The Real Reason Graphic Design is Undervalued by EVERYONE

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Angry Designer – Graphic Design, Freelancing, Branding & Creative Business Podcast
Episode: The Real Reason Graphic Design is Undervalued by EVERYONE
Date: October 21, 2025
Hosts: Massimo & Sean

---

Episode Overview

This episode dives unapologetically into the crisis facing graphic designers: the persistent undervaluing of design as a discipline. Hosts Massimo and Sean explore why, in a world of democratized design tools and ubiquitous templates, “everyone” claims the design title—yet so few actually practice real design. The discussion unpacks not only external perceptions (clients, bosses, tech) but also how designers themselves may contribute to devaluing their craft by settling into complacency and becoming mere “pixel pushers.” Throughout, the hosts champion a return to problem-solving, strategic thinking, and continuous learning as the true heart of design.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Designer Identity Crisis

• Main Insight:
  The episode opens with a bold truth—everyone thinks they're a designer nowadays: clients, bosses, anyone with Canva or a cousin in art class. ([00:00])
• Industry Shift:
  Cheap tools and slick templates make design accessible, but true design thinking remains scarce.

  “When tools and templates and titles make everybody feel like they’re a designer, but so few actually design… what if the biggest challenge isn’t technology but confidence without competence?” – Massimo ([00:00])

2. The False Sense of Design Ability

• Problem:
  The hosts recount how non-designers (sometimes even within agencies) suggest fixes or solutions they don’t understand, confusing execution (making things pretty) with expertise (solving problems).

  “Everybody thinks they're a designer until they’re not. And when the project goes to hell, it falls back on you.” – Massimo ([00:00])

• Tech’s Role:
  AI, Canva, and other tools have created a “false sense of ability,” leading people to believe design is easy, thereby undervaluing trained designers.

3. The Commoditization of Design

• Undervaluing Expertise:
  Because clients and colleagues mistake surface-level “pretty” design for experienced problem-solving, proper design is further commoditized.

  “People are confusing expertise with execution... good designers become undervalued.” – Massimo ([10:10])

• Shifting Portfolio Perceptions:
  Designers are caught in a catch-22: “20 years ago, my portfolio was too novice, now it’s too good and ‘we can’t afford you.’” ([11:03])
• Design as Production:
  Many designers settle for making clients happy, becoming “pixel pushers'’ instead of problem solvers, which only reinforces their replaceability.

4. Designers’ Complicity and Complacency

• Internal Responsibility:
  The episode challenges designers to look inward, questioning whether even seasoned professionals have become comfortable just executing, rather than thinking strategically.

  “Designers are just as much to blame in this mess as the customers and as the tools out there.” – Massimo ([14:02])

5. Client Dynamics & Pushing Back

• Balancing Act:
  Real designers must offer strong, well-articulated opinions but know when to yield, always documenting their recommendations to protect themselves.

  “It’s okay to have your opinion, and it’s your job to make it heard. This way, you’re covering your ass.” – Massimo ([17:06])

• Client-Customer Distinction:
  The ultimate goal isn’t just making the client happy, but creating effective solutions for the client’s customers.

6. Evolving Beyond Pixel Pushing

• Strategic Design:
  Massimo reflects on his own evolution from hands-on execution to higher-level art direction and strategy.

  “My skills have slipped in one sense but elevated in another… now I bring value by helping people solve problems, by strategizing.” – Massimo ([22:13])

• The Path Forward:
  Designers can future-proof themselves by moving beyond mere execution—embracing strategy, business acumen, and branding.

