Limitless: Forging My Own Path in Design

2019.03.11

I discovered the Affinity line of design software out of necessity. At the time I was a recent graduate with an old Mac book that had seen better days, no professional job prospects on the horizon, and student loans that demanded most of my minimum wage paycheck. That summer, my trusty MacBook that had gotten me through my university days had nothing left to give and I quickly found myself in a precarious situation.

I purchased a refurbished laptop and it didn’t take long to discover my old copy of Adobe CS4 was nothing but shiny plastic junk at this point. Adobe had recently launched the Creative Cloud subscription model and as luck would have it I was in no position to shell out the cash each month to gain access to the industry-standard software. Needless to say, I was in trouble and at the time, I felt my career slipping away before I had even had the opportunity to start.

Searching for an Alternative

Despite the challenges standing in my way, I was determined to succeed and so my search for an alternative solution began. My first inclination was to look into Corel’s software, a name that holds some name recognition in the design community. Although more attainable than Adobe, this too was more than my wallet could give at the time.

Next, I explored the possibility of working with open source software like Gimp Shop, Inkscape, and Scribus. In the right context these are great options but as a professional, I didn’t think my colleagues would take me seriously if I used them. So, once again, I set them aside and I continued my search for tools that would work well until I could afford the subscription. This need is what ultimately lead me to discover the Affinity software line by Serif.

Who is Serif?

Serif is a British developer and publisher that has been creating software for over 30 years. They are best known for their affordable creative Serif Plus range of software. In the past few years, Serif has shifted their vision to the development of a more professional line of software known as Affinity.

Why Affinity?

Exclusively available for the Windows platform, Serif’s Plus range did not gain traction within the graphic design industry. Therefore, the company has not carried the same level of name recognition as Adobe or Corel amongst design professionals. What Serif offers in their Affinity products is quality design software that is relatively affordable, in comparison.

At the time, Affinity Designer, a vector graphics editor program, and Affinity Photo, a raster graphics program were available with Affinity Publisher*, a desktop publisher program anticipated soon after. Based on my research and the one time cost I could afford, I decided these tools were worth trying. Once I had my hands on the software, I was immediately impressed with the professional quality of the software and the two programs have proven to be powerful tools that have granted me access to continue making professional quality work.

The Future

Adobe Creative Cloud was and still is the industry standard and any serious designer will know how to use, at a minimum the basic three: InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. I expect Adobe will remain the industry standard for a long time to come especially within the large design agencies and firms. However, I believe there is and will be room at the table for both Adobe and Serif’s software lines to flourish and thrive. Small businesses and innovative non-profits that understand the importance of good design in their marketing strategy may discover Affinity is a good tool, fit for their needs. Furthermore, I believe if non-profits can see the benefit, not only will we see an increase in the quality of nonprofit and small business marketing but that access to affordable, professional software will lead to more opportunities for designers, especially young designers just starting out in the workforce. At the very least this is my hope.

Today, I am in a much better situation than when I discovered Affinity. Although, Adobe is the industry standard I have found that I do not need the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription at home at this point in my career. Certainly, if needed I would invest in Adobe CC but for now, Affinity suites me just fine and for many, I believe Affinity offers them just what they need whether it be professionally or just for hobby purposes. Affinity was my answer for paving a path forward, others will find different an answer. Whatever your answer is don’t allow yourself to be limited by what you should do.

*At the time of publishing, Affinity Publisher still in beta.