Below, we outline six good reasons why digital design will be increasingly in demand over the next decade and beyond; and why anyone who learns and develops these skills will have their pick of the best and most rewarding jobs.
This article was developed in partnership with Created; the online academy celebrated for its fully distance learning environment. Designed and delivered by industry leaders, Created’s practical and flexible courses provide you with the skills and personal development you will need to thrive as a creative in the 2020s.
1. Society moves online
It’s hard to imagine the lockdown would have worked in another era. From family fitness sessions on YouTube to business meetings on Zoom, the internet has been the glue that has allowed us to physically shut down large parts of society.
As a result, every business, big or small, realizes that it has to exist on the web in some form or another. And it’s not just a technical challenge; it is also a digital design. Quite simply, with websites, apps, and other services set to become more usable and attractive to a large audience, only digital design can provide the solution.
This is why, while some creatives, such as fashion designers, might lose their jobs right now, UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) designers remain in high demand and attract very large salaries.
2. Electronic commerce is growing
This need for a digital presence is more urgent in the retail industry. During the lockdown, most physical stores had to shut down completely, and e-commerce suddenly became the only game in town. Even as restrictions have eased, local closures and the general reluctance of people to enter busy malls continue to stifle physical sales.
And that’s not all. More fundamentally, people who previously hadn’t gone near digital shopping have now gotten used to it, and it is likely to stay. Which means ecommerce will likely continue to grow, even when Covid becomes a distant memory.
In short, any retailer that does not innovate online is going to die. Digital designers are therefore likely to be the most demanded by the retail industry, as every store and chain tries to rethink their digital presence in a way that makes shopping easier and more attractive to consumers.
3. Advertising needs to work harder
The decrease in trips to stores is just one of the societal trends that the pandemic has accelerated. What about fewer office visits too? This is another trend that is likely to persist, after the pandemic, and it all adds up to a big trend. People will spend less time in busy city centers and more together at home. Which means brands are going to have to work even harder to reach them, and again, this is where digital design comes in.
If people see brands like in-store promotions, posters and billboards less frequently, that brand will have to work harder and harder. Brands will not be enough to rely on proven approaches: inventive and imaginative strategies will be necessary for them to survive.
More than ever, brands will need to understand the customer and their journey and make physical and digital media work together in harmony. And that is essentially the job of a digital designer, who must see each task of a design project as part of a whole, and understand it as serving a more complete story. Only by fixing these small but important details will brands be able to cut the noise and grab people’s attention, both online and offline.
4. Streaming is growing
Few businesses have benefited from the lockdown, but streaming services have certainly benefited. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and others have experienced record growth and are currently pouring impressive amounts into content production. Which is great news for creatives around the world, even digital designers.
You might not be thinking about the relevant digital design for your favorite movies and shows. But he actually plays a huge role, in everything from crafting the title sequences to planning the set design, not to mention all the marketing and promotion that is increasingly needed in a confusing sea. screen content.
In short, digital design is a good way to enter the TV and film industry, whether you want to work as a digital designer or expand your skills in related fields such as motion graphics and visual effects. Either way, there are more opportunities than ever before.
5. Everyone is recruiting!
Want proof that the demand for digital designers is booming? Then just type “design” on any recruiting website right now, and you’ll see a wide range of high paying jobs popping up. Which, given that we’re in the middle of a recession, is pretty darn impressive.
At the time of writing, for example, The Guardian has 36 design positions in the UK, with salaries ranging from Â£ 20- Â£ 25,000 for a junior designer, up to Â£ 55-60,000 for a designer. experienced packing. How many other professions that don’t require a college degree can brag about it, especially right now?
Jobs that you can apply to with a digital design background include Graphic Designer, UI Designer, UX Designer, Product Designer, Social Media Designer, Virtual Reality Designer, Web Designer, Application Designer, Digital Designer. packaging, motion designer, print designer, interaction designer and more, as well as countless opportunities for freelance designers. It might sound like a bewildering array of titles, but it points to a basic truth: This digital design allows you to focus on the career direction that’s right for you, rather than a linear path decided by others.
6. Design stands the test of time
Finally, what about the future? Is digital design a skill that will help you have a career for years to come? We would say a confident âyesâ.
Basically, digital design isn’t about making pretty pictures; it’s about solving problems. And with the world facing an uncertain future, there will only be more problems to be solved, and therefore a greater need for digital designers in the future.
By 2050, the transition to a digital world risks putting many people out of work. We are already seeing automated stores without any retail staff. Drivers, perhaps even pilots, will be replaced with autonomous vehicles and delivery drones. Even much of the work of architects, lawyers and accountants could be taken over by artificial intelligence.
But there is one thing that computers find very difficult to do: think creatively. For that, you need designers, and we are therefore convinced that digital design is one of the few professions that you can count on to be sustainable.
Get started with digital design with Created
Created is a whole new kind of academy, committed to giving you the kind of skills creatives need to be successful in the real world. Its new UX Design Professional course was designed to reinvent your skills for today’s digital market. You’ll be able to practice executing digital design on any device, with essential industry feedback to keep you on track, as well as working, supporting, and collaborating with other budding creatives.
Taking place entirely online, these three-month and nine-month part-time courses are the perfect way to get started in digital design. Learn more at created.academy.