3. When you make that site, make sure it loads fast.
I’m the owner of Carpal tunnel Magazine, an online webzine where I interview artists. When I get send a link to check out and it’s a flash site that takes too long to load I usually don’t wait(there are exceptions). Simple sites are very effective.

4. Sign up for all the free listing and posting places you can.
Research and find art and design sites that let you post for free. Get your name out there, meet and chat with people. It’s great to have support and to give some in return.

5. Do your research.
I research new and old artists, designers, sites, magazines, books etc.
Keep up with design, learn the history, it will give you greater visual knowledge and more ideas.

6. Stay open minded.
Be unique, and open to new ideas. Don’t get stuck in your habits and comfort zone.

7. Be confident, humble, and respectful
Not only to clients but also to fellow artists, people asking for advice and everyone else in general :)

Brand Nu (Radim Malinic)

1. Know what you want to do.
Decide where to start. Do you want to do Illustration, graphic design, motion, web design or be the kettle operator?

2. Know the basics.
You just got out of the university and want to work for the big agencies, doing Nike and Coca Cola tomorrow. Well, it might not just happen yet. Agency working environment is probably only three words written down for you. Get any design job you can. Get some experience. have a look around and then make up your mind about where to go next.

3. Know your software.
You might know a shortcut or two, time to take it a bit further. Knowing your software inside out will save you a lot of time. Don’t waste time learning any software that’s not relevant to your craft though.

4. Know your audience.
If you illustrate tanks and cranes, the idea of doing editorial illustrations for Fashion magazines isn’t the best. Spend as much time as needed resourcing on the net.

5. Know your style.
Some people like to create a different style all the time, some like to stick with the tried and tested. A signature style helps a lot in attracting new clientele. Make sure you know your ground and evolve from there.

6. Know your enemy and make friends.
Keep an eye on the current design scene. Shutting yourself off too much could leave you miles behind. Do not borrow from anyone’s style but make sure your work looks always fresh.

7. Know your price.
Make sure you know your price. You can be greatest of the great and work around the clock, it does very little good if you’re still penniless at the end of it. No one will tell you how much they charge, but it isn’t rocket science to figure out the financial value of your work.

Paco Raphael

1. Constantly watch.
For upcoming artist is it important that they obtain their skills by constantly looking forward. Look at other designers, read art-books, check out architecture and watch movies.

2. Tutorials & techniques.
It is important to do a lot of tutorials, make different things and see different styles. This helps you find and maintain your skills and techniques.

3. Read books.
Buy books! I have books about design from the early twenties up till now, from Baroque, Retro and Pop art. This will give you a good view of the strengths and weaknesses in design and art of certain years. Books like this will also inspire you to view design in a different way and perhaps some elements from the past might find their way into your designs.

4. Show yourself!
Make yourself known in the industry by discussing in forums, having your own website and by sending artwork to agencies. You’ll see that you get a lot of feedback which will be helpfull.

5. Keep your own style.
In my opinion I think every designer must have his own unique style. I see a lot of wannabe designers, copying the works of others. Don’t copy, try to keep and refresh your own style!

6. Ask for critique
Ask opinions and critique from other designers. You can learn a lot from the opinions of your fellow designers and it often leads to good analysis of your work.

7. Draw
I keep myself fresh by doing a lot of hand-drawing. A lot of good illustrations and logo designs start on paper. After you find the perfect composition and concept you can easily import this in programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop to finalize the piece.

Designjump (Scott Pollard)

1. Don’t over depend on tutorials.
Do tutorials to stay on top of your game and learn new techniques but don’t rely solely on them. Doing so will make it hard for you define your style.

2. Stay fresh literally!
Life as a designer doesn’t mean you can sacrifice hygiene. So before sit down and boot your computer up get a shower and put on some clean clothes.

3. Use save as instead of save.
When working in Photoshop use save as more than save because once a file is closed it’s history is gone.

4. Be wary of filters.
If you going to use the filters menu make sure you make a dam good job to disguise it because everyone (and I’m not just talking designers) has seen and played with these effects before.

5. Simple concepts are often best.
Don’t over think an idea to the point it becomes confusing even to yourself. Simple is often best.

6. Social networking sites.
Social networking sites are great, but can also steal a lot of your time away. Network on the best sites only. Don’t spread yourself across them all. You won’t be able to keep contacts.

7. Laptop or desktop?
A laptop is ok to transfer your portfolio from a to b but unless you have a super expensive piece of technology, Photoshop and other memory intensive programs will just not run efficiently. If you only have the cash to buy one go for the desktop.

Four times seven makes twenty-eight! Feel free to post your ideas or personal tips in the comments.