Summertime and the living is easy. But just because the weather is beautiful and the sun is shining doesn't mean you shouldn't be living your #DesignerLife. Use this time to your advantage to refine your design skills.

 Add Design in Your Resume

When going in for an interview with an employer/client, there are two things you should always have with you. Your portfolio, most importantly, and your resume. If you're like most people, everything is set up in a typical and generic fashion on your resume. While it may look organized, the key to impressing your future employer is showing that design is a part of your life, not just something you sometimes work in. Employers love passion. This is a creative way to illustrate your passion, while also showing that you're not afraid to take risks to reach your goals. Use the summer season as inspiration for adding brightness to your resume.

Discover New Inspiration

Some people might see number two on this list and think, "I already know what I like, next!". We don't doubt that you know what you like, but discovering the unknown is what we're talking about. Summer is the perfect time for this with the influx of festivals, networking opportunities and other events. Happen to notice that there is a gallery, concert, or other event the likes of which you've never seen? Go to it! You may be pleasantly surprised by what you see there. Perhaps you've caught wind of a new documentary or design-inspired show. Watch it! We showed you seven of our favorite graphic design documentaries before, but new ones are being made more often than you think. On top of that, you get to discover something about yourself, which is always exciting.

Stay Creative in Your Free Time

Most people want to leave work at work and in most fields, this is a sensible approach, but in graphic design this can be a huge mistake. It is important to make design a part of your lifestyle. Staying creative doesn't mean you have to force yourself to sit down and create the worlds best package design or website every night. Stay creative by taking a vacation and visiting someplace you've never been to before, or taking part in that city wide bike ride, or yoga class you've been wanting to try out. Keep your notepad with you too, you never know when something good is going to cross your mind and you want to make sure to write it down. The possibilities are endless, and whatever you do will further your graphic design skills more than you may think. Have you hit a creative slump? Check out some of the ways we at Specs Howard stay creative.

Try a Technique You've Never Used Before

All artists and designers have a preferred way to create. While following the same routine to attack a new project can help reinforce your methods, straying from what you're used to can help you while in a drought of original ideas. Bust out from the old, mundane you, do some spring cleaning and throw away your out of date techniques. Contemplate an adaptation of another style, or try to come up with your own original ideas to alter your pieces. Experimentation is the key to creation.

Utilize the Beautiful Weather to Explore Your City

Noticing the weather we have had this spring, this summer will be a great one. Use this to your advantage. Go out and experience your hometown in a way you haven't before. Since the weather is so much warmer, exploring your surroundings at night, is a great way to get a new perspective on something you see every day. Try to be observant of everything around you. Keep your eyes open for everything and anything. Inspiration hits when you least expect it. 

Inspired to take your design skills to the next level? Click here, or the button below, to schedule a tour of our Graphic Design program at Specs Howard School of Media Arts and meet with one of our Admissions Representatives!