wheel if you don’t want to. There are SO many branding and design resources out there for you to use and today I’ve compiled my favorites for designing a feminine brand identity!

Branding, Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffMay 23, 2019Branding, Brand Design, Brand Fonts, Logo Design, Logo Inspiration, Templates, Graphic Design Templates Comment

How To Choose The Best Font Pairings For Your Website

Welcome to the world of fonts. I’m assuming you’ve been assigned the task of picking a font (or a couple) for your website, or are interested in changing your website’s fonts.

Most think that choosing a font is a last minute decision that doesn’t make a huge impact on the project as a whole. Yet, I’m here to tell you that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Font effects not only the look and design of your website but your brand as a whole.

Graphic Design, Web Design, BrandingMariah AlthoffMay 17, 2019Font, Font Favorites, Font Pairings, Font Combinations, Brand Fonts, Website, Brand DesignComment

10 Food Themed Color Palettes for your Branding Inspiration

Hungry? You will be after you see all of these color palettes! Take a look. One of them might just insprie your own color palette!

BrandingMariah AlthoffApril 1, 2019Color Palette, Color Scheme, Color, Brand Colors Comments

Illustrator vs. Canva – Understand the Differences Between the Two

Which program should you be using to design your graphics – Adobe Illustrator or Canva? I’m comparing the differences between the two design programs so you can know the difference!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffSeptember 16, 2018Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Graphic Design Programs, Logo Design, Design Tips, DIY Graphic Design, Learn Graphic Design, Learn Adobe Illustrator Comments

4 Ways to Become a Better Graphic Designer

4 Ways to Become a Better Graphic Designer

No matter how experienced the graphic designer, we can all always improve. I'm sharing four ways I've consistently used to get better at graphic design while learning new graphic design skills along the way!

Graphic Design, Freelancing, Skills StageMariah AlthoffAugust 14, 2018Graphic Design, Graphic Design Programs, Graphic Design Inspiration, Graphic Designer Tools, Graphic Design BasicsComment

How to Design Your Own Logo

If you’re ready to design your own logo, or how to design a logo for a client, this is the post for you! I’ve deduced my logo design process into 4 actionable steps for you to easily follow to create your own logo in Adobe Illustrator.

Branding, Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffAugust 1, 2018Logo Design, Brand Design, Branding, Logo, Logo Inspiration, Logo Designer, Adobe Illustrator, Illustrator, Illustrator Tools, Illustrator for your Business, Learn Adobe IllustratorComment

The 10 Most Recognizable Brand Colors To Use In Your Business

Coming up with brand colors for your business can be a challenge. Today we’re going through 10 of the most recognizable brand colors, how the colors will impact your branding, and how you can use them when you’re branding your business.

BrandingMariah AlthoffJuly 26, 2018Color Palette, Color Scheme, Brand Colors, Brand Design, Branding Comment

The Complete List of Programs & Tools I use to run my Freelance Graphic Design Business

The Complete List of Programs & Tools I use to run my Freelance Graphic Design Business

As a freelance graphic designer, I rely on a lot of programs and tools to help me do my job. From accounting software, to programs to track client contracts, to actual design programs and hardware, I have quite the arsenal! I’ve put together a complete list of every tool and program I use in my freelance business so you can start using them too!

FreelancingMariah AlthoffJune 27, 2018Graphic Design, Freelancing Lessons, Freelance Business, Graphic Design Business, Freelancer, Programs and Tools, Freelance Programs, Freelance Tools, Graphic Designer Tools, Graphic Design Programs Comments

7 Tips for Learning Adobe Illustrator

7 Tips for Learning Adobe Illustrator

For those of you who are ready to start learning Adobe Illustrator, read this post first! I'm laying out the essentials you need to get started and tips and resources to help you along the way!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffSeptember 25, 2017Adobe Illustrator, Illustrator for your Business, Illustrator Tutorial, Illustrator Tools, Illustrator, Learn Adobe Illustrator, Learn Graphic DesignComment

The 5 Tools You Should Learn to Design Your Own Logo

If you're designing your own logo, you 100% should be designing it in Adobe Illustrator. Here are the tools you need to know to get the job done.

