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Question of the week: Is it better to specialize in a specific area of design, or to be a jack of all trades? Where do you currently stand in this spectrum of design? Currently pursuing a niche? Or are you knowledgeable in many aspects of design?
Leave a comment and let me know what you think!
[17] Comments
Posted in design, Graphic Design, illustration, Question Of The Week, Web 2.OH, Web Design
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Sonja Hollerbach says:
Hi,
Interesting question! I think it’s necessary to specialize in a few core areas. I come from a graphic design background, but that was before web design really existed as a profession (not THAT long ago!!) These days, I specialize in both print and web, havining developed both areas over the past 10 years.
We need to be adaptable to keep up with advancements in technology. It’d be great to specialise in one field, but I don’t think this is a realistic option in our industry.
As an employer, I need people who can slot into a few different roles, but I find that young web designers have no interest in print, whereas graphic designers are happy to dabble in web (but don’t often understand the differences between desiging for print vs online).
I think young designers need to be open to all aspects of design, both in print and online, rather than deciding to be purists in only one field. It’ll expand your opportunities and you may even discover a passion for something you never expected!
October 14th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Jesse says:
I’m so glad someone else has this question in their mind…After I got through school I felt like I knew a basic knowledge on a lot of different areas but exactly as you said…’master of none’.
My thoughts on the matter is it really depends on what you want to do. If you want to go into an agency setting then extensive knowledge or specializing would probably be the way to go. Freelancing is a totally different monster! Being able to meet your clients needs whatever they may be would beneficial, and possibly better for business you could cater to more clients with that ‘blanket’ method.
To me, it depends on what you’re comfortable with and the circumstances are always subject to change, such as an agency or in-house design dept. wanting a one man show or there are many successful freelancers who specialize.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Rick says:
Become a T-shaped person… Avenir Bold is preferred.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/95/design-strategy.html?page=0%2C1
October 14th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Corinne says:
When I started freelancing, I really wanted to offer logo and print design services. However, after a year of freelancing I’ve decided to focus on my strongest skill: web design! Under the umbrella that is web design you can do even more specialization.
There are companies who offer only slicing services (there are plenty of them around) and others who only enjoy the design portion. I love to design and code so I’m usually involved in the whole web design process!
October 14th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Libby Unwin says:
I agree with Jesse in that it depends, but even at that, you can spin it both ways. You’re appealing to an agency because you can do everything kinda-sorta-ok; you’re appealing to an agency because they need someone who does this really well, and you do. As a freelancer, same game (IMO). I never learned ONE thing very well, and now that I know a little of everything, I feel myself leaning toward one or two very specific things. I’m trying to team up with other freelancers who can fill in my personal gaps (and hopefully spend more time on what they love to do themselves). I like the community it fosters, but I can’t help feeling a bit inadequate. I wish I could spend all day just drawing and know that will pay the bills, but the truth is, it’s the many other areas that I know just a bit about that bring in the dough. It would be awesome to be in demand for the ONE thing I love, but that’s just not reality right now!
When I was in the corporate world, I used to help review designers’ resumes and it was shocking how much some of these kids, fresh out of college, knew (stuff that didn’t even exist when I was in school). They were more qualified for my job than I was! (I never told.
)
Rick, very interesting article.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Brandon says:
When I first started I did Web Design, Sound, Video, Stage Lighting and Photography but over time leaned toward Web Design and Video mostly.
It’s not that I am best at these two or just decided to do those but I have discovered that these are the most fun for me to do as a job rather than a hobby and they bring in the most clients. Additionally people started referring me as that so it was almost automatic.
Recently I narrowed my niche even more specializing in doing web design for small business and non-profits. That narrowing of my specialties greatly improved my client base quickly because in that market the first guy shares with the next guy and so on…
I still do the other things if someone asks for it or when I just feel like doing something else for a weekend but ultimately I prefer working at the computer rather than hauling sound or lighting equipment – even though I am very good at that too.
I think it really comes down to what makes you happy.
If you’re happy then your client will be happy and satisfied. I don’t think one has to be a genius web designer it’s about having adequate skills to do your job well and with a fantastic attitude. The attitude and personal touch will keep the clients coming in the door, not just “perfect” HTML.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Brandon says:
On another note I decided to keep photography out of my primary job offerings because I never want it to feel like a “job”.
I love it so much I want to keep it an expensive hobby that occasionally pays itself off…
October 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Prescott Perez-Fox says:
Most of us, being visual people, are picturing this debate as some slider, being pulled between the two poles of “Generalist” and “Specialist”, with our own existence somewhere in the center. This is usually tied to the media in which we work. Graphic designer is a vague term. Print designer is slightly more refined, logo designer even more so. Take things to the extreme, and you’re soon talking to a hi-end retoucher who focuses exclusively on masking hair. The media scale exists in our mind usually associate with our job title and day-to-day duties.
