5 answers
Saanvi
Student
Anaheim, California
1
Question
Asked
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What is the hardest thing about being a Graphic Designer?
I am a junior in high school and I want to be a Graphic Designer.
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5 answers
Heather Rodin
Product Manager
20
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Heather’s Answer
I went to college for Graphic Design. Post graduation (after 3yrs of working) I then moved into UX design. After 5yrs of ux work I then moved into PM work, which I think is the best combo of all the careers. The design field is wide and you will have many options once you get going. In high school I believed that graphic designers didnt make much money (cost of school vs annual salary) then I learned that that if I moved to a large city bigger companies pay a lot more (this was precovid & different now with remote work) and the work was really rewarding.
To answer your question , what are the hardest things:
- Learning and becoming fast with all the Adobe products (PS, AI, AE, etc) - that was hard at first but now super easy (get/keep the student subscription its much cheaper)
- Working with clients that are difficult - you learn to negotiate and compromise without loosing design integrity
- Limiting edits - you have to set limits or else you will be making changes for a year and never be happy
- Negotiate your salary - after a few years on the job you need to be able to ask for more and be successful at it
- Successfully explain your design decisions with data supporting it - read Oreillys Articulating Design Decisions (great book!!)
I love graphic design, it's how my brain naturally works. I encourage anyone who loves art and design to go for it.
To answer your question , what are the hardest things:
- Learning and becoming fast with all the Adobe products (PS, AI, AE, etc) - that was hard at first but now super easy (get/keep the student subscription its much cheaper)
- Working with clients that are difficult - you learn to negotiate and compromise without loosing design integrity
- Limiting edits - you have to set limits or else you will be making changes for a year and never be happy
- Negotiate your salary - after a few years on the job you need to be able to ask for more and be successful at it
- Successfully explain your design decisions with data supporting it - read Oreillys Articulating Design Decisions (great book!!)
I love graphic design, it's how my brain naturally works. I encourage anyone who loves art and design to go for it.
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1348
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Saanvi remember, graphic designers don't just design to please themselves. They have to work within clients and guidelines. That means sticking to a budget, understanding exactly what each client needs, and delivering a final product that meets their expectations. And if your design solution doesn't impress, you'll have to accept the criticism, learn from it, and try again. There's often quite a lot of back-and-forth with big design projects. It takes a lot of edits to get client approval on a final design concept. You'll need to negotiate with clients, deal with their demands, and stay professional as you work toward a solution. This process can be long and frustrating at times—but it's all part of the creative cycle.
The average client has no idea how many hours you've spent trying out different approaches, or how many edits you did to satisfy your client. Your audience only sees the final, perfected piece of work. So, graphic designers often find themselves educating others on the technical skills and creative problem solving involved in this career. But the truth is, many professionals in creative fields (writing and film, for example) face the same misconceptions.
Being a graphic designer can be really hard work, but you really get out what you put in. If you do a great job and your client is happy, that can be really rewarding.
Hope this helps Saanvi
The average client has no idea how many hours you've spent trying out different approaches, or how many edits you did to satisfy your client. Your audience only sees the final, perfected piece of work. So, graphic designers often find themselves educating others on the technical skills and creative problem solving involved in this career. But the truth is, many professionals in creative fields (writing and film, for example) face the same misconceptions.
Being a graphic designer can be really hard work, but you really get out what you put in. If you do a great job and your client is happy, that can be really rewarding.
Hope this helps Saanvi
Thank you so much, John!
Saanvi
Tara Cross
Business Systems Analyst
7
Answers
Charter Township of Clinton, Michigan
Updated
Tara’s Answer
Hi Saanvi,
Michael and John pretty much covered it all. What Michael said would align with what I would tell you. I will add, pay attention to ads, marketing pieces that come by mail. I call these inspirational pieces.I keep all layouts I find to be well put together. Work on a niche within the field that stands you out from other designers. PS, keep your software tools up to date. I wish you continual success as a Graphic Designer.
Michael and John pretty much covered it all. What Michael said would align with what I would tell you. I will add, pay attention to ads, marketing pieces that come by mail. I call these inspirational pieces.I keep all layouts I find to be well put together. Work on a niche within the field that stands you out from other designers. PS, keep your software tools up to date. I wish you continual success as a Graphic Designer.
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
240
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Saanvi,
A Graphic Designer is a very challenging career. One is always in the reinventing mode from all aspects of graphic design. Anticipation and proactivity is needed on a daily basis. Networking is essential when establishing a client base and going after new projects.
No two customers are alike or have the same needs, viewpoints and priorities. Every project can be frustrating and rewarding at the same time. The customer can change direction in the middle or near the end of the project. Communication, communication and communication on a constant basis will be required throughout the different phases of the project. With communication, evaluation and reevaluation will occur to understand and put into action the customer's vision of the end product.
Customers will criticize and disapprove of designs that are submitted. It will be up to you to control the process, evolve and provide multiple and different solutions to meet the customer's needs. Also, there is the challenge of keeping within the budget and meeting deadlines within the scope of the project.
Technology is ever changing. The technology that is learned today is out of date by tomorrow. Technical skills have to be sharp to distant oneself from the rest of the competition in the industry. Trends of designs will also come into play. What makes your designs unique and standout? Why should you be hired as a Graphic Designer? What is your track record? What does your portfolio contain? What professional references can vouch for your quality and level of work?
