THREE must-haves for a career switch to design
Career switching can be daunting for just about anyone. It is a step out of your comfort bubble, and despite the countless snippets of information you have gathered and nuggets of wisdom you have gleaned from many, you might still feel uncertain.
This is even more so for creative industries, like design, particularly if you are planning to switch away from a completely unrelated line of work. The design umbrella itself covers a broad spectrum of professions, and perhaps you may not know what resources to look for, or where to begin.
Yet, design roles are one of the most attractive careers in 2024. Demand is only projected to increase further, with companies placing greater emphasis on marketing, branding, and other positions where creatives are sought for their talents.
A study by DesignSingapore Council found that till 2030, the design workforce is expected to grow by 25%, with an additional 17,000 designers needed across Singapore’s economy in the next decade. Locally, a senior designer can earn upwards of $70,000 a year based on figures from Indeed, with the potential to earn even more depending on their experience.
Design is also a relatively flexible career, with the ability to transition into roles across different industries. It is no wonder that many are vying for a career in design.
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Here are 3 must-haves for you to get an edge over the competition and kickstart your bright new design career.
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1. Identifying Your Niche
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There are many kinds of designers, ranging from user experience designers to product designers and more, and each requires their own area of expertise. Before immersing yourself into a career in design, it would be good to have a rough idea of what kind of design you would like to focus on sooner rather than later.
A clear goal would enable you to specialise much earlier, dedicating your time and effort into gaining knowledge and skills in that line of work. Given the stage of life you may be at when undertaking this career switch, time may well be of the essence.
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To learn more about the different kinds of design professions, dive into research online, or reach out to others already working in these roles to hear their experiences. After all, what better way to get an authentic view of a profession than to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth? If you are more of a hands-on person, try sourcing for taster courses online, or in-person.
These courses are more touch-and-go and can be around 12 weeks long on average, but provide you with a brief overview of what each design role encompasses, and what individuals in these lines of work may have to deal with every day. From this, it may be easier to formulate an opinion on which design job is most suitable for you.
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Of course, if you are still not entirely sure which role suits you best, and you can afford the time to explore, it is fine to dabble in different areas of design until you discover what works best for you. A career switch should never be a hasty, uninformed decision, and you should take the time to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of your prospective path.
​​2. Design Education
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If you have long since stepped out of school, you might be thinking reluctantly, “Why do I need to go through this again?” Understandably, getting an education like a design diploma for example may sound like a massive time sink, coupled with the time loss from starting a different profession anew.
In truth, obtaining this diploma can be an extremely worthwhile investment.
Having a diploma opens doors for you professionally, as it vouches for your competence and credibility. When prospective employers see that you have a design diploma – be it a graphic design diploma, a user experience design diploma or any other kind of design diploma – it immediately informs them that you have attained a solid foundation, and this may net you more opportunities, especially in companies, who may sort potential candidates based on the qualifications on their resume.
Some full-time design diploma courses can even be completed under 2 years, which is a small time commitment compared to the greater career returns in future. Gaining a shiny new qualification aside, a design diploma course arms you with the hard skills and a comprehensive understanding of design principles necessary to stay afloat in the design industry.
Of course, you could always attempt to pick these up through self-learning. However, this can take far longer, and you would have to locate resources on your own.
A diploma course has the added benefit of being more structured, which allows you to learn in a more systematic way compared to self-learning, while keeping you on task. The access to dedicated lecturers, fellow learners and specialised resources also grants you greater support towards your professional growth and development.
For those currently working a full-time job, you might be concerned about being able to balance a diploma course alongside your current schedule.
Thankfully, design schools offering diploma courses have become more aware of the growing demand from working adults to upskill themselves, and some have started offering evening or part-time classes, which may be more ideal for your tight schedule.
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Looking to find out more about the different design courses available? Let us send you a brochure!
​​3. Design Portfolio
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As the saying goes, “A picture speaks a thousand words” – as does a design portfolio for a designer. A design portfolio is critical to any designer, since it explicitly showcases the range of projects you have worked on, and allows prospective employers or clients to get a better sense of your abilities, and artistic direction, in the case of more artistic design professions.
This begets the question – how should you make a design portfolio? Trailing off our previous point, enrolling in a design diploma course would require you to work on your own projects as deliverables, which can serve as samples to use in your portfolio.
Otherwise, to grow your personal portfolio, consider developing your own samples.
Depending on the design profession you are looking at, this can range from case studies and your solutions to address them, graphic design samples, or anything creative you have produced in your own time. You never know – it could be a personal project that earns you your new position one day!
As for presenting your portfolio, it would be ideal to have a website to feature all of your past works. Free website-building tools like Canva and Wix can help you whip up an attractive landing page in minutes.
This not only makes it easier for others to look through your portfolio, but the appearance of your website also lends itself as a testament to your basic design abilities – so do not underestimate its potential, and ensure that it looks clean and presentable.
In conclusion…career switching to a design role has its hurdles, but is little more complicated than amassing knowledge and experience, creating a portfolio, and possibly enrolling into a diploma course to pick up some hard skills and a certification.
To learn more about design diploma courses available, you can also check out here. We hope that this guide has paved the way for you to get started on your design journey!