  “AI is only going to replace you if you are a commodity designer, doing what you’re told.” – Massimo ([24:13]) “We need to switch from being a maker to an educator, an expert, a partner.” – Massimo ([26:05])

7. Core Takeaways and Calls to Action

• Stop making clients happy for short-term wins; focus on solving real problems for their customers.
• Continuously learn (branding, business, strategy) to ensure relevance.
• Ask “why” before designing “how.”
• Use tech strategically to elevate solutions, not just speed up production.
• Educate clients throughout, so they recognize the depth of what design offers.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the universal “designer” myth:

  “Everybody has Canva, everybody thinks they're a designer… but just because you made something look good, doesn’t make you a designer.” – Massimo ([07:07])

• On the designer’s real job:

  "Making things look pretty isn’t necessarily our job." – Massimo ([15:06])
  "You’re not attacking it differently. Real designers need to start asking 'why?'" – Massimo ([19:54])

• On survival in the age of AI:

  “AI is only going to replace you if you are a commodity designer, doing what you’re told.” – Massimo ([24:13])
  "We need to switch from being a maker to that educator, to that expert, to that partner for the customer." – Massimo ([26:05])

• Pithy sign-off:

  "Don’t just design what looks good, design for what works." – Massimo ([27:02])

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Opening: The “Designer” Identity Crisis Unpacked
• 03:20 – Real client example: Options that look different but solve nothing
• 06:34 – The democratization of design tools and the rise of “faux designers”
• 11:03 – How client perceptions of the profession have shifted over the years
• 14:02 – The comfort trap: How designers themselves contribute to the problem
• 15:06 – “Making things look pretty isn’t our job”—why intent matters
• 17:06 – How to communicate with clients, protect yourself, and still push for real solutions
• 22:13 – Massimo’s personal evolution from execution to strategy
• 24:13–26:05 – How to future-proof your design career in the AI era
• 27:02 – Defining the new standard: “Don’t just design what looks good. Design for what works.”

---

Final Messages

• The true value in design is problem-solving, not just making things pretty.
• Complacency—internally and externally—fuels the undervaluing of design.
• Real designers differentiate themselves through strategy, curiosity, business understanding, and continuous learning.
• The future of design calls for less “pixel pushing” and more partnership, education, and leadership.

Stay creative and stay angry.

---

Hosts:
Massimo: “My name is Massimo.” ([29:09])
Sean: “My name is Sean. Stay creative and stay angry.” ([29:10])

Transcript

[A]

Everybody thinks that they're a designer. Your clients, your bosses, your colleagues. But when the project all goes to hell and turns into a flaming bag of crap, they all point back at you. Congratulations. You are now the designer again. In this episode of the Angry Designer podcast, powered by Wix Studio, we're unpacking the designer identity crisis. When tools and templates and titles make everybody feel like they're a designer, but so few actually design. This isn't about bad clients or bosses or bad advice. It's about the blurred line between design thinking and just thinking you're a designer. But what if the biggest challenge to designers isn't actually technology or graphics services, but confidence without competence? What happens when you've been designing for years but you've actually stopped thinking like a designer? Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter. Anger management for designers, where the information hits harder than bad feedback on a Friday night. Let's go. Week two of beer. What I've realized is the. I'm gonna have to take up IPAs.

[B]

What did you want to trade?

[A]

No, no, no. This one. Yours is the coolest can ever. You gotta, like, look at this. It's like a Space Invaders can. Is that not the coolest? Yeah. Oh, no, it doesn't. Remember, they're focused. You have to hold it back here.

[B]

I gotta do.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

I gotta do it here.

[A]

Yeah, because the irony. The ip Very cool. Are much cooler.

[B]

They are, right? Maybe that's why I gravitate to them.

[A]

I don't know. I don't know. Because. Yeah, I just got a boring lager and it was cute. It was like, beyond the pale. And it's like the daily Pilsner newspaper.

[B]

Not as Pilsner.

[A]

Cheers. I don't know. I thought something different here.

[B]

Well, now you got me thinking. Maybe.

[A]

See? Oh, that's really good. Yours is good, too.

[B]

Yeah, but it's an ipa. I kind of know.

[A]

I know. All right. I'm kind of digging this whole. This whole beer angle thing, you know? This has been a pretty fun day.

