9 Myths about Designers and Design Career which common people think | and How to overcome ?

There are a lot of misconceptions which is there around the designers and design community and design jobs, right? People are not choosing design career because of that reasons as well. If you really understand and demystify those myths, then you will have even more clarity in what you're doing. Particularly if people are stumbled upon whether to take design decision or not. This podcast is going to give you clarity on this. Take lot of notes. Let's jump into this topic Foreign for change. Thank you for staying tuning in with me today we are going to understand something very interesting which is the misconceptions and the myths what is surrounding in this field. In fact, lot of designers who are in this field are getting sometimes opinioned and carried away by this misconceptions. The very first misconception is design jobs are low paying. According to Design Statistics, a design census conducted by AIGA and Google, the median income of designers has been steadily increased reaching US$60,000 in 2019 and it's increasing in 2021, 22, 23, 24. Product designers, particularly those with expertise in UI UX, often command higher salaries with average ranging from US$70,000 to US$12,120,000 annually. So it depends on the experience and the location. So can you see that steep growth which is happening? And it's more. I'm saying UI UX product designers, they have a very steep growth. So you need to get this clarity guys. So high demand areas like product design, UI UX can always have high salaries. So there is. It's completely a myth when it comes to saying design jobs are low paying. The second thing is no vacancies is there for creative designers. Market is very, very, very competitive. Let me tell you guys, the demand for UI UX designers are projected by 22% from 2020 to 2030. Particularly we are in that decade, right? According to a U.S. bureau of labor statistics, product design, especially in tech industries has been surging in job openings. You will not believe guys, the kind of vacancies what the industry is looking right now. In this particular last three years, I would say and till the 2020, 2030, it's enormous. People are not having skills. That is the problem. So the importance of design is felt in all the field starting from defense, starting from aerospace, medical industry, consumer goods, appliances. Previously it was there people call it a stylist and aesthetics. But now every people who are even in the food delivery industry, who are even in the fmcg, fast moving consumer booths, electronic appliances everywhere, interiors, exteriors. Everybody needs aesthetically beautiful, pleasing Products. So what is the action point? You will have to really research about the company, what is their need. And you'll have to build a strong portfolio. You need to negotiate salaries. And you will have to really what do you call? Find a diversified skill which is required in your portfolio and establish a good network among design field. Then and only you will start attracting more opportunities. Guys see design fields like AI, VR and sustainable design. Circular economy is always evolving. There are freelancing opportunities, remote opportunities, entrepreneurial opportunities. It's so flexible. Also it is to even start your entrepreneurship. Also it's to go for a 9 to 5 job also. So possibilities are n number. People are saying they are not having a proper job. It's because of their inability to do it.

Okay.

So don't get disheartened. Just understand the numbers and stats what I'm giving.

Okay.

So the third misconception is digitalization is happening and traditional product design branches like textile, the physical product or ceramic will fade away. A global design transformation. Market size is expected to reach thousand billion by 2025. It's only design market. So it's indicating a growing need for design professionals who can adapt to various design field contributing to digital innovation. Not everything can be done in mobile, right? We need largely a great percentage of the work and the product and the service which can only be physical. It can't be converted to digital.

Right?

So you need to understand this. Traditional industries such as automotive, healthcare are integrating the digital elements into the product. But new opportunities of designers has very, very, very, very huge opportunities. People don't really get this clarity. So that is why you need to understand this big misconception. The fourth misconception is low hourly rates and hard work is done for the designers and they really get pennies. Can I tell you something? As according to Upwork, which is a big freelancing marketplace, they have made an annual report in 2020, UI UX design was one of the top 15 most sought after skills on the globe. Can I tell you the average hourly rate from $25 to $150? You know 25 dollars is close to 2000 rupees per hour for Indian rupees. So you need to get this clarity so people don't understand this. That's the big reason people are going.

Into a big misconception. And I have seen personally a lot of students who are having lot of capabilities. You know what, they are only placed based on the skill sets, what they have and the kind of the discipline and the specialized knowledge, what they can apply to get that particular salary. It's not about fixed hourly rates or it's not a laboring job or something. So successful freelancing designers really get more, they often earn more and their designs are really valued like anything. It's not like a lower offerings and all. So you need to get this, guys, while deadlines really exist, work life balance is definitely important for being a designer. Yeah, we do work sometimes long hours. We do work sometimes. Sometimes there'll be off season. You will not get. So it's all about how you prioritize and how you really set your boundaries. Clearly to avoid that, I'm working too long, I'm not getting enough paid. So that kind of mindset will not come when you effectively do it. See, communicate your needs and negotiate with the hover rate with your employer or your client or something. Utilize time management strategy, which I've talked specifically about. Designers, how they can prioritize and sequence their work. You can, you can disconnect after your work and you can relax, recharge. So these are all some of the ways you can really come out of all these things. Instead of just telling that this is misconception.

