Graphic Design is dying
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- yuekit0
It's exactly the opposite, graphic design has taken over everything. It would be like saying book design was dead when the printing press was invented because they were no longer created by hand by people with lifetimes of training. In that respect the bigger shift in graphic design was probably when everything went digital which happened decades ago. Methods always change, you have to keep adapting.
Also go back and look at the design of 10-15 years ago -- it's probably not as good as you are remembering.
- monospaced5
Templates and filters? Graphic design is so much more than websites and deliverables. The rise of all this mediocre design does not signal the end of the design, it just obscures it.
- Right. Just because design has become accessible for the masses, does not mean their isn't a market and appreciation for outstanding design.ETM
- In the old days there were few designers and they typically catered to larger businesses and brands. That remains.ETM
- The web created a need for a lot of low and mid level design for low and mid-level customers. But it's matured, and services have filled the void.ETM
- You can't lament the loss of basically a temporary or fliud situation.ETM
- Well said.bainbridge
- jtb267
I've seen a rant like this two or three times a year, every year for the past 10 years.
- I've never lost business to a template.jtb26
- Same as with 'print is dead', 'TVCs are dead', 'radio spots are dead', 'professional photography is dead' ... bla ba bla. Whatever.Continuity
- Pro photography is dead now too? Jesus. Wish someone would have told me I just spent two days at a shoot.jtb26
- I know, right? Teh instagramz are making everyone pros!Continuity
- So much angst, so little time.weirdname
- scarabin4
if you do the sort of design that can be replaced by templates, then yeah, sure. i'm guessing this market would be something like mom and pop shops, who don't have any money.
good identities and advertising campaigns for larger entities still have to be designed though, whether it's for corporations, or films, or commercial products, media or whatever...
- get an agency gig and you'll never have to worry about itscarabin
- yeah big companies with lots of money still pays lots of cash for graphic design. But all the market under, they are cheaper than ever.Ben99
- ^ but you'll die inside a little very dayGnash
- and thats the most of our clients as graphic designer, the local shops and businesses, we dont all do work for Nike and Apple.Ben99
- but you can act like itmonospaced
- maybe start making and selling templates?scarabin
- You have to be valuable. Just creating a superficial design is no longer valuable to a business. What else are you bringing?ETM
- If you can't do that or answer that, then might be time to consider another career.ETM
- Peter2
Everything needs design. There's no shortage. You just got to find applications for it.
I hear you on the "everyones's a designer", though.
But you're better than that, and them.
- fadein11-5
- Maaku0
Same thing for lettering and the thousands of designers doing the same recycled brush pen calligraphy....with a drop shadow, or outter glow, or outline, or stroke, or textured???
- BK2
Does this mean I can go home now?
- utopian0
Partially on life support.
- Bennn0
You can learn graphic design for free : https://www.udemy.com/introducti…
- bainbridge2
There will always be bad designers and bad architects and bad engineers. There are too many companies and too many products and too many stores.
Not every company has access or funds to hire the best and many times the CEOs have no idea what good design is or they have bad suggestions that ruin designs.
Rather than complaining, do the best you can do and seek out those who appreciate your effort. Good design can be taught in schools and supported by the government (like the Netherlands for example), but there are bigger problems to deal with too.
- bainbridge0
People always appreciate good design and good food, etc, but we often settle for mediocre too.
- Hayoth0
Thats why their is an industry push for strategic design, design thinking and business strategy.
- formed-1
Everything is going to die. First we have conglomerates buying up or making one forumla and repeating (Corepower, Spa Envy, etc., everywhere, paying pennies to their staff but have a massive marketing campaign and cheaper prices), next we'll have AI that simply eliminates professions that require skill.
Better save your pennies! The only way to survive is to have enough wealth to live off others that don't (income properties, etc.).
- hotroddy0
Everything is dying but there is still money to be made. You just need to specialize.
Why hire a LAWYER if you have legalzoom.com?
Why hire an ACCOUNTANT when you can do it at turbotax.com?
Why hire a VIDEOGRAPHER when you can shoot and edit on your phone using a million free apps.
Why do you need a retoucher when you can retouch your own photos on your phone?But I agree... asking someone if he knows to build a website sounds similar if he knows how to use powerpoint. And Wix.com advertising free custom websites on TV doesn't help our industry either.
- monoboy0
Professional work is being commoditised because people are expensive. We all want more, faster, cheaper.
It's the free-market way.
The only way to win is to make sure you don't have to work to earn. Using money to make money instead.
Otherwise, it's gonna be tough out there.