[B]

Despite the technical difficulties that you. You had with saving Illustrator files.

[A]

So, like, literally, it felt like from the moment I came in, I felt like I was trying to solve problems. And I feel really bad because I walked into, like, how. So I walk in just to give you guys some concept. I was a seagull manager this morning. I. I flew in and I. All over some employees, but in the nicest way possible. And then I flew away. But, I mean, I walk in, I had my, you know, My bag and everything. Hey, everybody. And then I, I see them working on a site that I knew was critical to have a page up by Friday. And I was like, what are you guys doing? Is everything okay? Yeah, they're like, yeah, yeah, yeah. We're just showing them, you know, two different concepts because, you know, client like this layout, you know, so now we just want to give them options. And the problem is both options in essence were the same. And what I mean by this and what I mean by this is they looked different and they were trying to find style ways to make them different, but neither was actually solving any of the problems on the page. But I mean, everything from content flow, right? Like, there was this one picture, it's great picture, nobody knew what it was, so we had to add a second element to it to make it. To make it a little bit more. Connect the dots.

[B]

Right.

[A]

There was this other section that showed a whole ecosystem, you know, with four components to it. But they were only showing one component to this. This four part ecosystem was like, well, let's maybe make it animated, you know, and as you select on one, you know, then the description comes. So I was giving a completely second set of options to the customer that actually solved these problems. You know, like, ecosystem had more. This other thing was you didn't know where it was. Right. And the thing is, it's like they were spending time, you know, I'm making them look different.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But neither were really solving the problems. Right. Okay. And I think that's what caught me off guard on this one. Right. And what I realized is, you know, like this, this is a common theme that I think I'm seeing a lot of. Right, right. And I felt like that, you know, that boss who just kind of goes in and chirps, you know, and, and gives. Because literally I, I just went in there and. Okay, granted, I might have a little bit more experience, but we even had, we had a listener, you know, go in and say she sent us message that her boss, you know, who absolutely has no design experience, no, you know, like no sense of design.

[B]

Right, okay.

[A]

And was basically telling her how to do her job, how to design, you know, how to fix things up, you know, and, and the problem is, you know, when she was giving her opinions on it, right. Because she was a strong opinion, which is, hey, that's. I built a career being a designer. Yes, you just gotta know how to do it. But, you know, when she gave her opinion. Right, right. Like, and the boss realized his idea didn't work instead of Admitting that. Okay. I, I, I, I, I didn't know what I was doing. He was basically pointing the finger at her being like, well, you're difficult to work with. Oh, you're, yeah, right. And, and this is that whole thing where it's like, you know, he thought he was a designer. He thought he could, he could, you know, do things, and he can't. And this is a common theme that we're seeing. Right. And then, of course, then when it, when the designer does come in to rescue the day, they're anything. No. They're deemed to be difficult. Right, right. So this is that whole idea that, you know, everybody seems to think that they're designers until they're not. And, and, you know, and this is where, you know, we're constantly being caught, you know, whether it's, it's customers, whether it's, you know, internally, externally, you know, oftentimes, even in an agency setting. Yeah, right. You know, people who aren't designers think they're designers and give designers advice, which I know kills. Yeah, right. And it's, it's toxic, but maybe it's not meant to be toxic. But I think that's what I want to talk about today is this whole notion that, you know, everybody thinks they're a designer, but so few actually design. Right.

[B]

I see what you're saying.

[A]

See where I'm going with this?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

It's a little convoluted, but it's, it's, I think it, it's.

[B]

So what you're saying, basically, it's not just the clients and it's not just the shitty boss.

[A]

Well, I think the problem is, is quite much bigger than bigger thing. Yes. Sometimes it could be us, and it involves every, I mean, I mean. Okay, well, let's say, let's face it, the world right now is pretty crazy. Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

AI makes everybody think that they can design. Okay. Which is ridiculous. Right. Somebody's got canva. They, they think they're a designer. Right. You know, somebody with a laptop, you know, and, and they're like, you know.

