The Biggest Design Mistakes A Designer Can Make

As a designer, you are always going to make a mistake or two. As is the case in any industry, it’s almost impossible to avoid mistakes altogether. However, some mistakes are bigger than others.

Design Makers a Designer Should Always Avoid

• Being a Lazy Designer – If you know anything about designing, you will know that there are a number of templates out there to help you out. You don’t need to look too far to find help and advice on designing fantastic roll up banners and how size impacts ad design. However, that doesn’t mean you can be a lazy designer. Regardless of what you are designing and who you are designing for, it’s important to put energy and dedication into the project. Not only does laziness show in the finished design, but it can also prevent you from getting repeat work.

• Not Having Difficult Conversations – Though the job of a designer is largely creative, there are going to be times when you have to have a difficult conversation. This could come in the form of telling a client that their idea just won’t work or explaining to a business that they need a lot more design help than they intended. You may even find yourself having a difficult conversation about a late payment or someone asking for more work than they are paying for. Whatever the topic of conversation, it’s always best to be upfront and honest throughout the entire design process.

• Not Believing in Themselves – With so many talented designers out there it is very easy to feel inadequate, especially if you are relatively new to the industry. If you don’t have a lot of experience and you are unsure about your skills, you may find it difficult to believe in yourself. Luckily, you are not alone. A lot of designers struggle with confidence when they take on a new project, but not believing in yourself can actually hinder the entire design process. It’s important to have the confidence to be bold, unique and to try something new.

• Being Unable to Say “No” – You may want to take on every design project that comes your way, but this isn’t always possible. If you are struggling to fit everything in time-wise, you may need to say “no” to a project or two. If you don’t feel confident in your abilities to complete a specific project in the way a client wants, you may need to say “no” once in a while.

• Not Being Able to Disconnect From Work – When you are in the middle of a design project, it can be difficult to switch off. At the end of the working day a lot of designers struggle to disconnect and they end up taking work home with them, but this can be detrimental in the long run. When you are overworked and tired, the quality of your work suffers. It’s important to schedule a time to relax and unwind, before tackling a design project again at another time.