How to start off in Graphic Design?

How to start a Graphic Design sketchbook, help please?!?

• Ive got a couple of weeks to come up with a sketchbook for a graphic design course ive applied for. I know what I want to design (poster for a music Festival) but I just dont know where to start! Should I do some research and get some photos from different festivals? What should I be drawing in my sketchbook? Im the only arty person in my whole family so I cant ask anyone for help so any here will be hugely appreciated! :)

• Answer:

  Okay, so first of what you do is collect good examples of music festival posters just to get an idea of the "competition", don't just use the internet as your only source. If you see a music poster that you like out and about just rip it off the wall, so that is considered as your research, now write a little note what you like about the poster such as the layout,typeface, Imagery and scale. Then create some thumbnails 10cm x 10cm, just do a little rough sketch of what you want your poster to look like, consider layout, type and just a little rough sketch, also look at your research while doing this as this can inspire you, I would do a minimum of 20 thumbnails up to about 30/40 also annotate them and say what you like about them. Collect typefaces that you like, but these typefaces have to be fit for purpose, basically easy to read whether big or small and write what you like about them and why you chose them. Select 5 of your greatest ideas, photocopy them all 6 times and then colour them in, I would suggest using colours that go well together or complimentary colours and NEVER use black, the reason for that is because it could potentially kill the poster. To get extra brownie points you could try media trials like, Coloured Pen, Cut card or acrylic paint. Maybe include a evaluation of what you did. Hope, I helped you :D If you have any questions, just ask.