One recommendation is to reach out to professionals who are Graphic Designers to get their viewpoints of the position and the industry. LinkedIn is a website of professionals. One can search and view profiles of professionals from all industries. An introductory message can be sent to a professional on LinkedIn. You can inquire with the professional about your interests in a career as a Graphic Designer.
LinkedIn is also a job portal. Meaning, one can search and apply for posted positions and opportunities that companies are currently hiring for. Postings will list the description, responsibilities, education, salary range, etc. of the available position. The company will have its profile listed, so that one can view what the company does, contact information, website links, etc.
Here is the website for LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
Hope this helps and best wishes for your education and your future career as a Graphic Designer!
A Graphic Designer is a very challenging career. One is always in the reinventing mode from all aspects of graphic design. Anticipation and proactivity is needed on a daily basis. Networking is essential when establishing a client base and going after new projects.
No two customers are alike or have the same needs, viewpoints and priorities. Every project can be frustrating and rewarding at the same time. The customer can change direction in the middle or near the end of the project. Communication, communication and communication on a constant basis will be required throughout the different phases of the project. With communication, evaluation and reevaluation will occur to understand and put into action the customer's vision of the end product.
Customers will criticize and disapprove of designs that are submitted. It will be up to you to control the process, evolve and provide multiple and different solutions to meet the customer's needs. Also, there is the challenge of keeping within the budget and meeting deadlines within the scope of the project.
Technology is ever changing. The technology that is learned today is out of date by tomorrow. Technical skills have to be sharp to distant oneself from the rest of the competition in the industry. Trends of designs will also come into play. What makes your designs unique and standout? Why should you be hired as a Graphic Designer? What is your track record? What does your portfolio contain? What professional references can vouch for your quality and level of work?
One recommendation is to reach out to professionals who are Graphic Designers to get their viewpoints of the position and the industry. LinkedIn is a website of professionals. One can search and view profiles of professionals from all industries. An introductory message can be sent to a professional on LinkedIn. You can inquire with the professional about your interests in a career as a Graphic Designer.
LinkedIn is also a job portal. Meaning, one can search and apply for posted positions and opportunities that companies are currently hiring for. Postings will list the description, responsibilities, education, salary range, etc. of the available position. The company will have its profile listed, so that one can view what the company does, contact information, website links, etc.
Here is the website for LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
Hope this helps and best wishes for your education and your future career as a Graphic Designer!
Kristina Boyanova
UI/UX Designer
9
Answers
Sofia, Bulgaria
Updated
Kristina’s Answer
Hi Saanvi,
I too have decided to become a graphic designer in my junior year. Today I have 10+ years of experience and this is what was most difficult to me:
1. The short deadlines - it greatly depends on the company you are working in but generally deadlines are always tight (especially in advertising). This creates pressure and anxiety whether you will be able to deliver the best possible product for such a time.
2. Receiving negative feedback - especially if it's not objective and purely grounded in someone's personal preferences. This one gets better with time and experience as you learn not to hold your own designs dear and you learn to be flexible and make many iterations.
3. Working for a really difficult client - with some clients it is a constant back and forth and they are never satisfied no matter how much time and effort you invest in the project. But not all are like that.
4. Doing prioritisation and time management if you've got a work overload - hopefully you can work with a project manager or account to keep things in track. I tend to never complain if I've got too much on my plate, do long hours and this pushes me to my limits and burnout.
5. Doing multiple types of work if you are a freelancer - project manager that communicates directly with the client, finance account issuing invoices, designer that still needs to be creative - it's all you.
6. Maintaining inspiration and creativity when your day to day work is quite mundane - sometimes all you do is brochures, banners, fb posts etc. and it can be quire depleting. But then there is this one project that can show your full potential and it is really motivating.
Every job has it's pros and cons. Although graphic design is a hard and demanding profession it is also really rewarding and satisfying. And the people you meet along the way, other likeminded colleagues, are the best. Most of my friends are from the creative industry and we really bond over our jobs. I wish you a fruitful and enjoyable career.
Sincerely,
Kristina
I too have decided to become a graphic designer in my junior year. Today I have 10+ years of experience and this is what was most difficult to me:
1. The short deadlines - it greatly depends on the company you are working in but generally deadlines are always tight (especially in advertising). This creates pressure and anxiety whether you will be able to deliver the best possible product for such a time.
2. Receiving negative feedback - especially if it's not objective and purely grounded in someone's personal preferences. This one gets better with time and experience as you learn not to hold your own designs dear and you learn to be flexible and make many iterations.
3. Working for a really difficult client - with some clients it is a constant back and forth and they are never satisfied no matter how much time and effort you invest in the project. But not all are like that.
4. Doing prioritisation and time management if you've got a work overload - hopefully you can work with a project manager or account to keep things in track. I tend to never complain if I've got too much on my plate, do long hours and this pushes me to my limits and burnout.
5. Doing multiple types of work if you are a freelancer - project manager that communicates directly with the client, finance account issuing invoices, designer that still needs to be creative - it's all you.
6. Maintaining inspiration and creativity when your day to day work is quite mundane - sometimes all you do is brochures, banners, fb posts etc. and it can be quire depleting. But then there is this one project that can show your full potential and it is really motivating.
Every job has it's pros and cons. Although graphic design is a hard and demanding profession it is also really rewarding and satisfying. And the people you meet along the way, other likeminded colleagues, are the best. Most of my friends are from the creative industry and we really bond over our jobs. I wish you a fruitful and enjoyable career.
Sincerely,
Kristina