[B]

Somebody with a cousin, somebody with a kid.

[A]

Kid who, who took art class. Everybody's a designer. Right. And, you know, the problem is, you know, the technology has really democratized, you know, tools, design tools, to the point where now anybody can use them.

[B]

Everybody has them. Anybody can use them.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Think they could use them.

[A]

Yes. And that's it. Right, right. It's giving people this whole false sense of what design actually is. Right. And, you know, like how, you know, how hard it is to consistently Keep telling people, just because you made something look good, look nice, so it doesn't look like it's from fucking Microsoft paint, you know, 1998. It doesn't mean you're a designer. Yes. Just make you made something look good. Right.

[B]

You could be an artist.

[A]

Maybe you're an artist.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Not far from that. Right. But again, it's. It's what's making people think that they are. They can do what we do just because they focus on that end craft, that end product, which is, I think, the challenge. Right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

With that being said, it's giving people this false sense of ability. Okay. And this is.

[B]

Oh, that's good.

[A]

Hear me out. Okay. Like, and. And, hey, my daughters are guilty of this. Right. They will open up an app on their phone, and they will, like, start, like, adding in, like, a sticker button here, a little flashing icon there. They'll add a title, this, that. So then when I'm like, dude, how do you do this? And I'm trying to do it on our Instagram, they're like, and I thought you were a designer. But it's true. Right?

[B]

Like, I mean, yeah, people.

[A]

People now have all these new choices to make, you know, from, you know, the clothes that they wear, the shows that they watch on a high level. But then you get more, you know, minutiae here. Yeah. You know, between their social apps, between their work apps, they're having more options to make things look pretty.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay. And so now that people think that they can make things look pretty, which oftentimes it's not. Okay. We've seen PowerPoint decks where they think they can. They know what they're doing.

[B]

Ye.

[A]

They're not. Right. So they think that they can do it, which now makes them have this false design sense. Okay. And they think design is now what they're doing, and that's what they are. Right. So right off the bat, they're, like, knocking us down a notch, right? By saying, oh, you know, Sean's been doing it a little while longer, but shit, I just got off the Canva, and, yeah.

[B]

Wow, this is really good.

[A]

I'm just like, sean. And it's like, so this is horrible. Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

This is an actual problem. Right. And I think this is why so many of these people chirp about it. Right, Right. And this even goes within the agency. Like, they see designers in larger agencies or organizations when they're coming in and seeing designers, you know, do their thing on their computers, they're just like, oh, yeah, they're just pushing buttons. They're pushing pixels now. I've got an app that can do it. So they don't realize that there's more to this than just the high level being a pixel push. Right. Because again, of all these tools, because of people's, you know, perception of what designers are doing. You know, I do think that it's, it's, you know, people are confusing what designers do and they're, you know, confusing expertise with execution.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay. And so because of that, design has lost its way, or at least it's meaning. And it's not meaning, you know, it doesn't mean the same thing as it used to mean, unfortunately, because now everybody is that much more accessible to it. Right, right. So again, what happens ultimately in the end is, is good designers, you know, become, you know, undervalued. Right. You know, they're not paid enough. They. People think that they're, you know, overpriced and, you know, oftentimes they think that they overlook us. We had somebody that left us a great message the other day and, and he said, he goes, you know, 20 years ago, you know, when, when I showed my portfolio, people would say, oh, your portfolio is too, too novice. You know, we can't, we don't have a job for you. It's. It 20 years later, he's like, oh, your portfolio is too good. We can't afford you. We don't have any work for your high end expertise.

[B]

So it's like, yeah, like, what do you want?

[A]

There is a path. But the thing is, you know, your worth as a designer, you know, really lies in the value that the other people put.

[B]

Put into it, into.

[A]

Into design itself. Right, right. And if people are just stopping and thinking that design stops at, you know, being a p pusher, making things look pretty well, then that battle's pretty much lost.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because how are you ever going to convince that person that there's more to what you do other than puxing p. Other than pushing pixels.

