The ultimate dilemma of creators around the world
So, what all the fuss is about?
Graphic design is an exciting and rewarding career for many people. However, this does not mean that it would be the best path for everyone. Changeability of design trends, Unpredictability of the job, Time consuming work, Being underpaid or undervalued A.I. taking over, are some of the common fearmongering topics. Many people I know have abandoned their artistic side and pursued other interests. Given the risks and necessity of providing bread for the family, they give up designing and reduce it to just a hobby. Is it worth the risk? Will I have a better future? Can I make my passion into a career? I also had all these questions floating in my mind. You can decide better if this is a good career choice for you by getting to know about the field's pros and cons. I am just going to share my thoughts based my own experiences.
A species called graphic designer
A graphic designer is a species who creates visual content using both digital and print methods, for a variety of products and activities. A graphic designer's typical tasks include branding, marketing, advertising, making logos, websites, packaging, and printed media. Graphic designers engage with clients to produce a eye-catching representation of the brand image they want. Unlike artists, we work according to your needs. Customer centric design is an ideal factor every designer possesses.
Pros
1: Going crazy on creativity
We get to put our creative skills to use practically every day. On behalf of our clients, we experiment with fresh (sometimes crazy) ideas and design concepts. Our goal is to develop eye-catching designs that are not only attractive to the sight but can also assist our clients stand out from the crowd. If you enjoy ' thinking out of the box ', you could ace your performance as a graphic designer because this is a significantly important part of the job.
2: Say hello to flexible work
As they say ' you do you'. We are in demand in a variety of industries. This means you have a lot of options for getting into a field that interests you. Sports, entertainment, business, marketing and what not. You can also switch between industries throughout your career, giving your professional life more variety. You can work for an organization, for themselves, or even both. Many people work as freelancers, which allows them to select their own clients. This gives the supreme ability to select their own clients and work hours.
You can even work remotely at most of the places. This is because much of today's graphic design work is done on a computer. Work from home, communicate with clients via phone or video conferencing only, and send completed files when they're finished. A work style some can only dream of...
3: Stable work type
The majority of us work regular hours. This refers to working during regular business hours, from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday (not including freelancers). While these hours may differ from one company to the other or from client to client, these are the most common hours. Unless there is an impending deadline, or you are being insufferable perfectionist, we do not need to work overtime or on weekends to complete our projects.
4: Fruits of labour
Graphic designers typically earn a good salary and have access to excellent benefits packages. There has always been a stereotype of designers being broke and a mess. But iI think it depends from person to person. Not every designer works overtime and is underpaid. Just like other professional fields you get to reap the fruits of your labor. Yes, we can make a good lifestyle out of it, if one knows how to balance work and life. With each project, we continue to evolve. Looking back at where we started and where we are now fills your chest with an enormous amount of pride.
5: The holy sense of accomplishment
" We/ I did that! " type of feeling. We have the benefit of seeing a completed piece of work when we finish it. We frequently get to see our hard work on display, whether it's a finished website or some product packaging. There are only a few jobs where you can see tangible proof of your accomplishments, and graphic design is one of them. And nothing beats that feeling, until a new project deadline starts lingering around corner...
Cons
1: Mostly behind a computer
We spend the most of their time in front of a computer. Sometimes the strain on the eyes and fatigue of the body is unbearable. Also, we sometimes get something called ' design blockage ', when a designer can't come up with any creative ideas. Similar to writer's block in the sense that nothing gets done. We have to plan breaks where we stand up and walk around to loosen up the body and the mind. We should always explore for different ways to work. Because sometimes not doing anything related to work, lead us to our ' Eureka! ' moment.
2: The lonely work
While big companies do work in collaboration or teams, still much of the work is independent. We start off discussing ideas with our clients or managers, then spend the remaining time working alone on creating the final design. Once done, we get on a meeting with clients again to discuss any final edits. While some prefer this time alone, others make an effort to connect with other graphic designers so that they can improve their existing design.
3: Deadlines, deadlines & deadlines
Some graphic design projects have strict deadlines. For example, a client may require changes to their logo design by the end of the day, or a client may require important last-minute changes, etc. And it's at times like these that you can see your creativity fading. These short deadlines put our time management skills to the test and have an impact on output levels. Balancing all of these things is similar to walking on a tightrope.
4: Must meet client expectations
We have to make our design choices based on client requirements instead of our own preferences. This limits some of our creative freedom and can result in us creating something that we are not as proud of. A better way is discussing strong ideas with the reasoning behind them with our clients early in the brainstorming stage. This sometimes leads to our client understanding certain creative decisions, but that doesn't happen every time.
5: The small ladder of growth, is it though?
Yes, it can be little tough to land a good job. Because, every designer has technological knowledge, but you have to utmost creative to stand out from the crowd and impress.
Also, there are limited opportunities to progress your career. The most common next step for graphic designers is to advance to management, where you will be in charge of a team of other designers. While many people stay in the same position for many years, you can still increase your earnings during this time. As you gain more and more experience, start freelancing to grow more and you can slowly begin to charge higher rates as your work improve.
Final Verdict
So, to be or not to be? That is the question.
My answer to this is every career path will always have its risks, its up to you if you are willing to take it. I can tell you from personal experience that I also had many sleepless nights wondering if I had chosen the right career, but now that I am doing what I truly love and getting paid for it, I say go for it. 'Trust the process,' as they say. Going through and overcoming these risks will be well worth it if you are truly passionate about graphic design.
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