Are you a designer looking to upgrade your skills quickly? While there are many different ways to learn, one of the best methods is copywork. Copywork is the process of studying an existing design, breaking it down into its component elements, then recreating it. It’s a great way to hone your skills and create something that looks professional. Here’s how you can get started with copywork and rapidly improve your design skills.
Understand What You’re Copying
Before you start copywork, you need to understand what you’re copying. Look closely at the design you’ve chosen and make sure that you understand how its various elements work together. Analyze the colors, shapes, fonts, textures, and other features that make up the design. Try to find out what makes it unique and why it works.
Break It Down Into Its Components
Once you understand the design, break it down into its component parts. Think about how each element fits into the overall design and how they interact with each other. This will help you understand how to recreate it.
Use the Right Tools
For copywork, it’s important to use the right tools. If you’re copying a digital design, use the same software that was used to create it. This will make it easier to replicate the design accurately. If you don’t know what tools were used, you can often replicate it in Figma.
Take Your Time
Copywork is a process and it takes time to do it well. Don’t rush through it—take your time and make sure that each step is done correctly. This will ensure that your copy looks as good as possible.
Practice Makes Perfect
The only way to get good at copywork is through practice. Try copying different designs and objects until you feel comfortable with the process. This will help you develop better design skills over time.
Copywork is an effective way to quickly improve your design skills. By taking the time to understand what you’re copying and breaking it down into its components, you’ll be able to recreate it accurately and develop better design skills in the process. Start practicing today—you’ll be surprised at how quickly your skills improve!
If you want to read more about CopyWork and how it works, check out this article about it on Smashing Magazine
Frederik Roessell
Creative designer with 20 years of design experience working in startups and agencies in Copenhagen. Currently pushing pixels as a Senior Product Designer at a large ecommerce brand.