Why does everyone think they are a graphic designer?
I am probably right in saying that not many people would tell a mechanic how to fix your car, or lecture an electrician how to re-wire your house, so why does everyone think they can tell a graphic designer how to design? Friends and family all constantly give me creative advice and critique my work, which I don’t mind at all, but sometimes I do have to grind my teeth and say the classic “That’s a great idea, but perhaps not quite right for this project” line.
Don’t get me wrong I have no problem taking criticism, especially from my clients as I will never understand their markets as well as they do, so creative collaboration and co-operation is fine in that respect. I also fully appreciate that as humans we are all creative beings in our own right and each have an individual sense of style. However I can’t help but think that graphic design as an industry is one that everyone thinks they could dip their toe into if they wished, therefore devaluing the whole industry. So, why do a lot of people think they could be a graphic designer and have the right to hand over golden nuggets of creative advice? Possibly for the following reasons….
Mummy’s little designer…
Everyone is told by their parents as a child (and sometimes as an adult) that their glitter / poster paint /chalk drawings / models / creations are fantastic and that they are ‘ever so clever’. So if you are constantly told this by the people who mean the most to you, you are going to think you have a heightened sense of design which may be hard to shrug off.
24/7 Advertising
Everyone is constantly bombarded by a range of advertising, promotion and branding which unless you head to the hills you cannot escape. We are all media trained from an early age and are subconsciously absorbing design left, right and centre.
“Design” Software
It is very easy for everyone now a days to open up Microsoft office and play around with clip art, word art and various templates to create some sort of design. This in my eyes doesn’t necessarily make that person a ‘designer’, but giving people instant access to this kind of software makes people believe that could hold a graphic design title if they want. Moey gives us a great insight in to his experience with this in his article ‘No, I’m Not A Graphic Designer’ in which he states he deserves a better title than ‘Graphic Designer’ to separate him from the wannabe’s.
So if it is true that everyone in the human race is creative what actually defines a graphic designer?
Training
Whether it’s self taught or through University or college, a true graphic designer should be able to navigate through their tools (whatever they maybe) with ease and grace and not rely on cheap and overused filters and effects to create their work.
Constant Creativity
A graphic designer has trouble turning their creativity off! Marnie B has a great list of comical anecdotes about hard core designers, a lot of which ring true. As truly creative beings graphic designers eat sleep and drink design and relish wallowing in this creative lifestyle.
Marketing
Anyone can create a logo or design but will that concept be right for the intended market? Graphic designers are able to choose the right concept and convey those messages in a clear and concise way.
There are probably 100 more points to define graphic designers that I’ve missed! But what are your thoughts on this, what makes a real graphic designer? Do you feel that the creative industry is devalued by the volume of wannabe’s? What do you say to people when they give you creative solutions or suggestions?
Posted by Steve
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on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Posted In Freelancing, Graphic Design | Tags: graphic designer, wordart
No truer word said, everyone thinks they are a designer to some degree or another, but they think as long as they say “I’m no designer but…can you try this” then its fine!
The graphic designer trade has been massively devalued in the last 5 or so years, now that software is easily available and many people have a computer. But I think its also all these “how to” websites that have also devalued it. There are now so many “how to design a business card” “how to use photoshop brushes to create a button” etc etc that many people think as long as they can do these things they have a skill for design.
There are also alot of self taught designers throwing Photoshop effects around and calling it design.
Its funny I’ve had a draft in my Wordpress site for a couple of months now called “Everyone’s a designer” but didn’t know how to approach writing it without it sounding like a rant! So I have had my little rant here instead! Still might finish that post though
What a SUPERB POST! I’m so glad someone finally said it! I won’t even begin to start telling you how much I agree with everything which you wrote, because I literally would go on for hours.
Let’s just say you hit every nail on the head!
Thanks for the link back, I think people abused the title. just like you said, whats even worse, here in the arab world, some people call themselves designers while they can’t even spell the word design properly.
Well put. It is true that most people think they are or can be designers. My favorite line goes, “I’m not a designer, BUT…”
I think the only other profession that has this problem is acting (and maybe pro sports).
I enjoyed this article and sadly what has been stated is very true.
I can not remember where I saw this phrase from, but it sums this article up pretty well.
“Just because you have a lasso that doesn’t mean you are a cowboy.”
Same holds true for Graphic Designers.
“Just because you have a design program that doesn’t mean you are a Graphic Designer.”
Just my 2 cents.
I agree entirely with this article. However I disagree with the comment about “how to” websites. I think people who freely share tutorials and tips rise above the all too common arrogant, self-centered designer. You’ll notice that’s one of the main differences in the design community vs the development (coding) community. They share solutions and knowledge openly, no strings attached (for the most part). Just because a high school kid can follow a tutorial and start learning the tools of the trade, doesn’t make you any less of a graphic designer, or him more of one. If the availability and knowledge of our tools is all that sets us apart from the masses, then perhaps we’re one of the very ‘wanabes’ that we’re complaining about.
I totally agree with your article, but I want to add something too.
I’m a web designer with Computer Programming and Informatics college. We have a schooled (I don’t know what design school) designer here in our company. I don’t want to end up cocky but I do believe I have a lot more design knowledge than he have.
I guess it depends on person, but the point I was trying to make is that design schools don’t make you a designer if you already don’t have this in you.
He already ruined one project (which I had to redesign) and I’m getting a lot of crappy designs from him (to repair).
