What Does it Take to Succeed in Design?
There are so many arguments about what makes a successful designer/artist. Some argue that any artistic ability is based on talent, and that the technical side is only for execution of your talent. Some argue that you can be taught anything, and with enough practice, you can excel at anything. Another argument is that talent and proper education is the key to success.
Honestly, I think you can succeed with any of the above. All you need is determination. If you have the talent, and you combine that with networking and a never say die attitude, you can be successful without a formal education. It is rare, but it happens. I was watching late night television the other night and saw a gentleman that was a self taught photographer, and he had done spectacular photography for Twilight, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and many other big names. He has come very far for being self taught.
Can going to school or going back to school for design help? Absolutely! It could definitely help, but there are absolutely no guarantees. Success isn’t handed to you. You could learn all of the tricks of the trade in the world, but if you can’t apply them when needed, then it is all useless. School doesn’t teach you how to run a business if you decide to freelance, they don’t teach you about billing or how to deal with non-paying clients. It also doesn’t teach you about networking or even how to get business to start with. Although, many schools require an internship before graduation. You might get some real world experience, but it is usually just a taste.
Any little bit helps. If you are constantly striving to learn new skills, and to be as knowledgeable as possible, then you have a good chance of succeeding in this business. There are thousands of articles and tutorials out there to help you with software abilities, as well as the business side of design, and the aesthetics. There are tens of thousands of books that are a great help, too. You can learn by examining others’ work, and the possibilities are infinite. It really doesn’t matter what skill level you are currently, you can always become better.
You might also like:
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- Social Networking Etiquette: Things to Consider
- Freelancing: 10 things you can do to get business.
9 Responses to “What Does it Take to Succeed in Design?”
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B Ramamurthy says: You said it right! Once you have determination, every thing else follows. Eventually, it has to result in success, and it usually does.
Patty says: I think you are right–everyone should MASTER something.
I have spent years learning to work very quickly in Quark and InDesign. So, even if someone is not a super-brilliant designer (I am not), but you can create something decent in record-breaking time, there will always be work for you. People need things FAST nowadays–everyone puts work off until the last minute all the time and then they are desperate for someone who can do it fast. If you blow them away with your efficiency and accuracy once, they will always come back to you.
I noticed that a lot of my fellow designers don’t use a lot of the tools that the software offers. Learn to use style sheets, master pages, –for Pete’s sake–learn to use a TAB~! You’d be shocked at how many times I’ve gotten BOOKS that have little spaces instead of tabs!
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OMG the tabs. I used to get stuff from customers, sales people and other creatives using a dozen tabs when they needed just 1 or numerous spaces – drove me crazy. Of course I miss that crazy now.
I agree with Patty; using nested style sheets or GREPs is great, but learning even the basics of style sheets, Master pages and even tabs can make your life easier when the client or editor wants inevitable changes. It’s great when you are the one initiating a project and can build global editing techinques into the files. Unfortunately, as a freelancer, I am often brought in to make updates to legacy files that are many pages long and have been created by someone who does not know how to use the time-saving tools in Quark and InDesign. So, the layouts will have no style sheets, no baseline grid, or hard returns and multiple spaces in lieu of a hanging indent or text wrap, etc. So what should take 15 minutes or so to update ends up taking a few hours, and I get blamed for it taking so long to complete changes.
I truly agree with pointing out “determination” is the key factor. With determination all other necessary factors will fall into place.
For example if you are an untrained artist determination will lead you down the path of researching. And eventually training and or practice will follow. Determination will lead a shy person to researching social networking. Through determination all becomes possible.
Truly a focused advice to many who are dwindling between decisions to venture out to do something they believe into; but situations don’t support. I would second this advice – as myself believes – nurture & pursue your talent to achieve that next-level achievements, though it doesn’t make a celebrity out of you for now…
I think it just depends on desire, as well. Good post. Some designers get upset if you say it doesn’t depend on talent! 
