Designers vs. Design Professionals

Students often ask me how to get in the field when they have so little experience. Other than sharing tips with them on how they can get that first job with a bit of creativity and by thinking outside the box, I often explain to them companies don’t just hire designers, they hire design professionals.

In job ads it’s not unusual to see a long list of wants — a one-person design army who can do everything from generative research to motion design to writing CSS and javascript.

However, what companies often understate in their ask, but is equally important in their evaluation process, is that they really, really want to hire design professionals — people who are not only good at their crafts, but also have the business smarts and soft skills to get things done.

If you’re a little green in your craft but you have great soft skills, play them up in your application! Design isn’t rocket science. If a candidate has great potential, companies often are willing to hire designers based on that long term potential with the expectation that smart people can learn new skills, new tools, and grow in their job.

For more articles like this from me, check out /stevenmadesigns.