My only problem is that my boss thinks he’s one of the best designers around. He tells me every time how he has the best knowledge for details. But when I get his designs they are all half finished.
The main problem I think is in my boss who thinks he knows design and promotes crapy designers.
Great article! I really enjoyed it and I agree in 101%
I’m not telling I’m a great graphic designer, but I’m sure I know way more about graphic design, than most of my friends and family.
I’m still learning. I guess I will never stop to learn.
And I agree with you that it really sucks sometimes to get design advice from people being not related in any way to graphic design.
I wanted to write a comment here, but it grew too long for comfort. So I wrote a response to this post on my blog: You Make Everyone Think They’re Designers…
Aesthetic design is subject to interpretation. Something like fixing a car is finite, either it works or it doesn’t.
I think if you’re gainfully employed in the design field then you have some right to call yourself a designer. If you design on-the-side or for free, then you’re probably not a designer.
http://www.jonathanpatterson.com
Thanks for all your responses.
Gareth,
I would love to read your post and see your take on it. Let me know when you post it.
John,
Thanks for your kind words - glad you enjoyed the post.
Moey,
Thanks for the comment - I really enjoyed your article.
James,
Definitely agree with the acting comparison - very true!
Scott,
Great analogy. Now that design software is readily available (with take down versions of pro software like Photoshop Elements) it seems that anyone that can choose a filter thinks they are a designer!
Dave,
I think there is a great online community of developers and coders who are extremely helpful and willing to solve a problem. You are right in saying that anyone can follow a tutorial and that does not make you a web designer or graphic designer. However, I think the problem is that some people follow one or two tutorials and then set up their own design / web company. Have a look at my other post ‘How many Web Design Companies? ( http://www.eightyonedesign.co.uk/blog/2008/08/how-many-website-design-companies ) for a few examples of this.
Marko,
I totally agree that just because someone has attended a design school or college does not mean they are cut out for a career in design. However, as I said in the article, whether you are self taught or educated by a design college, there needs to be a certain amount of technical knowledge to back up the creative ability. Without this there would just be lots a good ideas executed badly through a lack of software knowledge.
Adam,
Thanks for your kind words.
Andris.
You are right, you will never stop learning. Whether its a different technique or change of style, every designer will continue to learn new skills (and you will always look back at previous work and say ‘what was i thinking?!)
Keeto,
Thanks for the mention on your blog.
Jonathan,
Good point, if you earn a living in the design industry then you do have some right to call yourself a graphic designer. However, what about all these new startups you see who seem to have very little knowledge and experience in the design field, but obviously make a living out of doing what they do? (some example of which can be found here - http://www.eightyonedesign.co.uk/blog/2008/08/how-many-website-design-companies)
I disagree with your call to purity in the world of design. I feel like you are setting up a binary between 1) the passive consumers of design, 2) designers. I believe it is frequently the other way around – you in fact borrow ideas from the masses. Graffiti and street culture is a great example of this. I could be mistaken but I believe one of the goals of design is (or should be) effective communication. Perhaps the masses of untrained “designers” mean that you can use Microsoft word art effectively, in which case maybe we can learn something from “bad” design.
Steve, the key phrase to note is “some right”… it’s not all-inclusive.
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I could not agree with this more. Even though everyone had an opinion on what they think looks good and what doesn’t, I think the biggest problem is that untrained designers don’t think about things will work together and relay to much on filters make things look good. I use the standard that if I can tell what filter or style was used in the design it needs to be reworked.
Plus most non-designers think that photoshop is the end all program when it comes to design without giving any thought to the value of having a logo or something needed in a vector format.
[...] Why does everyone think they are a graphic designer? [...]
Hey, thanks for the link. You did spell my name wrong though. :p
Good post though. There needs to be more discussion on this topic.
Anna,
Thanks for putting across a different point of view on this subject. I agree that one of the overall goals of design is to communicate effectively and maybe you are right, perhaps we can learn from ‘bad’ design in order to communicate the message to the masses.
Jonathan,
A very good point - it is not all inclusive.
Erik,
I use the same, if you can tell what filter has been used then the design definitely needs to be looked at again.
Marnie B,
Thanks for your comment - I have amended your name so that it is spelt correctly - sorry about that.
Steve
Graphic Designers aren’t taken seriously enough, especially with the software available these days. But theres a big difference between good and bad design, subjective yes but I’m sure most will agree there is a difference. The level of design is also reflected in the which market you’re working in. If its a birthday card for grandma then thats one thing but if you’re working with BMW thats another.
Hi Rajesh,
I definitely agree there is a difference between good and bad design. I suppose your comments about what market come down to budget, BMW would not go to someone who offers a logo design for £50 etc. This means that if there is always a client looking for the cheapest deal (and who isn’t really concerned how good the work is) then there will always be a market for this sort of cheap design.
Thanks for your comment.
Steve
Fair point I guess its all about what we hope to achieve with the design.
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Very interesting article; I believe besides design, acting (and maybe pro sports; dunno about that one), photography is the one other field where everyone thinks they’re an expert.
I’ve a question to all graphic designers though: how should somebody who is _not_ a graphic designer approach graphic design in a way that doesn’t make real graphic designers want to throw up?
As a web application developer by trade, I’m frequently asked to _design_ things (as opposed to just program them). My usual response is “I’m not a designer, go find somebody else”, but sometimes that’s just not an option (mostly for financial reasons). So how should somebody like me –and I’m sure there are others in similar positions– approach graphic design to make their work not outright suck?