One thing which separates a good designer from a great designer

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Everyday at IndieFolio we communicate with lots of designers as we match them with various creative opportunities. Over the past 2 years I have observed that the best designers shortlisted by companies have one thing in common: Professionalism.

“I am a designer and making things look pretty is my job. If my client sucks and does not understand design, my client servicing manager is giving me ridiculous deadlines and my agency works with poor clients. You cannot blame me for not giving my best output”

If this is something you feel, you are not a professional. Remember, you chose to work with these people, you chose to be a part of this company and it was your choice to deliver services to the clients. If you chose to do the following, you cannot blame external parties for how you handle the situation.

Often when a designer gets a title of “Art Director”, she feels professional. Many even assume finishing your degree, diploma or certification in some design course makes you a design professional. That is not true. Your skill and portfolio is just a prerequisite for you to be called a designer. But professionalism is what makes you great.

When I call a designer a professional, it means two things: The designer is accountable and responsible. Submitting your deliverables on time, replying to mails quickly, and taking ownership of your creative project makes you a professional. Do not think being professional is being boring. Your style and creative views should surely reflect in everything you do, from dressing for work to communicating with clients, basic professional etiquettes need to be adhered to. 

However in a passion led profession like design, designers tend to be taken for granted. We are trickled down to the roles of a mere vendor or merchant. While dealing with other service professionals like doctors and lawyers, clients do not argue upon their processes and policies. But in the case of design, many clients feel the need to interfere with the creative process because they believe they are “creative” as well. In some cases, a client’s involvement is helpful and is surely needed. But then how do you standardize your approach to different clients? You need to gain creative control of your projects. How do you do that? Make sure you yourself set the course and processes of your project, document your entire process so you can justify why you did what you did, fight for your opinion and openly discuss with your clients why they do not like your output instead of blindly doing “changes” and creating “iterations” as per their requests. Once you do this, the clients will respect you more, take you more seriously and listen to you.

Do not confuse being professional as being arrogant, many times clients make a fair point since they understand their brand perfectly. Thus, curate your clients and don’t work with anyone and everyone who inquires. Set a bar for yourself for the kind of projects you want to do. You will automatically start seeing synergies in yours and your clients views.

The design landscape in India is still in it’s nascent stages. All brands do not understand the value design brings just yet. However things are changing and now is the time you start practicing professional design. If this generation of Indian designers fail to do that, we will always be a “good-to-have” service but will never be taken seriously. 

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