However, my observations is that there is a second intersecting scale for Industry. Some folks specialise in a certain trade, such as publishing, while other will dive deeper into that field, and others deeper still. Imagine someone who has the market cornered on pre-teen, inner-city, biographical literature written by women. That’s a little different someone who “works in publishing”
The trouble lately is that clients and hiring managers want someone who has experience (if not a fully fledged specialist) in both a media AND an industry. It’s no longer desireable to be a “graphic designer”, you have to be a packaging label designer with expertise in hi-end spirits and wine. Real estate annual reports? Is that its own field now? Apparently. And don’t you dare mix up outdoor advertising for haircare and in-store displays for beauty products — they’re totally different. Totally! (actually, no, pretty much the same.)
Personally, I have always prided myself on being somewhat of a generalist. At least, a generalist within the realm of brand identity, packaging, and overall print design. Branding itself is a general discipline, as it governs colour, typography, patterns and semiotics, logo design, brand strategy, and sometimes signage, packaging, print, motion, and web design. So specialising in something so general is a bit of duality from the start.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Anthony Hortin says:
Tough question. I guess I’m like a lot of people, I do a bit of everything as opposed to specialising in one area. I’ve found this has worked well for me as I’ve been able to provide a range of services/support to clients myself rather than having to outsource or pass work onto others to complete. My background is actually more technical than creative. Years ago I was employed as a code monkey, developing C/C++ Client/Server applications. Earlier jobs that I’ve had included technical/application support. I find this has helped a lot. As well as being able to design websites, I can also build them as well. If clients have any technical questions in regards to setting up or configuring their email accounts or anything else, for example, I’m also usually able to help them with that as well. As some of the other post’ers have said above, it depends a lot on what type of field and work environment you’re looking to get into. Great topic Niki
October 14th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
awesomerobot says:
I’m really a jack of all trades, it’s really beneficial when you work for a small company where I work in almost exactly 50% print and 50% web – and really it’s in my nature as a person anyway. Of course there’s standard graphic + web design (html+css), I wouldn’t say that if you can do both you’re a jack of all trades though – it’s almost necessary to be able to do both as a designer these days, at least on a basic level.
So I do both web and print design, but also web development using PHP, Javascript, MYSQL, (a little ASP) etc… I can also set up web/file servers (note: not just purchasing hosting) and in turn know a fair amount about internal networking. This also leads to knowing how to get OSX, Windows, and Linux computers talking to each other – which also leads to knowing the ins and outs of those operating systems. This leads to hardware maintenance and upgrades, etc…
I also assisted in photography for a few years, so as well as being decent with a camera I can consult an agency of what they need for equipment for setting up an in-house photo studio and help get it set up.
and I’ve interned for a few months at a letterpress studio, so I know the basics of making plates and running a Heidelberg windmill press.
That, and in general beyond design I’m a tech nerd – so I’ve helped colleagues with their iPhones, Blackberries, laptops, TV’s, you name it. I’ve volunteered as projectionist at a small independent movie theater, done basic car repairs, welding, soldering… blah blah blah
You have to be careful though, you don’t want to be just “ok” at a lot of things, and not really good at anything, which is really easy to. I try to focus on the basics of design as much as possible before putting too much information on technical knowledge.
That being said, there’s a lot of benefit to specialization and finding a niche too – and has always been something I’ve considered. I just think my nature as a person leads me to want to do everything myself, so I don’t even know if that’s possible.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:07 am
stacy says:
I’m more of a jack-of-all trades. I’m a writer and Web designer by training, an SEM/SEO by necessity and a print designer because I learned the software.
Although the lure of working for a large advertising firm will always be there (big $$), I’ve always been happiest working for a small- to mid-size B2B. Because I like working for smaller companies, it is necessary to be able to do a lot of different things, using a lot of different software. (You never know what programs you’re employer bought right before hiring you!)
This has worked well for me. The pay isn’t as good as it would be with a larger company in The City, but smaller companies are more personable, more flexible and there’s never a shortage of variety.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Liz says:
Great subject, Niki!
So, I think that being a “jack-of-all” is one thing, marketing yourself as such is another.
My first couple years in the industry I worked almost 50/50 at both print and web design before moving into a senior web design position where my job then became almost exclusively web based. I feel like I am skilled at both, and confident working in both, but I think where a lot of designers who go back and forth trip up is that they are usually better at one than the other …but they represent both equally in their marketing, and it ends up devaluing them.