[B]

Pushing pixels.

[A]

Yeah. But here's the gut punch. Okay? So when I say that everybody's a designer, but so few design.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I'm not just talking about customers. I'm not just talking about, you know, the customers that we always rag on or even the people in the agency that are doing this to designers, I feel so many designers aren't actually designing. And I think that's. That's.

[B]

There we go.

[A]

Oh, that's the scary part. Okay, and now a word from our sponsor.

[C]

All right, designers, let's cut the bull. How many times have you had a Killer website design only to watch it fall apart because of code or developer.

[A]

Telling you, no, no, no.

[C]

Or maybe you've held back from web design altogether, thinking it's just too complicated and too technical or totally out of your wheelhouse. Either way, it's time for a change. Wix Studio is designed for designers, removing the barriers that limits your designs. Whether you're tired of developers watering down your ideas or too intimidated by the technical side of web, wix Studio puts the creative power back in your hands. No code required. With a drag and drop interface that feels designer intuitive. Plus no code, animations and even AI powered tools, you can create fully custom websites that match your vision. Every pixel, every detail.

[A]

And if you're worried about the learning curve, don't be.

[C]

Wix Studio is designed to feel as intuitive, intuitive as your favorite design tools. Some designers here even say more. So that means you can jump right in and focus on what you do best. Designing badass brand aligned websites that'll take your business to the next level. So whether you've had enough of developers holding you back or you're ready to finally step into web design, check out wix studio.com and take control. That's wix studio.com go and take back.

[A]

Web design for graphic designers. Most designers. Okay. Just, most designers have been the same role for a long time. Okay. And when you're in that same role for a long time, you get comfortable. Yeah. Okay. There's always an easy answer. And the easy answer is to just do what makes people happy.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Okay. And it looks cool, makes them happy, you know, gets them paid, this, that. Right, Yep. That's part of the problem. That's a huge part of this problem. Right. Because again, just because, you know, the designers are coming back, you know, day after day, year after year, five years, 10 years, and they know the tools better than anybody else. That doesn't make them a designer, sadly. Yeah, right. And this kind of goes back to what we were talking about, that, you know, I think designers are just as much to blame in this mess as the customers and as the tools that are out there.

[B]

Yeah, you're right. I could, I could totally see how somebody who would be, you know, 20 plus years on the job, you know.

[A]

Don'T get comfortable, doors just feed away.

[B]

From your desk and kind of go on autopilot and stuff like that. But I don't know, like, there's some times I think, yeah, you just, you take that easy route, you know, without having to unpack your, your brain or anything like that. You Just clean it up. But.

[A]

But making pretty. Making things look pretty isn't necessarily our job.

[B]

That's not exactly. You're absolutely true. You're absolutely right with that. And I think you and I are probably on the same page. You have taken this to a whole new level. But it's like the. The. What the customer wants. You know, the. You want this piece, whatever it is, to work.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

The best possible way. It can not just make it look good, because sometimes the customer doesn't even know what they want.

[A]

Well, fair enough. But how many designers do you feel are trying to make our customer happy?

[B]

Yes. And there's that. Yes.

[A]

And they're not actually pushing, thinking, listen, this isn't for you. This is for your customer.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So just because you're like, oh, I know he's going to like it if I give it to him. Could miss the mark altogether with the customers. Maybe Their. Their sales have slumped and they're like, oh, I got a better design idea. Let's try this. This is hot. This is that nobody's ever thinking about that end user, their customer. And that's part of the problem. Right. Again, if they're just taking orders, if designers are just taking orders to keep everybody happy. They're not designers. No. They're. They're literally pixel pushers. They're not solving problems. Right. Right.

[B]

But what if a client comes to you and says, I want to banner stands chock full of shit.

[A]

You remember this happens all the time. Right? Right.

[B]

This is the kind of thing we did pare it down, you and I, kind of.

