It's a common scenario nowadays when browsing job portals—every company seems to want a "jack of all trades" who is also a master of all. The question is: with the amount of expertise companies expect from candidates with just 2-3 years of experience, are they looking for a Designer or a Director?
In film production, for example, a director is expected to have knowledge of lighting, camera angles, which equipment to use, and more. If they know writing too, it’s considered an added bonus. Similarly, in agencies or corporate offices, HR teams often expect a candidate to be a DTP operator, a designer, a conceptualizer, a strategist, and now, with the latest trends, also a UI/UX and social media marketing specialist.
In my experience with social media design, I've noticed that the role of "Social Media Marketing Specialist" has become a catch-all, much like the subject of Home Science. No offense—there are many good specialists out there—but this is the reality of the market. I've come across many people who, when they don’t have a clear direction or want something different, simply declare themselves social media specialists.
But what do they actually do? I’ve dealt with people who have no design sense, whose feedback consists of just two phrases: "It's good to go" or "It's not in line with our expectations." They often can't even distinguish between different font weights like regular, bold, or extra bold, thinking they're entirely different fonts. This field has become one where anyone can claim expertise—just talk confidently, and you're in.
On the other hand, I have a wide range of experience—knowledge of print media, digital media, execution, events, storyboarding, and 3D visualization. While I may not be proficient in 3D software or tools like Figma and Adobe XD, I have the experience and sense to know how things should be visualized and executed. After 11 years in the field, I have the intuition that comes with experience. Just because I’m not an expert in UI/UX software doesn’t mean I don’t understand UI/UX design.
The problem is that companies now expect candidates for a single post, like "Graphic Designer," to do everything—DTP work, design, direction, client meetings, and more. This approach needs to change. There should be a differentiation based on experience. Someone with 2-3 years of experience will naturally have less knowledge than someone with 10-15 years.
If a company truly needs a UI/UX specialist, they should hire for that specific role. The issue is that our industry tends to label anyone who knows the software as a "Graphic Designer." A DTP operator, an Art Director, and even a UI/UX designer all get lumped under the same title. We need to differentiate these roles more clearly so that the job titles and search keywords reflect the actual requirements. This would not only make job searches more effective but also allow companies to hire the right person for the right job.
#GraphicDesigner #Storyboardartist #HiringProblems
I've got bad news.
That "superman" graphic designer you're looking for?
It doesn't exist.
It's simply unrealistic to expect one person to be a master of UX/UI, branding, illustration, motion graphics, and more all at once.
The truth is, design is a team sport.
Once you embrace collaboration, you'll realize that the collective expertise teaches you nuances and brings out creativity that no single super-talent can capture.
So should you stop searching for the perfect fit?
Of course not. Hiring standout designers is magnificent. But remember, building a strong, mixed-skill team is often where the real magic happens
#DesignTeam #Collaboration #UXDesign #UIDesign #GraphicDesign #CreativeProcess #DesignThinking #Teamwork #Hiring #DesignCommunity #Creativity #Branding
