How I became a Freelance Graphic Designer

Dive: Artist - Graphic Designer
Description: Creates visual content across mediums using art and design principles to communicate and solve problems.
Level: Level 1
Level Requirements: Researched/completed at least 3 different design principles, software tutorials, or artistic techniques.
Certified On: Feb 1, 2026

Editor’s Note: On all dive certifications, we try to edit the writing as little as possible to preserve authenticity, personality, and writing style. We typically fix spelling errors, but minimally modify grammar and sentence structure (just enough to ensure readability).

Name: Emily Apel Break Diving Level: Recruit Number of Certified Dives: 1 From: United States In: United States

1. When and Why Did You Decide to Pursue This Dive At This Level? What was your inspiration and motivation?

I began pursuing this dive in 7th grade by taking a digital arts class, where I was introduced to the online editor Pixlr.com. In this class, I learned the basics of digital editing, and one of the first techniques I mastered was using the lasso tool to isolate and manipulate parts of an image. This gave me a practical foundation for how selections and edits could shape a design, and it sparked my passion for graphic design.

As I moved into high school, I deepened my knowledge by transitioning to Adobe Illustrator. This was my introduction to vector-based design, which was a major shift from the rasterized images I had worked with before. Understanding the differences between vector and raster images taught me an important design principle: scalability and clarity are essential for professional-quality work. With Illustrator, I practiced using the pen tool and the shape builder tool to create flat art characters, strengthening both my technical and artistic abilities.

Beyond software, I also studied artistic techniques that applied to my projects. For example, I explored flat design as a principle, learning how simplicity and bold colors can create strong visual communication. Through tutorials and experimentation, I applied this to my own projects, building original character designs that emphasized clean shapes and minimalism.

2. How Long Did It Take For You To Accomplish This Dive At This Level From The Day You Decided To Pursue It, And Why Did It Take That Long?

It took me about two years to accomplish this dive at the level 1. The first year was focused on learning the basics of photo editing and digital software tools through Pixlr. This time allowed me to build a foundation in understanding selections, layers, and basic editing techniques. After that, I spent another year learning Illustrator, which required more time because I had to adjust to a completely different type of design: moving from raster images to vector graphics. Mastering tools like the pen tool and shape builder also took consistent practice. Overall, it took this long because each step built on the last: I needed the basics from Pixlr before I could handle the more advanced and professional-level tools in Illustrator.

3. What Was The Hardest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

The hardest part of achieving this dive level was learning how to navigate the wide variety of digital arts tools. Each program came with countless options, menus, and features, and at first it felt overwhelming to figure out what each tool did and when to use it.

4. What Was The Easiest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

The easiest part was finding inspiration for the designs I wanted to create. There are many resources online, such as Youtube and Pinterest, that can provide a multitude of examples and projects that people have made.

5. What Is Your Advice For Someone Who Is Pursuing This Dive And Level?

If you're just starting out in graphic design, begin with the basics. Understand the principles of design and get comfortable with the tools. Before jumping into a project, take time to form a clear vision. Even though art is expressive and flexible, there is a lot of structure behind it. Pre-production, like planning, sketching, and gathering references, can make a big difference in how smoothly things go.

Try to understand the purpose of what you're creating. Knowing the ‘why’ behind a piece helps guide the ‘how,’ leading to more intentional and effective design choices. Once you have that vision, start bringing it to life. Choose a medium you're drawn to and focus on getting better with it

6. What Are Some Of The Best Resources You Recommend to Those Pursuing This Dive At This Level, And Why Do You Recommend Them? Please Include Relevant Weblinks, If Applicable.

Resource 1: Andy Tells Things: Mastering the Pen tool - The pen tool is an essential for creating scalable work.

Resource 2: Flat Design for Beginners - This is the art style I started out with, and I found it really helpful for understanding the basics.

Resource 3: Photopea - A free almost identical version of photoshop

Resource 4: -

Resource 5: -

7. Tell Us A Story Of One Of Your Adventures While Pursuing This Dive (At This Level).

I started my journey in graphic design by exploring flat design and character illustration. At first, I was just having fun—creating stylized characters of my family members as a way to practice and build my skills. It was a great way to learn the basics of proportion, expression, and how to communicate personality through simple shapes and color.

As I became more comfortable with illustration tools and techniques, I began to see opportunities to turn my designs into something more. I started selling my work by creating vector illustrations that could be printed on merchandise like stickers, t-shirts, and tote bags. This taught me a lot about how design translates to physical products, and how to think not just creatively, but commercially.

One of my first real client projects came when I had the chance to redesign the logo for my local bookstore. It was exciting to work with an actual business, and it gave me experience in thinking about branding—how a logo can reflect a business’s identity, values, and audience. I focused on creating something simple, memorable, and warm, to match the welcoming, community-focused spirit of the store.

That experience opened the door to a larger branding project for a local drone imaging company. This was a more in-depth process, involving multiple meetings to discuss the company's vision and how to represent that visually. We worked closely to choose the right fonts, color palette, and graphic style that would make the brand feel modern, tech-savvy, and trustworthy. It was my first experience really diving into the strategy side of design, and it taught me how important collaboration and communication are in the creative process.

8. What Evidence Did You Submit to Prove You Met the Requirements for This Dive and Level?

digital software on ipad

canva design

logo design; used canva and illustrator

canva design: prominent use of color and composition to communicate message

adobe illustrator

9. Will You Be Pursuing The Next Level For This Dive? If Yes, Why? If Not, Why Not?

Yes, because my journey to the arts has just begun. :)

10. What is the Break Diver's Creed?

No Rules. No excuses. No regrets.

Certificate photo:

And having made this post, and provided adequate evidence to the dive committee, Emily Apel is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Artist - Graphic Designer - Level 1. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 937

The author above wrote this WYSEguidance post as one of the certification requirements to become certified by Break Diving, Inc. for a dive completed. Would you also like to find greater success, happiness, and friendship, and make genuine supportive connections with others around the world pursuing your same dreams? Come join us at Break Diving and soon your story will be the next one you read about on this site!

Read More Stories on the WYSEguidance Homepage