[A]

You.

[B]

You storyboarded it or wireframed it out to make sure that it was. But it still had a ton of stuff.

[A]

More than. More than usual.

[B]

More than what we want from a banner stand.

[A]

We managed to cut it down. Ultimately, you will hit a brick wall. This is true.

[B]

That. And that's what I'm saying is like, sometimes the client and the client looked at that and. Perfect. That's exactly.

[A]

Even though you chop down.

[B]

Yeah, we took it down. But, yeah. So, like, you wouldn't. We would never stand with something like that.

[A]

No, no.

[B]

So sometimes the client just, well, kind of has to trump you a little bit.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. And again, this goes back to kind of the advice I gave to. To that girl earlier on is it's okay to have your opinion. Okay. And it's your job to make your opinion heard. Yes. Because this way you're covering your ass.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

In the process.

[B]

Which is exactly what you did.

[A]

Yes. Yeah. But we don't ever want to come across as being difficult to work with. Right. And that is the key that designers have to realize our job. Of course, ultimately the client pays the bill. In the end of the day, yes, ultimately it is their decision and we can only push so far, Right? If you make your, you make your opinion hurt, you let them know that, listen, this is, this is the right answer. This is why. Give them the reasons, okay? If they still don't want to go for it, you can't huff and puff, right? You have to then be like, okay, I told you, I made my claim, I made my stance, but now I'm going to give you what you're asking for, because there it is. For whatever reason, okay. They are not budging. Right?

[B]

So say a designer goes in and just takes the original version of that bandstand. It puts all even more crap, not thinning it out, and just does what the client wanted. Then it doesn't work. Then the client gets mad because it's like, well, this didn't work. So.

[A]

Exactly. You're not like, hell yes. People walk by our banner all day long, right?

[B]

This way you can say, look, we gave you a solution that would work. So at least you've done the legwork.

[A]

If you do that and just always, you know, pander to whatever request that they, they ask. Right. You are basically commodit in your job. And designers, that's what we're guilty of.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Because too many designers for the. They take the easy way out and they treat this like it's production. Right. And they're just, it's much easy, non confrontational. Right. Give it to them, they're happy. Isn't that what it's about?

[B]

It's making, making the customer happy.

[A]

Yeah. But it's not. It's about making their customer happy, which then in turn makes your customer ecstatic.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Which makes you the expert. That's right. And that's what they're going to keep coming back for you for, right?

[B]

Yep, absolutely.

[A]

So. So, I mean, not all. I mean, you know, there still is a real. There's a difference between real designers and fake designers. Right. And again, you know, like, this is the part that we need to slowly start making people realize is part of our job. Right. Because real designers, I'm sorry, you know. Yeah. There's a component of making things look good, like we just talked about.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But ultimately, you know, you're there to try to solve a problem.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

Just like that site this morning. Yeah. Both looked good. Both Pages looked good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Neither one really, really got the message across. It didn't, it didn't solve the problem that the customer had. And they're. Okay, well, we'll hear, we'll, we'll, we'll change the font, we'll change the images. Looks better. Sure looks different.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But you're not attacking it differently. Right. So that's why ultimately, you know, I felt bad for how I approached it, but it was in the heat of the moment and I had to jump, I had to pounce on that one. Right. But again, it's, it's like, you know, real designers need to start asking, you know, more why, you know, why are we doing. It's not how do you want this done?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But why are we doing this? Because that, why will dictate how you're going to do this afterwards. Right. Because again, you know, customers, they don't necessarily think of their audience. They think of themselves. They think of the here and now. It's up to us to think of the bigger outcome that we're trying to create. Right. So again, we need to stop making customers happy for the sake of making them happy and getting that paycheck. Okay.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Yeah. And again, you know, ultimately, you know, it turns out with that webpage, yeah, they, they, they wanted, in essence, they wanted both in the short term. They wanted the quick, easy solution because there's only two days to go.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But they wanted the animated part, they wanted the click through. They want. Because they realize that's the bigger picture.

