David Brotherton of Orlando is a graphic designer with over 20 years of experience in the industry. In the following article, David Brotherton discusses coming industry trends for the new year, what to expect in business, and how the landscape is changing.
The graphic design industry is in the same transition period as a lot of other industries. Pretty much anything that doesn’t have to be done on-site like manufacturing or services that require a physical presence is shifting to remote locations.
This massive shift in worksite location is going to change the entire landscape. Already, office buildings are being converted into housing putting people in the ironic position of working from home but living in an office. While this evolution isn’t exclusive to the tech industry, tech in general, and graphic design in specific is one of the sectors that are universally affected explains David Brotherton of Orlando.
Because, like so many other things these days, the transition is going along quickly. A large number of people who switched to remote work during the Covid lockdown are hesitant to switch back. Companies are seeing more productivity and employees don’t have to face a daily commute.
In the Beginning
David Brotherton of Orlando says that graphic design is no exception and in fact, may have been one of the leaders of the transition. Being entirely digital, there is no real reason to transition from one computer to another in a different location to get the job done. The only sticking point could be in not being surrounded by a team all striving for the same goal.
However, David Brotherton of Orlando says that this isn’t a major problem with Zoom and social media. This type of digital interfacing was already taking hold in the office so the transition to home was natural. Research is showing that more and more people are choosing remote work and that trend is increasing.
The Shift to Freelance
This shift from office work to remote work has opened people’s eyes to the opportunities available to them in the freelance world. David Brotherton of Orlando says that the average graphic designer makes around $50,000 with starting salaries much lower than that. Millennials are finding more and more that a shift to freelance work can bolster that income or in some cases, replace it completely.
David Brotherton of Orlando reports that nearly a quarter of graphic designers are freelance and that number is growing. The impression seems to be that it’s better to create a corporate culture rather than have to conform to an existing one. The precedent set by the big tech companies is hard to match by other, more traditional businesses. The only way to have a “nap room” is to work from home.
Even still, it may be a good idea to start with a traditional business right after school. This will help develop good work habits and teach the business end of graphic design. It’s not all about creativity and what design is best. David Brotherton of Orlando explains that all business involves interacting with customers and vendors, even in the digital marketplace.
Experience Matters Most
Flash and pizazz are all good and well, but nothing beats experience when it comes to the market value of a graphic designer’s skill set. With experience comes the ability to forecast shifts in the market and the knowledge needed to grab those opportunities as they come.
Into the Future
David Brotherton of Orlando reports that Moore’s Law may be slowing down but it’s not dead. The technological growth rate is still very high. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has arrived and is here to stay. AI will be integrated into more and more everyday devices until it becomes a staple.
The most successful individuals in the future will be those who embrace emerging technology and learn how to use it to empower a career in the corporate world or the ever-growing freelance economy.
Conclusion
David Brotherton of Orlando says that the world is evolving but that’s not exactly breaking news. It’s been doing that for 4.5 billion years. What would be strange is if it suddenly stopped. The most successful are the ones who know this fact and use it to propel themselves forward. There is no advantage in knowing something and doing nothing about it.
The future of graphic design is impossible to predict with any real accuracy. It will, without a doubt, incorporate a great deal of the latest emerging technology and will likely be a source of some of that technology. To ensure the future and its changes don’t phase out the employees, the workers must become an integral part. Or better, they must become the source.
