By: Design Studies Institute Staff
When it comes to starting a career in design, designers must define their area of professional practice. This is because design encapsulates a collection of niche and specific practice areas, all of which fall under the same umbrella of design. While this array of options can portray itself as intimidating, this flexibility can be highly advantageous once you find your own niche. Having so many choices and avenues to seek allows designers to tailor their specific skills and interests to the career path that suits them best within the creative industry.
The position of a creative director can take place in a wide array of industries, but relies on the leadership skills of the designer to help guide a design team through a design process. Creative directors can work on anything from advertising campaigns and product launches to service redesigns. What creative directors do best is communicate their concepts or image of the direction of a given project. A strong creative director initiates the forward momentum of any assigned work by guiding their team of experienced creatives to the end goal every step of the way. Whether it’s a video game or brand identity, the creative director spearheads the aesthetic look, guaranteeing cohesion throughout. This role is about creativity, management, and leadership.
Technologically savvy designers could enjoy being a multimedia artist. A multimedia artist’s primary focus is going to be telling a brand’s story via visual media. While developing your projects, you’ll want to keep in mind not only the impact the piece is trying to make, but also the platform that the content will be viewed on. Some key skills one must possess as a multimedia artist include knowledge of modeling programs, graphic design, and the ability to adapt to the ever-evolving technology. With brands seeking to boost their online presence now more than ever, multimedia artists are becoming increasingly desirable.
When it comes to a career as a user experience designer, your title gives away the focus of the role. UX designers make websites, processes, and services as smooth and intuitive as possible for the company’s consumers. Here, the designer steps into the shoes of a user and thinks about how the product looks, feels, and moves from their perspective. User experience is all about guaranteeing an effortless continuity from every aspect. Looking at the day-to-day of a UX designer, many projects will involve researching, conceiving, designing, prototyping, and testing. If your passion for design intertwines with a passion for technology, a career in UX design should be strongly considered.
Freelancing can be both a freeing and lucrative pathway in design. Perfect as a side gig, freelancing can not only improve your expertise, but it can also supplement your cash flow. Freelancers are free to choose what clients to take on, meaning they can pick up projects they are passionate about at their leisure. Freelance designers need some amount of practical experience or an extensive portfolio to begin taking on projects of their own. Ultimately, freelancing will provide an immense amount of knowledge in time management, budget, communication, and above all, a sense of accomplishment.
When it comes to owning your own design firm, while ultimately rewarding, you should be willing to commit to the work it will likely take to launch and realize a new entrepreneurial adventure. You’ll not only have to be well-versed in design, but design owners need to know the ins and outs of running and managing a business in its entirety. To begin, consolidate any initial ideas, devise a fully fleshed-out business plan, organize the finances, and establish a brand identity. If you have perfected your craft as a designer, owning a design firm can help you scale your impact and exercise your skills as a leader in the design industry.
While we’ve examined several career paths you can take as a designer, we’ve still only scratched the surface of how a designer can apply their skillset within the creative industries. One of the most remarkable factors of being a designer is that you get to be the designer of your own career.
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