[B]

That's.

[A]

We don't have the time to do it this week.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But in three or four extra days, we can do it and we'll do it for next week. So it did, it did make a difference in that case.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That's awesome.

[B]

See, and there, there's a good, there's a customer who was flexible and is willing in the meantime, while knowing full well that they're going to be getting something else, the correct version, you know, to, to, to let it rip.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If you will.

[A]

Well, and you have to, you have.

[B]

To in that case, instead of, instead of not doing anything altogether in a situation.

[A]

It's funny because in situations like this, it's, you know, I, I've been doing a lot of, like, soul searching lately. Not gonna lie. Not gonna lie. Wow. And my hands on design pixel pushing has really gone downhill quite a bit lately. You know, we hang out, you know, and talk to people, you know, Alan Peters, James Bernard, and, you know, like, Scott Fuller. Like, these guys are fantastic at what they do. And, and I'm a little jealous, but I'm not doing it hands on anymore. Right. Even you, you are far better designer than me now. 100. Because you've been in it and doing it on a regular basis.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So, I mean, my skills have slipped. There's no question they've slipped. Okay. The thing is, I like what happened this morning. They've slipped in one sense, but they've also elevated in another.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay. And maybe this is why I'm not fearful of AI generating better looking images than I could do.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Because the value that I bring now to customers. Yes. Isn't necessarily making things look good.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It's definitely the art direction.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

To help people like this improve, you know, whatever it is they're creating to solve those problems, to dig deeper and help customers strategize. That's kind of like.

[B]

Yeah, dude.

[A]

Like that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's what I've always wanted. So granted, I may not be pixel pushing anymore and making things look pretty. I can give you recommendations, we can dig through things. I can take them apart a lot more. So I think I'm okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In the sense of I'm comfortable with the fact that I, I feel I've evolved now to that next level. I'm not saying I'm a superhuman by any means.

[B]

No, no, no. If I. Yeah, you are.

[A]

But I'm sorry. But, but I, I, I understand that evolution that, you know, the jump I made.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And you know what it does. And people aren't necessarily coming to me being like, hey, I need to make this look pretty. Can you help? They're like, hey, we have a problem. You know, what do you think we should do? Or this ad isn't performing. What do you think we should. And they're coming to me for that.

[B]

Extra level thinking, why we. It looks great. It looks great. I can't understand why. That's the stuff. That's the, that's the kind of shit. And see, this is, and back to, to going off on a tangent here. Back to the designer, the complacent designer. I think if you're not expanding what you're doing here, you're, we're always learning.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, this is a great job for being able to keep learning every day.

[A]

Every day.

[B]

Every day I can learn something new. Which is, which is good. But if you're just sitting here going, yeah, right. You know what I mean? And not, and not pushing that, which is, I think is what you did. Yeah. You're not doing the pixel pushing anymore. But you've gone on to that next level.

[A]

To that next level. Levels of life. And I think this is the opportunity all designers should be doing. Yeah, right.

[B]

It's there for us. There's no shortage of places on the Internet that you can't find this stuff.

[A]

Well, and. Exactly.

[B]

Angry Designer is the best place to.

[A]

Find the best place for this kind of stuff. But it's true, right. I think all designers need to start understanding that, you know, AI is only going to replace you if you are a commodity designer. If you are doing what you're told.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Then obviously somebody can come in and take your job, or tech can take your job, or someone can come in and just tell you what to do, because you're just. You're just. You're a commodity at that point. Right. We need to learn how to ask better questions. Okay. Which is. Which I can't stop doing, unfortunately. It's like. It's just like a curse. Okay. And, you know, but this way, you know, we're trying to ask these questions, though, so we can, you know, actually understand the problem. Not. Not to just try to get quicker answers.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. To fill the time or whatever.

[A]

Yeah. Let's figure this out. Right?