If I look at a designers portfolio and I see 10 awesome print pieces, they are perceived in my eyes as top of their game …however when I see 5 amazing print pieces with 5 “ehh” web design projects this pulls their status dooowwwwnnnn. Clients aren’t viewing this from a standpoint as another designer would where they understand how vastly different the 2 mediums are, they just see that half of the work in your portfolio is a little below par.
I have definitely chosen to market my studio in the web design niche. I have a few print pieces in my portfolio, but its the web work I push, it is the bulk of my income and print becomes this added bonus clients can get.
I love design in general, but it is web that really gets my blood pumping, so that’s why I have chose to focus on that more. By narrowing my scope, I am able to more efficiently stay up-and-up with emerging technologies, trends and advances in my niche, I’m able to speak more specifically to my clients about their web solutions because for me that is the meat… (i know, a weird analogy coming from a vegetarian, eh?)
October 16th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Infrastruktur says:
I don’t have much to chime in with on the conversation, but I love Prescott Perez-Fox’s reply. I think the ‘design’ industry (if it can even be called that), is too broad and international for there to be a consensus on what a designer is, or what designers are supposed to do and/or specialize in. In the freelance world, I guess either specializing or being a full service consultant for your clients might both have their benefits/disadvantages. I’m pretty sure it all boils down to personality, level of experience, tastes, overall ability, preferences, and of course whereabouts in the world you are conducting your design activities.
On a personal level, even if I do not specialize in a specific area, I at least desire to be knowledgeable enough in that area to be able to manage or direct the activities related to that specialty (on a project I am involved in). I’m still pretty new to the graphic design profession, which is why I can’t offer much in terms of personal experience on the topic…
October 17th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Paula says:
I have to admit this is a daily ailing problem for me. I am a trained print designer and at this time I have not started a career in design. I am a self taught web designer. I’ve been teetering the brink of starting a freelance career but I’ve failed to do so. My fear stems mostly from this factor. I don’t how to market myself. Mostly print design? Web design? Brochure design? Business card design?
I think that overall it’s a good idea to specialize but there are those rare situations where it’s a good idea to have more than one specialization. I believe that it’s probably a good idea to have more than one. On the other hand, a designer should not overwhelm his/herself. I agree with some of the other responses, it’s better to be great at two specializations rather than mediocre at four or more trades.
In the long run, you have to think about what’s better for you and last but not least, the client. If you really care about your client, you’ll do what’s best for their project: either outsource or create everything to the best of your ability (without burning out).
October 18th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Flavio says:
i’m still no-one but feeling a jack of all trades, both for knowledge and passion, i can’t resist to answer.
i think depends on what you aim to do, and i mean how big projects you would like to takle and in what kind of business you would like to fit.
if you are a freelance, you will never be able to refresh a site like nikerunning.com. you can maybe win the design, but you won’t have the resources to make the engineering.
So if you are alone/very small team, i think it’s best to be specialized, at least from my experience: 2 designers in a team with peer responsabilities, doesn’t work very much, there’s too much to trade, it’s much more effective being a design guru+code monkey: everyones does his best without tripping into the other.
If you think about it, being good at visualize something (mockup stage) is already a load of work (you have to know about interface, usability, mockup tools…), on this you add all the HTML+CSS stage, that is another great responsability the standards experts of W3C won’t fix (instead it will grow with the power of CSS3/HTML5). How could you stay on top of PHP/ASP/Ruby+database in the appropriate manner?
On the other side, if you like the medium sized-corporate world, it helps to be more rounded, assuming you want a supervisor role, because if you want to be a google-code-monkey, you already know what you like to do and that you need to be focused.
Being all-rounder helps supervising, because you can drive a cohesive design run by a team, as you can work on prototyping something for the designers for having a working techdemo/you understand the problems code-monkeys can run into and you can balance out things like evaluating milestons.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Kate McMillan says:
Such an interesting topic!
Starting out, I think it’s a good idea to dabble here and there – it gives you the real-world experience to learn how much you enjoy all aspects of the different specialties. And it’s a good idea to have some knowledge of how design works, soup to nuts… if only so that you can point people in the right direction if you’re not a good fit for them.
As you move forward into your career, you’re constantly learning new skills, and the question becomes as much about what you want to focus on (or not) as what’s in demand.
As a freelancer, I find that an important question is what kind of clients do I want to focus on, and then, what kind of skill set is particularly important to them? Keeping in mind what I want to be doing with my time, what problems I’m asked to solve often drives what skills I pick up along the way.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:41 am
paul says:
well, i work for a web design agency and we are expected to do it all! design well, code the site up using latest w3c complient guide lines as well as optimising the site for search engines.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:46 am