Board Meetings Feature Graphic Design's Resurgence
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the graphic design industry is undergoing a significant transformation. The era of remote work and digital-first experiences has brought about new trends, software demands, skillsets, education, portfolio presentation, and professional attitudes.
Software Demands
AI-powered design tools like Figma’s AI features and research analysis platforms are increasingly integrated, mainly to automate repetitive tasks. However, designers are now adopting a mature approach, critically assessing AI's actual value rather than blindly adopting it. Traditional creative and strategic decision-making remains irreplaceable by AI.
Required Skillsets
Future-ready designers need a broader, interdisciplinary toolkit. Beyond strong visual design skills, they require expertise in spatial and sonic design, motion graphics, data interpretation, UX/UI strategy, and AI fluency. The industry expects creative thinkers who can lead and adapt, rather than only producing static visuals.
Education Levels
The shift is toward more comprehensive education that combines traditional graphic design fundamentals with emerging areas such as UX design, human-centric design, and AI tool usage. Designers must be lifelong learners who update skills continually to keep pace with technology and shifting client expectations.
Portfolio Presentation
Static, purely visual portfolios are becoming insufficient. Portfolios now need to demonstrate strategic thinking, adaptability, and the ability to work with dynamic content including interactive design, motion, sound, and AI-assisted projects. Showing a range of skills—conceptual, technical, and strategic—is critical to stand out in today's competitive environment.
Necessary Attitudes
Designers post-pandemic must embrace continuous evolution, discard outdated tools and mindsets, and prioritize creative leadership over technical routine. The attitude that “design is only visual” is outdated. Designers must be proactive, open to interdisciplinary roles, and avoid complacency to remain relevant.
Job Market Trends
Demand is high for mid-to-upper-level jobs with many years of experience. Employment in the graphic design industry has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many graphic designers now being referred to as brand designers. Motion design is a specific job in demand, but not as commonly required as in the early 2000s.
Portfolio Essentials
When hiring, employers prioritize the strength of a candidate's portfolio over their educational background. In a portfolio, clients want to see presentation skills, especially in a remote setting using tools like Google slides or PowerPoint. Real-world projects, either from internships or freelance work, are highly valued. A portfolio should be easily accessible, either through a portfolio site like Behance or a PDF.
Professional Behaviors
Consistency, punctuality, and hard work are essential on the job. Ghosting should be avoided in the work environment. Asking for help and questions, putting in the hours, and leaving ego and entitlement at the door are important job behaviors.
Portfolio Content
Good projects for a designer portfolio to have include fliers, publications, social posts, branding/corporate identity, packaging, signage, vehicle wraps. A portfolio should be available both digitally and in-person for review and discussion. It should showcase a wide range of applications to demonstrate versatility in design for multiple platforms.
In summary, the post-COVID graphic design landscape demands strategic, adaptable, interdisciplinary designers who leverage AI as a tool—not a crutch—combine strong UX and emotional insight, present dynamic and diverse portfolios, and cultivate growth mindsets to thrive in a complex, evolving industry. Curiosity and originality are valuable attitudes for creative positions, making effective strategy and solution design possible.
- As technology advances, graphic designers are increasingly adopting AI-powered tools like Figma’s AI features for automating repetitive tasks, while also refining their critical thinking skills to determine the actual value of AI in the design process.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, the graphic design industry is shifting towards more comprehensive learning that encompasses traditional graphic design fundamentals alongside emerging areas such as UX design, human-centric design, and AI tool usage, necessitating designers to be lifelong learners.
