Working as a graphic designer offers creatives the opportunity to turn their imagination and originality into a meaningful career. This career path is often extremely rewarding and impactful, allowing designers to bring ideas to life in ways that directly benefit their clients or customers. That being said, the job isn’t always as glamorous as it may seem. There are a lot of challenges graphic designers face in both college and the industry; it’s important to know what obstacles you might face and how others like you have overcome them.
Creative Block and Burnout
Graphic designers have to flex their creative muscles daily, often working on multiple projects at once for different clients. Inevitably, most designers will hit roadblocks and struggle to develop fresh ideas. It’s important to remember that experiencing creative blocks and burnout doesn’t detract from talent. These hurdles are perfectly normal and to be expected, especially when creatives work on numerous projects simultaneously.
When you find yourself drawing a blank, the best thing you can do is step away from your work. Think about the things you’re inspired by and allow yourself the freedom to encounter them. Take a moment to decompress by going for a walk, listening to music, or experimenting with another creative outlet. Give yourself space to find a change of scenery or activity that sparks your creativity without feeling forced.
Criticism and Rejection
Whether you end up working as a graphic designer in-house, for an agency, or as a freelancer, it’s only a matter of time before you face criticism from clients and colleagues. No matter who the feedback comes from, it can be hard not to take tough comments to heart. After all, designers often pull from their personal style and imagination to bring projects to life. The key is to find a middle ground between meeting expectations and creating a vision that speaks to your design strengths.
“Unfortunately, not every client or company you work with will recognize, value, or even seek out original, thoughtful design,” shared Julie Zack, graphic design professor at Villa Maria College.
At the beginning of a project, do your best to establish clear guidelines and boundaries through professional yet honest communication. If any details remain ambiguous, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. However, it’s always a good idea to expect the unexpected, as clients’ needs or wants may shift after initial standards are set. While it can be frustrating, this comes with being a graphic designer.
Creating Around Deadlines
Designing a project on a deadline is no small task. Graphic designers often have to not only develop and execute a concept in a relatively short timeframe, but they usually have to do so while working on several other jobs and tasks. Being able to stay organized and pivot between projects is crucial.
Before you even get started, draft a project timeline. Outline when drafts are due, when you need feedback returned, when the final project must be submitted, and any other time stamps you’ll need to keep track of. Throughout the design process, prioritize tasks according to the client brief. What elements are most important to the desired end result? Dedicate your time to those specifics so you don’t get distracted by other features.
Balancing Design and Function
Graphic design is all about balancing the elements of design with the artist’s and the client’s creative visions. Designing too much for aesthetics through intricate visuals or unconventional layouts sometimes takes away from functional aspects of design like useability and readability. A designer’s and client’s personal preferences may also factor into the end result.
Overcoming these challenges requires graphic designers to have a clear understanding of the client’s objectives along with a willingness to compromise. Keep the target audience at the forefront of every creative and functional decision. At the end of the day, results should represent the end users’ and viewers’ experience.
Keeping up with Technology
The design industry is continually evolving around new software, advances in artificial intelligence (AI), and other changes in technology. Graphic designers have to stay up-to-date or risk losing their relevance. Being willing to learn and invest time and effort into developing new graphic design skills is a must.
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AI can save time and effort, but graphic designers still need an educated eye and knowledge of design principles to discern what’s effective design and what’s generic.
AI in graphic design is a particular area where designers should gain exposure while exerting caution. “Learning to use AI responsibly and respectfully is what we try to instill in our students,” Professor Zack said. “AI can save time and effort, but graphic designers still need an educated eye and knowledge of design principles to discern what’s effective design and what’s generic, which AI tends to lean,” she shared.
Graphic designers should always be on the lookout for new tools and techniques. Set aside time to identify trends and follow up on them with active learning. Anything from following a variety of designers on social media to networking with other like-minded creatives to taking online tutorials can give you the edge to stay competitive in an ever-changing industry.
Join an Esteemed Graphic Design Program
Graphic design students excel at Villa Maria College. With the direction and encouragement of our faculty, our students go on to win acclaimed industry awards, portfolio reviews, and scholarships. In fact, Villa students see one of the highest job placement rates in the area! If you are passionate about graphic design, you’ll find your people and a place to let your creativity shine at Villa.
