Embracing Change: Shifting from Graphic to Software Design
Embracing Change: Shifting from Graphic to Software Design
Career switching can be a daunting transition in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape, but it’s also an exciting opportunity for creative growth and career evolution.
When I started my career in graphic design, I wasn't remotely considering pursuing a career in tech. There were a few areas I knew I wanted to dive deeper into than others, like branding and photography, but especially illustration, which pushed me to study graphic design in the first place.
Not long after that, I started freelancing in UI Design. Still, I spent a good two years thinking it was a temporary gig and that my specialization was going to be something else. Time and experience taught me that it’s better to allow exploration to happen naturally, in this case, a design field, before committing to something too soon or rejecting it, but without any relatable success story in this field, it took me longer to learn this lesson.
Fast-forward to the latest stages of my degree. I realized that software design would open up many doors in the future for me, but I had also accumulated many seemingly unrelated skills along the way. I was eager to leave it all behind and focus on UX because everything else wasn’t helpful—or so it seemed, but we'll get to that later.
A mindset shift
Whenever I interviewed graphic designers for entry-level UX roles or mentored those interested in making the switch, they usually focused on the tools and the technical skills. It’s a fair POV, especially early on, but tools and technical skills can be relatively easy to learn if you put in the reps.
In my case, I focused on changing my mindset about design. More specifically, going from ambiguous or biased design decisions to rule-based thinking. I was trying to “escape” the lack of clarity in the process and perception of the design itself. Personally, I didn’t like it at all when people judged design based on their personal taste, so it was an itch I needed to scratch.
This focus led me to immerse myself in the theory of software design. I read Material Design from start to finish in 2014, memorized the UX Laws, and read multiple articles every time I was about to start a project. In retrospect, this hunger for knowledge helped me feel more confident in my craft, but the act of studying theory on its own is something that anyone can do with enough time and patience.
However, the true mindset shift happened differently: Talking.
Through hundreds of client conversations at software development agencies, I started to notice that, despite my knowledge of the theory, my capability of "translating" stakeholder questions into tangible solutions mattered the most. Moreover, translation was a bridge for me to transform ambiguity and complexity into elegant solutions that would impact people's lives and businesses alike.
This is where I see real creativity shining, a mindset of seeing opportunities in problems and ultimately being able to execute this vision. Notice how different my mindset ended up being compared to when I was just starting?
The change of perspective doesn’t mean that the process was fruitless; quite the opposite, it was the root of my learning to shape my thinking. However, I can confidently say now that changing your mindset regarding your value as a designer is just as important as putting in the reps of technical skills. It’s all about maintaining a balance to hone your craft.
The litmus test to evolve
I’ve met countless graphic designers who feel helpless or frustrated without a clear path to transition. The reality is that, just like design itself, there’s not a single perfect solution. Everyone’s journey is different, and embracing non-linear careers could lead to much better adventures than having unrealistic expectations of a clear path right away.
I have mentioned in the past how my journey has been primarily self-taught. In fact, I didn’t even have any peers to geek with about the things I was learning until about five years in. There was a lot I didn’t know that I didn’t know. And yet, despite the unusual early career, I found myself certain of it.
The key? Embracing constant change with curiosity and a growth mindset. Unlike the Bic pen, software design is a dynamic field with continuous changes in tools, processes, and, most importantly, problem spaces, among many other things.
It’s important to mention that a mix of freelancing, software development agencies, and consulting has shaped my career. Hence, the exponential amount of changes. This helped me identify the skills I needed to develop and the industries I was most drawn to, which became clearer only with experience. Just like I would have never guessed that espressos go well with tonic water until I tried an espresso tonic, being open-minded pays off to wander just enough to get to know yourself better as a designer.
There will be situations in which a tool might feel frustrating. Maybe a particular skill like UX Research could seem pointless if there are expert teams dedicated to it. I wouldn’t blame you if you feel deflated by how the current hiring system expects entry-level roles to be filled with people with 3+ years of experience; the entire tech industry is undergoing a factory reset moment. In situations like this, I like to remember Noah Levin's words during Config 2023: "We adapt, we learn, and still… we design”.