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And then this way, you know, you can use AI, not. Not to, like, you know, help protect you, create the images so you can create images faster, like. Like everybody else is doing, but to actually, like, superpower you. Right. And to be your strategic partner. Right. To be that extra, you know, mindset that you. Or to. To be that extra. I don't know, how do you want to put it? To help you go through the design thinking process.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay. In trying to figure out what is wrong with the customer's business, their problem, their marketing, their brand, all that kind of stuff. Right. These are the things we need to do. You know, we need to have designers not just deliver results to the customer, because then they're just executing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But include them in the process. You know, show the process. Actually show them why you're doing what you're doing. Educate the customers. Okay. Because again, all of a sudden, they're like, holy shit, I never thought about that. Right. As opposed to. No, no, just make it blue. I like blue. Yeah. We want to basically switch what we do from. From a maker. Okay. To that educator.

[B]

Right.

[A]

To that expert, to that partner for the customer. And that's what. That's what designers today need to try to elevate themselves and evolve to.

[B]

That's right. That's the differentiator. Differentiator between, you know, the pixel pusher. That's going to be going to be obsolete.

[A]

Absolutely. Right.

[B]

Is. And that it's. The strategic thinking is going to be the way to go.

[A]

And it doesn't mean that we're not going to design.

[B]

We mean we're not going to pick.

[A]

That bullish, if you want to call that.

[B]

That's the thing. If that is like the, the banner stands we talked about, there is going, going to be some of that where the client is dead set. There always will be, there always will.

[A]

Not even that. But that component of the job is never going to change even if the tools do.

[B]

Right, right, right.

[A]

Ultimately, as a designer, we're still going to be responsible probably for making things look good.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Not just, you know, but also work good.

[B]

It's not just the look.

[A]

Yes. The work. Exactly, exactly.

[B]

That's perfect.

[A]

Okay. Not the best English, but it's true. Right, how about this?

[B]

Me work good.

[A]

Don't just design what looks good, design for what works.

[B]

Oh, there it is.

[A]

There you go. That's a little bit of jobism there. Okay. You know, we need to, we need to basically make designers learn strategy. Yeah. Learn branding. You know, learn, learn how to learn how businesses work. Right. We need to stack our skills.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. And, and literally become that partner that's not just great at executing, but it's incredible at ideation, at problem solving, at strategy. This is what designers need to evolve to. And it's kind of. And if I could do it. Yeah, anybody can do it.

[B]

It is the elusive part of the, the business that I, I find the most fascinating now as I, as I get older. I mean, how many times we've, we've done all the pixel pushing and all this stuff and it's great. I do like that. But, but there's something about, you know, why it's like we all like to take apart.

[A]

I know, I know. Right?

[B]

This is the kind of, this is what it is. It's like, okay, what's the psychology behind why. Right.

[A]

And how's this going to work? What's it going to take to make.

[B]

Things work in that sense?

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

That's a fascinating.

[A]

And I do think that, you know, in this case, the future, this is how we will future proof ourselves as designers. Yes. Okay. And then we don't have to worry about people coming down on us for doing our job, because now our job isn't just, you know, know, being a commodity designer, pushing pixels, being what we're doing what we're told. We are actually providing value to our boss. Yes. To our customers. To our customers. Customers. And that's what makes a designer an invaluable part of a company. A partner.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. And then AI won't be able to touch us. It won't touch us because we'll be using it.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

So I feel that's what the future holds for designers, and this is how we all have to evolve. So again, this way. So then, you know, everybody thinks they're designers. You can actually be one.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. Yes.

[B]

A real one.

[A]

Absolutely. All right, everybody.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, you know where to find us. Hit us up on YouTube. Hit us up on Instagram. I hope you enjoyed this. And drop us a line on our website. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter. Anger management for designers.

[B]

Oh, yes.

[A]

My name is Massimo.

[B]

My name is Sean. Stay creative and stay angry.

[A]

It. Sam. Ra. Sam.