See, in this podcast, I'm not just.

Telling you misconceptions, I'm also giving you perspective how we can really come out of it. Because what a lot of designers really do is they get into this problem and they itself don't know it. So you need to understand this. Okay, so the fifth misconception is designer needs to be magical and eccentric, they say, right? In a survey conducted by ADO, 75% of the respondents identified creativity as a key to economic growth. Definitely it's needed, guys. Creativity is a learnable skill. This underscores the value placed on creativity in various fields without need for eccentric behavior. You don't have to take this epicyclic drugs and you will have to meditate and you will have to do this that to become like a magical guy. It's completely a misconception. Guys, if you can learn to drive a car, it's as simple as that. You can learn to be creative. Creativity is a learnable skill. Learnable skill, Learnable skill. I tell you three times. Okay, so you need to get this. A lot of people don't come into design field is because of this one single reason.

And they think, hey, I need to.

Really draw a lot of sketches. Hey, I need to really paint a lot of things. Hey, I need to really. These kind of things will definitely get you into a big trouble. You know what the diverse personalities of a successful designer showcase in industrial profiles. You know, they demonstrate creativity can thrive in individuals with different characteristics. Particularly if you're coming from an engineering background. If you're coming from an accounting background, law background, you're coming from a medical background, coming from a like anything, whatever field you are in, that will add a great flavor of creativity in your work. People don't get this.

In fact, if you are coming from.

Other background, you will be very creative than most of the designers. People should see this in a very positive light. That is the what you call big point. I'm just telling you, okay? Because professionalism and presentation matter, but authenticity and personal style are really valued. Guys, whatever is your real style. Show that honestly people will respect that creativity for sure. Focus on building strong portfolio demonstrating that particular expertise. You have to dress appropriately, you have to show yourself appropriately, you have to present your concept appropriately, you have to communicate appropriately. So if you show that thing, people will understand who you are as a person. And what you speak and what you grow is really inbuilt. This is a very big misconception. This is a way you can come out of it. So the sixth misconception is designers have a very poor personal life. Research from a journal of business and psychology shows that healthy work life balance contributes positivity to job satisfaction overall well being. Companies with strong work balance initiatives report 22 percentage higher productivity and emphasizing the importance of balance in both personal and professional success. You know what guys, this statistics is done for design industries also. You need to get this understanding. If the statistics is very different, then no designer will be really working. Right? You need to understand in that aspect people will not be coming into this. It's a journal of business and psychology shows that. So it improves 22% of the higher productivity. And can I tell you really very interesting thing guys. A proper design studio, a very good design studio will give you enough leaps, enough breaks, enough time to really rejuvenate yourself and to be creative and to really showcase your biggest work. Because people who are very good designers and seniors and strategic visionary people, they know if you want to really get a good creativity output of your people or your team, you need to let them free on themselves. And then automatically you will have your own thing.

So nobody's going to crush you.

And don't think like designer lifestyle is really bad, you'll go at 10 o'. Clock. Very interestingly, I'll tell you one fact. Designers really focus a very, very key few hours of their creativity and ideation stuff which is making all the 80% difference in the whole design world. Rest of the time it goes in communication, it goes in meeting, it goes in huddles, it goes in discussion, it goes in holidays, it goes in this, that. So you need to get this clarity if you are able to balance that particular time effectively. Even you can come out of all these things, guys. You can very well spend time with your family, you can very well take them for a vacation. You can take if you're working in a proper design studio or a Corporate Design Studio. 25 to 25, 25 to 30 days you will get holiday and minimum you'll get 15 to 20 days if you're as a startup or something. So get this understanding. It's not something like you'll have to go and dedicate your life and you don't see your family and all. The seventh big misconception is only few people have the talent to be a designer. There is a magical talent here available with these designers. You know, I don't have it. I won't join completely. A BS mindset. Online learning platforms such as Coursera and Udemy have seen a significant increase in enrollments for design courses, demonstrating that the accessibility of design education is going into a very broader audience. People have really started taking that out.

And people have started learning.

