05/21/2026
I was recently invited to speak with the staff at a college design department about design and the industry. They asked a lot of questions about AI, pricing, software, and where things are headed.
But one topic really stood out as their biggest concern.
What do you think it was?
They said one of the biggest challenges students face right now isn’t creativity or technical skill. It’s basic communication skills.
Students are creating projects but struggling to explain the “why” behind what they made. They’re also doing practice interviews to prepare for getting jobs and having a difficult time talking about themselves, their process, and their work. The staff said many students simply can’t do it.
As we talked, I realized this really isn’t a new problem.
I remember seeing this even when I was a student at City College and San Diego State. Students would put beautiful work up on the wall, but when it came time to explain what they created and why they made certain decisions, many struggled to articulate it.
I remember thinking to myself, these are probably the kinds of people I’ll be hiring someday when I start Chase Design.
I also realized back then that people are simply wired differently. Some people are more introverted and some are more extroverted, and that doesn’t determine whether they’ll become a great designer.
But it can influence whether they land a job.
Basic soft skills and professionalism still matter. Making eye contact, speaking with confidence, giving a firm handshake, listening well, and communicating clearly can go a long way.
At Chase Design, we also involve our team in bidding projects and estimating work because I think that matters too.
The person doing the work should understand the business side of it, the time involved, the budget, the constraints, and the value being created.
AI is becoming very good at helping with estimating, planning, and creating efficiencies. But I still think the people doing the work should learn these skills themselves because it changes how they think. It creates ownership and a stronger understanding of the bigger picture, including budgets, timelines, and client expectations.
Especially with AI changing how we work, soft skills are becoming even more valuable. Human connection is gold.
Having the ability to communicate your ideas, explain your process, and confidently talk about the things you create can go a long way.
I think this is something we need to address and spend more time developing. Along with the business side of design, these are skills that should be taught in every design college and design trade school in my opinion.
This is one area I’ve spent thousands of hours honing myself. My goal is to sell the value of great design and branding and build the best client relationships possible.
If anyone would like help in this area, send me a message. I’m always happy to help.
Strong designers create good work.
Great designers understand why it matters, can communicate it clearly, and understand the business behind it. There’s job security in that skill.