Graphic Design, BrandingMariah AlthoffSeptember 18, 2017Logo Design, Illustrator Tutorial, Illustrator Tools, Illustrator, Illustrator for your Business, Adobe IllustratorComment

How to Design Professional Looking Graphics in Just 4 Weeks

How to Design Professional Looking Graphics in Just 4 Weeks

If you're ready to ditch the free design software and upgrade to learning Adobe Illustrator, I've laid out a complete roadmap to get you there! Here's how to start and work through the program. You'll be a pro in no time!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffSeptember 11, 2017Illustrator, Graphic Design, Graphic Design for Bloggers, Graphic Design Principles, Graphic Design Programs, Adobe Illustrator, Learn Adobe IllustratorComment

5 Reasons your Graphics Don’t Stand Out from your Competition

5 Reasons your Graphics Don’t Stand Out from your Competition

If you're sick and tired of designing graphics that don't convert, look like crap, or blend in with the crowd, then this is the post for you!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffSeptember 4, 2017Illustrator, Graphic Design Principles, Graphic Design Programs, Graphic Design for Bloggers, Graphic Designer, Blog GraphicsComment

30 Ways You Can Use Adobe Illustrator for your Business

30 Ways You Can Use Adobe Illustrator for your Business

Ever wonder what ALL you can be designing in Adobe Illustrator? Or maybe you need some inspiration for new ways to use it. Either way, here's a list of 30 ways I use Adobe Illustrator for my business.

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffAugust 28, 2017Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator, Illustrator Tools, How to Use Illustrator, Illustrator for your Business Comment

Which Program Should You Use to Design Your Own Logo?

Did you know that although there are tons of options when choosing graphic design programs, there's one program, in particular, you should ALWAYS use for logo design? Click through to find out which one it is!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffAugust 14, 2017Logo, Logo Design, Design for Beginners, DIY Infographics, Logo Designer, Illustrator, Adobe IllustratorComment

5 Posts to Start Learning Graphic Design

5 Posts to Start Learning Graphic Design

If you've been wanting to teach yourself graphic design, look no further than this post! I've rounded up the top five posts you should read to start learning graphic design on your own.

Graphic Design, Skills StageMariah AlthoffAugust 7, 2017Graphic Design, Graphic Design Basics, Learn Graphic Design, Learn Adobe Illustrator, DIY Graphic Design, Design Tips, Graphic DesignerComment

The Beginners Guide to Using the Pen Tool In Adobe Illustrator

The Beginners Guide to Using the Pen Tool In Adobe Illustrator

If you've ever played around with Illustrator, you know the power of the pen tool. Here's a tutorial to teach you the basics so you can become an Illustrator superstar!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffJuly 31, 2017Pen Tool, Illustrator Tools, Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator, Learn Adobe Illustrator, Pen Tool Tutorial, Illustrator Tutorial Comments

The Step-By-Step Guide to Designing your Own Infographics

The Step-By-Step Guide to Designing your Own Infographics

Infographics perform WAY better on social media than any other graphics I've created or promoted. Here's how you can make your own infographics to gain more traffic for your blog or business!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffJuly 24, 2017Infographic, DIY Graphic Design, Adobe Illustrator, Learn Adobe Illustrator, Digital Illustration, Digital Drawing, DIY Infographics, How toComment

The First 5 Tools you Should Learn in Adobe Illustrator (+ How To Use Them)

The First 5 Tools you Should Learn in Adobe Illustrator (+ How To Use Them)

If you're trying to learn Adobe Illustrator, this is the post to start with! I'm teaching you how to use the five most basic Illustrator tools so you can DIY your own graphic design projects.

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffJuly 17, 2017Illustrator Tools, Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator, Learn Adobe Illustrator, DIY Graphic Design, Graphic Design, Learn Graphic DesignComment

Why I Use Adobe Illustrator Instead of Photoshop

Why I Use Adobe Illustrator Instead of Photoshop

A lot of people assume Photoshop is the main program graphic designers use to design everyday graphics when in actuality it's Illustrator! Find out why and whether you should be using Illustrator too.

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffJuly 3, 2017Illustrator, Learn Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator vs. Photoshop, Graphic Design, Graphic Design Programs, DIY Graphic Design, Raster, Vector Comments

How to Ensure Your Graphics are NEVER Pixelated (Understanding Image Resolution)

How to Ensure Your Graphics are NEVER Pixelated (Understanding Image Resolution)

If you've been designing graphics for your blog or business, you've probably run into a few instances where your graphics come out blurry or pixelated. I'm walking you through best practices to avoid this frustrating problem!

Graphic DesignMariah AlthoffJune 26, 2017Image Resolution, Pixelated Graphics, Blurry Graphics, Graphic Design, DIY Graphic Design, Raster, Vector, Learn Graphic DesignComment