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What is the number 1 thing that a graphic designer should learn for the workforce?
Im a graphic design student and I would love any other advice.
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Russel’s Answer
I would say my number one thing is: Communicating the value and impact of your work. More than just doing the design work, it's important to get good at explaining your design decisions and the intent behind the work. The sooner you can learn (or practice) how to do that well, the better it’ll be for your career.
For context: The “value” is what opportunities your work produces, and why it matters (e.g., a new brand identity shifts how a business is perceived); the “impact” is what actually changes (or changed) because of the work (e.g., the change in perception from the new brand identity, increased traffic to the website, or store, etc., which increased new business, etc.). ... Value is about the strategy or solution; Impact is about the result or outcome (ideally, but not always, with metrics).
For context: The “value” is what opportunities your work produces, and why it matters (e.g., a new brand identity shifts how a business is perceived); the “impact” is what actually changes (or changed) because of the work (e.g., the change in perception from the new brand identity, increased traffic to the website, or store, etc., which increased new business, etc.). ... Value is about the strategy or solution; Impact is about the result or outcome (ideally, but not always, with metrics).
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Nick’s Answer
In a corporate setting, design isn't just about looking nice. It's important to focus on what message you want to convey and ensure it aligns with the communication plan. Always consider who your audience is. Your job is to take what the content creators want to say and present it in a way that the audience can easily understand.
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Kim’s Answer
Stay open to how your career might evolve! I started out (many years ago :) ) as a fine arts major, transitioned to graphic design, had jobs in publishing, print design, packaging, and even window displays before I landed in web design/UX. I'm still wowed by the path I took. So I would just be open to all ideas and directions and follow what you love to do most, and don't be afraid to explore things that might make you uncomfortable. The job that you are unsure about might lead to great things!