Being a designer is unique in its own everyday challenges. Many of us love what we do, but that doesn’t mean we don’t face problems that make us want to tear our hair out and scream. Many non-creative professionals assume that we have it easier because our jobs are “fun” and it isn’t something tedious and mundane. But actually, designers are known as eye roll champions, because of all the funny but stupid things we face. Here are 5 examples!
Creative Burnout
Burnout is something that can happen after any period of time, but it is more common among seasoned professionals.
Where a blank canvas once stood before you as a call to adventure and an opportunity to explore your creativity, it now is a problem standing between you and whatever else you could be doing.
Sometimes creative burnout is a direct result of doing something repetitive and not having other creative outlets.
To avoid creative burnout, many creatives take up a different creative hobby outside of their work, such as photography, writing, music or painting. This allows them to do something creative and enjoyable that is outside of their comfort zone and keeps creativity alive for them throughout their day to day work.
Defending Your Work
More often than not you will be working for non-creatives. This can feel frustrating if you end up in a situation where you are always defending your work and design decisions. The input and feedback you get, more often than not will make you cringe. Eg…
“Make the Logo Bigger.”
“Let’s go with this color; it’s my favorite.”
“Why can’t we just use [insert trademark infringing thing here]”
Title not good enough, make it more eye-catching
*random backseat designer comments from people who don’t know better*
We’ve all had to deal with this, and the temptation could be to just do what you’re told, keep your head down and let the client or employer deal with the consequences. Orders are orders after-all, and what do you know, you’re just the designer, the person who actually has a background in executing on these things. There is also the other side of the coin, ranting and railing and insisting you know best.
The best thing you can do is this situation is pick what is behind door number three, go with empathy. Calmly and concisely explain why you made a certain decision, or what the consequences of their request are, offer reasonable alternatives and/or compromises that you think are in the best of interest of the project. Ask them legitimate questions as to why they want to go in a certain direction, you’ll likely find that they aren’t 100% committed to an execution so much as an envisioned outcome.
Being Disrespected
This one is a bit more difficult to address. Nobody likes to be taken for granted or have it implied that their job is easy. Often statements like that are made out of naiveté rather than malice, but it still stings and can be infuriating. Maybe you’ve heard the following before as a designer or a writer, eg…
“It must be nice to just make pretty pictures for a living.”
“I can get someone to do that on Fiverr, design shouldn’t cost that much.”
“Doesn’t Photoshop do most of the work?”
All you do is look at pictures all day
Writing is not that difficult, I used to do it all the time in (level of education)
"Your job can earn money one meh?" - all asian relatives, ever.
You’ve likely heard this or similar comments before. Instead of replying back with a snarky comment (like I normally do) you should probably take the high ground, and let them know, that while you love what you do it, it isn’t easy and remind them that from the outside their job looks easy too.
In the case of clients or bosses, you can gently remind them that everyone wants to be in charge and that nobody really appreciates the stress and the hard choices they have to make. Again, this is an exercise in empathy.
Sometimes it is difficult to put aside our hurt of frustration at not being appreciated or acknowledged for our hard work. Ultimately what we want is to be understood, and getting there means understanding where other people are coming from and educating them so they can get to the place we need them to be.
Clients Expect Freebies
This is one of the most peeving problems in my opinion, and most freelancers feel the same. Our work is hours of blood, sweat and tears yet when it comes down to payments, the client will expect to either have a discount or have it completely free, I’m pretty sure everyone in creative has heard this before….
“Do it for exposure.”
“Can you give me a discount, your prices are too high.”
Usually when I face this problem, I’ll explain to them the tedious process that goes on behind the scenes, and sometimes they may understand, and other times, I get fired back, but that’s life you win some you lose some.
We shouldn’t compromise our worth and our Ricebowl for someone, and that’s the way it should be.
Lack of Creative Control
Feeling a lack of control and ownership over your work can be the most difficult thing for a designer or any creative professional. Unfortunately, it is a reality of doing work for hire. The client or employer gets to dictate the art direction more often than not, and very early in your career you’ll likely be little more than an executor for someone’s creative vision. Instead of letting this cripple you, view this as an opportunity to hoard your true creativity for yourself.
Use your free time to do personalized projects or even take on (non-competing) client work, not for exposure, but for the experience of doing work where you can negotiate full creative control and really explore your creativity.
This can help you develop your design sense, build your own style, and create a body of work you are truly proud of. It can be very rewarding to feel a sense of true ownership over your work and have a body of work that truly represents you.
Later in your career you will likely find that this work is what you become known for.
Regardless of these problems, most of us still love our jobs, and we are a humorous bunch that likes to laugh at ourselves. We take this challenge head on and use it as a way to grow!
Are you a creative person? Do you like designing?
Well why not try it out?
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