🌟 “A designer can design anything,” — have you ever thought that?
It’s a surprisingly common assumption.
Take illustration, for example. It often gets lumped together with “design,” but in reality, it’s a completely different skill set. Some designers can illustrate, sure—but whether they’re good at it, or whether they can draw in a specific style, varies a lot. Some specialize in graphic design, others in UI, branding, or motion. The word “designer” covers a wide range of disciplines.
👩💻 Imagine this: a team leader says, “Let’s fill the next campaign with fun hand-drawn illustrations—it’ll feel more friendly!” The idea might be solid. But if this task is handed to an in-house graphic designer whose expertise is layout or typography—not illustration—you might not get the outcome you had in mind.
In fact, moving forward with the wrong fit can lead to a final product that misses expectations, and even force a costly rework. No one’s at fault—it’s just a mismatch between the task and the skill set. Failing to recognize that can derail even the best intentions.
🌈 And even among designers who do draw, each has their own strengths. Someone who excels at sleek, minimal linework may not be able to produce soft, whimsical characters. And vice versa. Illustration styles are like handwriting: deeply personal and not easily swapped at will.
Design, as a field, is wide and varied. Understanding the specific expertise behind each kind of designer is key to building realistic plans and getting the creative results you’re aiming for.
In tomorrow’s post, we’ll take a closer look at the different types of design specialties and why it matters to know the difference.
(to be continued)