If You're a New Designer Feeling Lost, Read This
Honest advice for new designers trying to find their way.
There’s a lot of noise out there.
You scroll through LinkedIn or Twitter and see posts like “No one’s hiring” or “Do I even have a future in this?”—and it’s hard not to let that stuff get under your skin.
If you're just starting out as a designer, it can feel overwhelming. The tools keep changing, AI’s breathing down everyone's neck, and people seem more burned out than inspired.
So here’s something simple.
If you want to make this career work long-term, there are three things worth putting real time into: Your skills. Your craft. Your network.
That’s it.
I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is clear.
1. Invest in your skills
Learn the tools people are hiring for. That might mean Adobe. It might mean Figma. It might even mean Canva.
You don’t have to become a master of every tool out there. Pick one. Get good at it. Then move to the next. If you’re into 3D—lean into that. If you hate code—skip it. No one becomes great doing stuff they hate.
2. Invest in your craft
Make stuff. Every day if you can. Doesn’t have to be perfect. Doesn’t even have to be shared.
But the more you create, the more you learn. Look at work you admire. Compare it to your own. What’s missing? Be honest with yourself. Improve 1% each day.
That’s it.
You’re not chasing some massive overnight jump. You’re just building momentum.
3. Invest in your network
Find the people who actually hire designers—founders, marketers, art directors, team leads.
Say hello. Ask questions. Keep in touch. You don’t need to pitch yourself—just build a relationship.
If you’re posting your work regularly and staying in contact, people will start to notice. One day someone will say, *“Hey, we’re hiring”—*and now they already know you. That’s a completely different conversation than a cold outreach.
You’re not going to see results right away.
But if you keep learning, keep making, and keep showing up? You’ll find work. You’ll grow.
And one day, the things that used to feel impossible will just feel like Tuesday.
Stay in the game. Keep moving forward. You’ve got this.
