Have you ever doodled a dress idea on a piece of paper randomly? Or thought a website could be brighter? Or wished a room looked cosier if you could have your way? If you've had these thoughts, you might be thinking like a designer.
Design is all around us. It's in the clothes we wear, the apps we use, the restaurants we dine in, and even the games we play. It's about making things look good and work well. Moreover, the world of design is getting bigger every day. In fact, it's growing by 25% each year!
So, with so much happening in design, do you have what it takes to join the fray? Let's find out if you've got the special touch to stand out in this exciting world!
Personality Traits Of A Successful Designer
As a college student, are you at the crossroads of making a career choice? The OCEAN personality model can guide you in understanding if you have the right traits to flourish in your career.
So why wait? Let’s dive deeper and guide you towards realising your true potential as a future designer!
Openness
Are you drawn to the world of design? Designers are generally highly creative people and often display high levels of openness. This trait allows them to embrace diverse perspectives and ideas, fueling their creativity and innovation.
Embrace this openness as you pave your way as a successful designer. By fostering openness, you will be better equipped to understand and explore various design perspectives, leading to more innovative and unique creations.
Conscientiousness
Being conscientious involves being meticulous, organised, and detail-oriented. It is crucial to identify creativity in children, to help bring out their sense of design and to teach them to be organised from a young age.
In the design world, designers typically score average or slightly below average on the scale of conscientiousness. And that's not a bad thing! It can actually be helpful for new designers. It means you can handle sudden changes or challenges more easily. Your ability to adapt to new situations quickly, which is a big plus in the fast-paced world of design. This way, you can keep up with the demands of the job and grow your career.
Extraversion
Children with great design sense often like to share their ideas with others. This is called extraversion and designers generally rank high on extraversion, meaning that they rely on external stimuli to be happy, such as people or exciting surroundings. As a designer, working well with others and sharing your ideas is indeed important. It helps you get feedback and make your designs better. A good level of extraversion is also helpful in maintaining relationships with your clientele.
While sharing ideas and getting feedback is crucial, so is spending time on your own to let your creativity flow. Being quiet has its own advantages too. It allows you time to think deeply and come up with creative solutions.
Agreeableness
As a designer, it's important to work well with others and understand what people need. Much like highly creative people, good designers are great team players and really understand what users need. This helps in creating designs that deeply resonate with the audience, exceeding expectations.
However, here balance is the key . While it’s good to make sure others are happy, don’t forget about your own needs and goals. It’s important to listen to feedback and be willing to make changes, but also make sure you’re happy with your work. This balance is what makes designers successful, helping you and your team do well in your design careers.
Neuroticism
Keeping neuroticism at bay is often not easy for highly creative people like designers. In fact, research suggests that, in some cases, neuroticism and creativity go hand in hand. That said, high neuroticism might negatively impact your design career. Whether you’re crafting visual concepts, planning interiors, designing costumes, or developing user-friendly digital interfaces, you can’t let anxiety or impatience hamper your creative flow. The essence of design lies in exploration and innovation, and a calm demeanour will help you through it.
Collaboration is an important aspect of a designer’s role. It requires patience and clear communication to transform client visions into tangible designs. Don’t let your emotions cloud your understanding. You should recognise that design is a matter of personal perspective, not every project will be a success, and feedback can sometimes be challenging to handle. Make sure to stay resilient and keep your creative spark alive despite challenges and setbacks!
In addition, here are two other traits that are essential as a budding designer -
Innovative
Innovation is an important personality trait of a creative person like a designer. If you thrive on change and eagerly await the next big trend, you're right where you need to be. It's captivating to see how trends seamlessly transition from one sector to another. A style that's a hit in fashion, like colour block or ocean-inspired themes, soon echoes in web, graphic, and interior design.
You don’t have to be the one setting the trend, but having the ability to spot and embrace these shifts is crucial. This keen, innovative eye ensures your designs consistently resonate with freshness and relevance, keeping you and your work relevant in the design world.
Social
Ever heard of the phrase, "It's not what you know, but who you know?" In the design world, it's a bit of both. While it’s important to identify creativity in children to help build a strong foundation, it is equally important to build and nurture relationships. If you can create and cherish genuine connections, not just as a ladder for your career but as a meaningful network, you'll find doors opening for you.
It's about mutual growth and learning, where your connections are not just contacts but a source of inspiration, feedback, and support. So, as you hone your design skills, remember to also invest time and sincerity in nurturing relationships within the community.
To Sum Up
Did you check off every trait of a successful designer? Great! But remember, the world of design isn't just about your skills or the latest trends, it's deeply influenced by your passion, vision, and desire to innovate and create, all of which define your unique personality. Don't choose a career in design based solely on its appeal, the influence of acquaintances, or your proficiency in technology. Take time to understand your true self, uncover your hidden potential, and make your career choices based on this self-awareness. A career aligned with your personality is the sure shot formula to success and happiness in life.
If you are eager to bring fresh ideas to the table and make an impact, then you're already on the right path. There is no limit to what you can achieve. Now, with the world as your canvas, how will you paint your design story?
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