19/05/2025
This may be of interest to the new blood joining the arteries of the Graphics world.
I was reflecting last friday and noted all the tools I’ve come across on my creative journey from physical to more so digital now.
Some have struck out and some I still swear by like my trusted Bic® Biro and A4 refill pad — it’s where it all starts for me. I remember being shouted at by a CD at one of my first studios ordering me to stop using the A4 refill pad and pen sketches as they couldn’t show this to clients. I’ve rebelled since and it’s one of the first things I show in my presentations — it’s more human.
With the advent of AI and the worry that follows of the changing creative realm It shows to those outside the industry the amount of learning and knowledge that accumulates to realise projects and how some skills become redundant and the designer has to pivot. How typesetting was lost to Desk Top Publishing, how photography was changed by Photoshop...
All this on top of keeping your creative brain in tune to relay thoughts, start or notice trends, engage, educate, copywrite, strategise, map, rationalise, interpret data, psychologically profile and realise your visions.
The change of the scope of what is a Graphic Designer is massive. Do you specialise as a fontographer, typographer, illustrator, animator, content designer, web designer (multiple strands within this), videographer, game designer, experiential designer, interpretive designer, infographics, brand strategist or do all of the above.
To the new creatives — enjoy the trip and keep playing with Lego® :)
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Be cool to hear other people’s journeys and tools they’ve pivoted to or ditched along the way. I sure I’ve missed some as it’s a quick snapshot of what sprung to mind.