So what is your excuse to not learn from anything? You can join online courses, you can take a mentorship program, you can go to design school. There are thousand number of ways you can learn. But first you need to decide that if you really wanted to come out of this big myths and misconceptions. So that's why growing number of self taught designers entering the challenge the industry is more is more is more is more. So the self taught designers entering the industry is really more talent is not limited to only selected users. Guys. It's just like people who really learn and practice. They become more creative and they deliver a great work. Okay, I'll tell you another big misconception. Designer needs a very eccentric look for recognition. Designer talents and skills or the appearance. They need to show that they are what you call. They have to give a very big beard and they need to wear some pajamas and they need to put some Jolna back or they need to show some kind of, what do you call some hassle which is not combed properly or designer needs to come in a flashy bike. It's all completely in the way in which you first internalize yourself. No matter whether you come in this chapel or that chapel, the kind of work you put out matters a Lot. Of course your outfits and the attire really influences your mindset, but it's dominatedly coming from your own thought process, how you really see yourself. First, professionalism is definitely important. So you need to dress appropriately, you need to speak, you need to.

Behave properly and professionally.

I would say because we are not working in your home, you're working in a big industry or a studio or if you're even having a startup. People do have a team to work with you, right? So you need to understand this particular aspect. Okay, eccentricity and okay, people will see only that eccentricity and they'll trust and believe me that I'm an artist, I'm a creative guy. I'm a guy who does a lot of things. It's not that guys completely. It's not a correct way of looking at it. Okay, so the eighth important misconception is designers are only recognized in big design studios. Can I tell you something? The rise of social media is demonstrated. The democratized design recognition is happening like Behance, Dribble, Pinterest. It provides a lot of exposure to designers regardless of their studio size. So no problem, it's all come to your talent. At the end of the day, it's a misconception. Only big design studios recognize me. No guys. There are in fact 3,000 plus startups available in India for design and its related parts. What is the saying that you are not going to be recognized? It's all your inability to showcase that even small design studios and individual designers when actively present their works on social media can reach a global audience. Your recognition will go beyond the traditional studio settings. So please throw all this what you call these thoughts and build a very good strong portfolio and a social media presence so that you work professionally and connect with different Network People in LinkedIn and other platforms so that you can able to practice. And the ninth important misconception is the last important misconception I would say is people expect some kind of a magical ability of using the tools like Photoshop, like Illustrator, like sketching and rendering. Can I tell you something? A study published in Creativity Research Journal found that creativity is expressed through various means. No single method like sketching. Indicative creative ability using tools. Oh, if you are good in Figma.

You are the only guy who can do design.

Oh, you don't know Adobe Exten you are not fit for design job. You itself don't assume and deliberately think that kind of a thoughts to restrict your career. I repeat this point. You itself don't think that this is the only thing which is the criteria If I don't know Figma, if I don't know Adobe xt, I'll be thrown out of the industry. On the other side, don't think that.

Only learning Figma will give you a job. Only learning Adobe XT will give you a job.

Only learning sketching will give you job. Both people will not exist in this field. They'll come inside, stay for a few months and they'll think this is not the field for them and they'll go back. There will be a tipping moment, guys. When you come to the design field.

There will be lot of tests which.

Will be happening for you to make sure whether design is a real career or not. And I've crossed three or four different tests in that. And when you're able to strongly pursue that forward, then design field is for you. Nothing is easy in this world, guys. You need to earn that. So understand this, don't fall for this myths and all. Everything is a learnable skill. Sketching is a learnable skill. Figma is a matter of two days, you can learn it. Adobe XT is a matter of two days. You can learn Photoshop and Illustrator put together. If you put one week, you can learn it. Everything is a learnable skill. Successful designers often emphasize the importance of finding one's unique creative process. Challenging a stereotype and eccentricity is a prerequisite for success.

Let me tell you guys, incorporating this.

Statistics, whatever I told you and the data points, whatever I told you, please debunk all these misconceptions and see the future in more empowering.

Make a decision to become a more.

Creative person, then and only you will.

Be valued like anything. I hope this podcast would have given you a great clarity in terms of.

How the design world is being perceived.

And why don't you really are sticking to that particular view, right?

So if you really resonate with me.

And if you need a proper guidance and a support to remove more misconceptions.

Like this and really want to crack a very big success in less than three months, then I highly, highly recommend you. You can send an email to tfcdesignforchangemail.com which is given in the podcast description to join my intensive education because I.

Believe if you have an accountability, your.

Success will be very, very, very, very faster. If you know your own limitations and if you know your own skill set and strength and weakness and everything, you'll be able to progress much faster. Some of my students have got results in less than 2 months, less than 45 days, less than 3 months. Making 2x or even 3x salary growth. Okay, so it's not about always the skill set, mindset, salary. It's about your own satisfaction. Also at the end of the day, if that is there, then you will not fall for any of this misconception guys. You will be making a great progress, great success and you will be celebrated like a great designer in your career. Okay? So thank you so much guys for.

Listening to this podcast. If you find this useful, give me.

A best star rating in Spotify and Apple. I recommend you and also subscribe me for further episodes.

Thank you.

Take care. Bye bye.