Top 7 Worst Things to Do In a Design Job

Design work is challenging, and takes a lot of different skills to get right, from being able to supervise projects and manage time, through to having an eye for detail. Freelance and agency designers all face the pressure to be able to adapt to different circumstances, and are required to understand deliver on briefs to a high standard. In this context, persistent mistakes in design work across different areas are rarely forgiven in a competitive market. It’s worth, then, reviewing what some of the worst things you can do in a design job, and how they might be avoided:

1 – Not Understanding a Brand

Having a poor understanding of a brand you work for as a designer can unravel a whole project. Failing to know what the brand represents, and how that can be communicated in your work, usually indicates a breakdown in communications between a designer and a client. In this context, a good designer should know what a brand’s target audience is, what defines the core values of that brand, and how trying to take it into an alternative direction could be disastrous.

2 – Missing Deadlines

Yes, design work is faced paced, and sometimes there can be practical problems that delay work. However, when agreeing to deadlines you have to take on the responsibility to deliver work. Repeated missed deadlines will mean that your reputation with clients will plummet, and can make a position at an agency difficult to hold onto.

3 – Not Taking Criticism

Nobody likes criticism, but it is an important part of a creative job. Try to see criticism as constructive, even when you don’t agree with it. Making changes, or being able to work as part of a team, or under a manager, demands an awareness of where your opinion has to be weighed against others.

4 – Failing to Market a Personal Brand

Beyond the work itself, designers need to be able to effectively market themselves to clients and agencies. This means being able to self promote a distinctive voice and skills through websites, a social media presence, and through networking in person to create an impact and stand out against competition.

5 – Missing Details

An attention to detail is essential for the best design work, whether that comes through typography or proofing copy. Rushing to get things down to deadlines can mean that basic design flaws get overlooked, and when noticed can damage the momentum of a campaign or project. Technical issues consequently need to be ironed out as carefully as possible before delivery.

6 – Procrastinating

Going back to the challenge of deadlines, procrastinating over a project will only make it harder. Getting into good working habits, and accepting that the creative process may not always run smoothly, are important things to learn if you’re going to effectively manage your time on the job.

7 – Ignoring Trends

While the fear of plagiarism is one that affects most designers, in order to be an effective designer you need to have an excellent understanding of current and future trends. By doing so, it’s possible to avoid marketing yourself in the wrong area, while being able to identify gaps in the market that you can position yourself within.

Patrick Hegarty is an ardent writer who is currently working on spreading his knowledge about how to find and apply for design jobs.