Evolving without failing in the process
Still with me? Fantastic! Let’s talk about skills overlap.
Remember when I mentioned earlier that I thought all my skill development during university wouldn’t help? Well, I was wrong—kind of.
I haven’t used traditional printing techniques in ages, and my job doesn’t require any understanding of packaging design. However, design fundamentals have been a constant competitive advantage I can no longer ignore. I’m talking about skills like:
Color theory
Typography
Visual hierarchy
Gestalt principles
Imagery
These are all areas in which graphic designers excel by nature because we spent hundreds of hours doing exercises to develop these skills, with the intention of distinguishing good from great design and articulating this distinction. I'm not going to lie: Doing 100 unique designs with just dots or lines wasn’t my definition of fun, but the act of exploration allowed me to be better at judging design fundamentals.
In case you still have a slight doubt, I can highlight soft skills like concept definition, insight gathering, and the act of giving and receiving feedback — a topic I’ll be exploring next — all of which are skills that any great graphic designer should possess, yet we usually take them for granted.
That’s why it might seem surprising to see how more experienced tech designers coming from other backgrounds lack confidence in defining color palettes from scratch or selecting tasteful typography matchings. Graphic designers have amazing superpowers that act as a baseline for software design; we just have to embrace them and apply this knowledge in a new field.
Where to go next? That’s a broad topic on its own, but I would personally recommend starting with:
Color, typography, and visual hierarchy applied in UI Design, to put this knowledge into practice in a different medium. A course like UX Design Foundations at Uxcel would be a great place to start.
Interaction Design, to learn how design enables a seamless interaction between humans and computers. Codecademy offers an Interaction Design course that teaches the fundamentals online.
Design Thinking, to understand the non-linear process of going from empathy to idea and ultimately testing, found in different shapes and forms in almost any design team out there.
Learn by doing, using Figma to replicate well-known apps or websites. To dive deeper, you can master visual design for interfaces with MDS at Shift Nudge, learn advanced Figma techniques with Ridd at Figma Academy, and learn Joey Banks’ tips and tricks on Baseline.
Uncover the psychology of design through fun bite-sized learning at Growth.design
Put all this to practice with exercises like 100 days by Daily UI or use random challenge prompts at Sharpen.
Stay in the loop of the latest design news with Today in Design.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of learning sources online. If you have the opportunity to invest in learning, I would encourage you to look into the courses I’ve mentioned. Still, tons of free resources available nowadays can guarantee you'll have learning sources for many years to come.
Parting thoughts
Just like technology itself, software design as a discipline is constantly evolving. It wasn't the same 20 years ago when the iPhone didn't exist, and I'm sure it won't be the same 20 years in the future. But that's also the beauty of it. The constant change means you have to learn new skills and adapt your mindset to keep making an impact on humans interacting with technology.
The truth is that this journey is not for everyone, and the economic climate isn’t helping, but if you’re willing to overcome these obstacles because you’re naturally curious about the impact of software on people’s lives, you’re in for a great ride! I've tried not to sugarcoat things, but I also wanted to remind you that you already possess superpowers that make you a great candidate to bridge the gap and evolve, just like many of us have managed to do over the years. I know I wouldn't have it any other way.
Learning shortcuts
AI and the future of design: Designing with AI by Noah L, Jordan S, Andrew P, Vincent van der Meulen
On the verge of a pivotal moment for technology, Noah Levin and the Diagram team shared the challenges and opportunities AI brings to the design field.
On Non-Linear Career Paths by Mindaugas Petrutis
Modern careers are anything but common, and embracing a non-linear mindset is becoming increasingly relevant as the tech landscape evolves rapidly.
The Beginning of your Design Career by Julie Zhuo
From Software Engineer Intern to VP of Design at Facebook, Julie recommends starting your product design career by focusing on improving your craft and execution skills.
It's always more fun to learn with others than doing it alone, so don't hesitate to reach out on Threads @laurieesc if you want to continue the conversation. If this article has been helpful, share it with a friend!
Over and out,
Laura ✌️