Rama Kumar says: Considering that Talent & creativity is given, what finally gets the cake is the business readiness of a designer. I’d highly recommend anyone planning to embrace a freelance career to brush up their knowledge on accounts, basic financial management & marketing. This would come handy in building a thriving business.
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jonnyknz says:
I couldn’t agree more with the above poster. The business side of things is crucial.
You must be able to operate financially as well as creatively. It’s not enough to produce incredible work if you’re finances are in a mess.
A freelancer must be part socialite, part artist, part tech guy and part accountant.
You need to be whimsical and focused – radical but work within parameters, crazy like a fox I guess!
It’s a job that people underestimate and often financially clients don’t put a lot of value on what we do.
The final product we produce is not a tap that works (eg: it turns on and off) – it’s really just the value the client puts on your work. Our finished product is not (although sometime it is) something you can touch – it’s a perception – and sometimes not by the masses but by the individual (your client). If your client has terrible taste, it can really suck!
You said it right! Once you have determination, every thing else follows. Eventually, it has to result in success, and it usually does.
I think you are right–everyone should MASTER something.
I have spent years learning to work very quickly in Quark and InDesign. So, even if someone is not a super-brilliant designer (I am not), but you can create something decent in record-breaking time, there will always be work for you. People need things FAST nowadays–everyone puts work off until the last minute all the time and then they are desperate for someone who can do it fast. If you blow them away with your efficiency and accuracy once, they will always come back to you.
I noticed that a lot of my fellow designers don’t use a lot of the tools that the software offers. Learn to use style sheets, master pages, –for Pete’s sake–learn to use a TAB~! You’d be shocked at how many times I’ve gotten BOOKS that have little spaces instead of tabs!
OMG the tabs. I used to get stuff from customers, sales people and other creatives using a dozen tabs when they needed just 1 or numerous spaces – drove me crazy. Of course I miss that crazy now.
I agree with Patty; using nested style sheets or GREPs is great, but learning even the basics of style sheets, Master pages and even tabs can make your life easier when the client or editor wants inevitable changes. It’s great when you are the one initiating a project and can build global editing techinques into the files. Unfortunately, as a freelancer, I am often brought in to make updates to legacy files that are many pages long and have been created by someone who does not know how to use the time-saving tools in Quark and InDesign. So, the layouts will have no style sheets, no baseline grid, or hard returns and multiple spaces in lieu of a hanging indent or text wrap, etc. So what should take 15 minutes or so to update ends up taking a few hours, and I get blamed for it taking so long to complete changes.
I truly agree with pointing out “determination” is the key factor. With determination all other necessary factors will fall into place.
For example if you are an untrained artist determination will lead you down the path of researching. And eventually training and or practice will follow. Determination will lead a shy person to researching social networking. Through determination all becomes possible.
Truly a focused advice to many who are dwindling between decisions to venture out to do something they believe into; but situations don’t support. I would second this advice – as myself believes – nurture & pursue your talent to achieve that next-level achievements, though it doesn’t make a celebrity out of you for now…
I think it just depends on desire, as well. Good post. Some designers get upset if you say it doesn’t depend on talent!
Considering that Talent & creativity is given, what finally gets the cake is the business readiness of a designer. I’d highly recommend anyone planning to embrace a freelance career to brush up their knowledge on accounts, basic financial management & marketing. This would come handy in building a thriving business.
I couldn’t agree more with the above poster. The business side of things is crucial.
You must be able to operate financially as well as creatively. It’s not enough to produce incredible work if you’re finances are in a mess.
A freelancer must be part socialite, part artist, part tech guy and part accountant.
You need to be whimsical and focused – radical but work within parameters, crazy like a fox I guess!
It’s a job that people underestimate and often financially clients don’t put a lot of value on what we do.
The final product we produce is not a tap that works (eg: it turns on and off) – it’s really just the value the client puts on your work. Our finished product is not (although sometime it is) something you can touch – it’s a perception – and sometimes not by the masses but by the individual (your client). If your client has terrible taste, it can really suck!