I’ve been thinking lately. What makes a good designer? Here’s what I came up with:
A Great Designer
- Understands client needs – even if the client doesn’t. A baby food company needs a different look than an insurance company.
- Has solid fundamentals — thinks visually, even spatially and understands the power of typography and image.
- Puts clients’ goals ahead of his/her own – Many graphic designers use their work to show off their skills, rather than their clients. Sometimes the two dovetail, but often they don’t.
- Has multiple settings – it’s important for a graphic designer to know which jobs require obsessing over and which ones don’t. Particularly when clients are paying by the hour, they deserve the level of service that’s right for them.
- Gives the customer what they want – because they’re the customer.
- …But only up to a point – because the designer is the expert. Some customers need to be educated and guided.
- Loves what they do – if it’s just a job, you need a new one.
- Knows what they are good at, and what they are not — speaking of which, check out my logos, animated videos and print work.
- Knows how important it is to communicate to clients. In English, not Designer.
Am I missing anything?
Pretty simple: let’s say you’re plugging away on your work computer and stumble across a fascinating, but completely un-work-related article. You know you shouldn’t stop and read it right now… but what if … what if it’s important? What if you forget about it later? What if it contains the latest secret tip that all the movers and shakers already know and you are on the precipice of falling irretrievably behind? Maybe that’s just me.
