Whether you want to hire an outside contractor, outsource, or build an internal team to design your digital product, you must first evaluate the graphic designers' skills to see if they are the best fit for the job. Here are some graphic design abilities and soft skills to watch out for:
The first important concept that your designers must understand is the range of design software. Your graphic designers will require a variety of design software skills, depending on the kind of project you need completed. For instance, you'll need a graphic designer with a strong focus on User Experience (UX) design who is familiar with software like Figma or InVision if you're looking to create mockups and prototypes. However, you'll need to look for web design tools like Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, etc. if you're looking to build a website. Verify the designers' proficiency with Illustrator and InDesign for projects requiring print production. Because there are simply too many tools out there, no designer is familiar with them all. Decide what kind of design work you want to have done because of this.
The understanding of design principles is the next crucial competency for graphic designers. Knowing this collection of principles really demonstrates the designers' abilities, whether it be in a photo editing project, print project, or digital design. Various graphic design principles exist, including balance, hierarchy, alignment, repetition, contrast, and others. You might want to look for an outsourcing company that will recruit those graphic designers for you and evaluate their technical and soft skills because it might be challenging for you to evaluate those technical skills on your own.
Ideation abilities are the next skill on this list of essential traits for designers. Designers must be creative and able to develop original concepts. They'll probably even need to mentor the other members of the product team and encourage their own creativity. Because of this, it's crucial for designers to be knowledgeable about various research tools and techniques as well as the Design Thinking process, which aids in structuring creativity and improving idea evaluation and implementation. Make a note of this if you're a graphic designer yourself because ideation and research skills are essential for landing a job.
This one is a little self-evident now. Because working as a graphic designer on any project clearly requires creativity. However, creativity is more than just occasionally coming up with brilliant ideas. When graphic design is your primary occupation and you work on numerous projects for various clients, you need a structured process to help you concentrate your creative thinking. As an employer, you should seek out graphic designers who have organised their creative processes and have a system in place that enables them to generate ideas consistently rather than just when inspiration strikes.
Every business in every industry needs to communicate effectively to operate effectively. It's the only way to produce significant results and finish projects on schedule. When it comes to design work, it is the same. Every graphic designer needs to be able to communicate effectively with their clients, management, and coworkers. Your graphic designers need to consult with their employers, management, and other team members to get their perspective in order to produce something that will truly benefit your company. Communication abilities are therefore so important for designers.
In addition to communication, there is a concept known as "visual communication". You might not be familiar with that, so allow me to explain. When designers create a project, it has some effects on the viewer. Knowing how to use graphics, typography, and other tools to help the viewer "get the message" is an essential design skill. Fundamentally, designers must be able to convey their ideas through their creations. The message the user will receive changes each time a different colour is used in the print or a different type of button is used in the user interface. The designer must get it right because some shapes and colours have very specific meanings for various target audiences.
In addition to using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, or other design software, problem solving may be the most important skill in the field of graphic design. This is so that all digital products can address the issues that users have. The user will choose to use your product with a particular need in mind. If that product is ineffective for them, they will simply try another one. Problem solving should therefore be included in the list of graphic design skills.
When I refer to "User Experience design," I mean all the various components that go into it. including user and market research, idea generation, prototyping, and testing Even if their primary responsibility is to produce social media advertisements, every graphic design expert should possess those abilities. Research and analysis skills are essential for designing physical products as well as websites and mobile applications. Designers with a lot of UX design experience will also have excellent ideation and workshop processes that can be very helpful to your internal team. Additionally, testing is essential in every industry.
The majority of jobs don't end when the design is finished. After that, there will typically be coding, publishing, or printing. To ensure that their design is handled properly, the designers you hire must be able to collaborate with the rest of your team or with outside contractors. A designer needs to be heavily involved in the development process, particularly when it comes to digital design. They don't have to be experts in HTML, CSS, or any other programming languages, but they must be present to support the developers. They might require more resources or instructions on how to code the website or application in the best way when doing the coding.
The final skill on this list of essential abilities for graphic designers is time management. This skill is one that many employers look for when hiring for a variety of jobs. But just like in almost any profession, time management is crucial for graphic designers. It can be very demanding and quickly become monotonous to be creative all the time and work with visual mediums in front of a bright screen. Therefore, designers must be able to manage their time effectively so that they can complete their work while remaining receptive to fresh perspectives and project modifications. Because, let's face it, goals and requirements are frequently fluid.
It's difficult to find a great graphic design team, especially if you lack the necessary expertise. If your company already employs a designer, you should draw on their skills and experience to aid in the hiring procedure. Contacting an outsourcing company, outlining your needs, and waiting for them to select the best applicants for the position would be an alternative strategy. Because you weren't the one who actually hired the designer, it's also a great way to save time and money on the hiring process as well as employment costs. Finding a contractor who will take over the entire design process is the last option when looking for a graphic design team. It might not be the best choice for smaller tasks like image editing or creating social media content, but it's fantastic for bigger projects like creating a website, a new brand, or a mobile app.
Companies like INVO relieve their clients of the majority of the burden, so you don't have to worry about providing the hardware, onboarding, or paying for the software (the Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes Adobe Illustrator, Indesign, Photoshop, XD, and other tools, costs $79.99 per month per user!). Before you start looking for a graphic design team, you need to decide which strategy would be best for you and your business based on the details of your particular project.
Before something is made, a designer develops a master plan for its appearance or functionality. It might include tangible or intangible things, things, things, things, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers have a keen eye for configuring the skeletal and structural characteristics of the desired output. They are employed in a variety of industries, including user experience, web graphics, fashion, and architecture. Although there are many different types of design professionals, they are all creative, passionate, motivating, and emotionally invested in their projects and brands.
Here are some duties from actual designer resumes that correspond to typical duties they would probably carry out in their positions.
From apparel design to web identity, I lead & design all creative content.
Utilizing cutting-edge DFM techniques, manage various PCB designs while adhering to company standards.
For consistency and cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility, use CSS, DHTML, HTML, and JavaScript.
Create various global and local functions for the creation of forms using JavaScript and CSS.
Convert customer requirements into usable SolidWorks 3D models and assemblies, which are the basis for all manufacturing.
Utilize Windchill to process ECRs and ECOs.
Wordpress website redesign is required.
Use FTP and content management systems.
Create logos and icons for Android software.
Use the AutoCAD and REVIT programmes to create all the models.
Considered a leader and elevated to senior
Hold conferences with the owner, the contractor, and the MEP consultants.
Update and streamline office AutoCAD procedures, and introduce SketchUp usage.
WordPress design and production as well as client-specific social media setup and posting.
design and creation of standard objects, such as standard object XML files.
