What you should learn before becoming a designer

How do you usually process the assignments you are given at school, or even your own free time?

“This professor likes this kind of style, so maybe I should design it this way.”
“How far do I need to go for this assignment to become portfolio-worthy?”
“What kind of approaches will everyone else take?”
“I feel like I’m using the same approach again.”
“I’m going to sleep all day once this assignment is over.”
“I picked up way too many part-time shifts.”
“What should I do after class?”

The list could go on forever. Every student approaches assignments and campus life while carrying different thoughts and concerns.
Just a few weeks ago, I was a student thinking about the exact same things.
Now that I’ve become a designer as a new graduate, I sometimes look back on those days and realize I see them from a completely different perspective.

I majored in landscape design, so I mainly studied the design of exterior spaces rather than buildings themselves. Most assignments involved urban development, exterior environments, and gardens.
For each project, we had to submit required materials such as drawings, models, and presentation boards — plus whatever additional ideas we wanted to contribute. Some students created incredibly detailed drawings, others used 3D modeling for their presentations, while some built striking full-scale installations. Every person approached the same assignment differently.
The variation in how individuals solve a single design challenge is one of the most valuable things you can learn in school. And when you start looking beyond your own specialty into other disciplines and departments, you realize there is more information and inspiration than you could ever fully absorb. Once you enter the professional world, you begin to understand just how precious that environment truly was.

You may already feel the same way, but I believe the greatest privilege students have is time.
Compared to working adults, students generally have more freedom with how they spend their days. Especially if you are preparing for job hunting or already in the middle of it, you probably do not have as many classes as before.
That is why I think it’s important to experience as many things as possible while you still can.
There is no single correct way to use your time, but simply going outside and walking around can lead to discoveries you would never make while staring at a screen at home.
Of course, gathering information online is essential today — and there are experiences unique to the internet as well — but if something can be seen, touched, or experienced directly in the real world, it often becomes a far more meaningful memory.
People remember experiences felt through all five senses much more deeply than information seen only with their eyes. The more experiences you accumulate and remember, the richer your personal stock of ideas for design becomes.

Now for something a little more practical. How are you using the design tools that support your assignments — and will likely support your career for years to come?
Do you immediately open design software on your computer and start working?
Honestly, while you are still a student, I would not recommend relying on that approach alone.
First, use plenty of paper and sketch as much as possible. The digital tools only need to be used for the parts you present to your professors.
Sketching is the clearest way to preserve your design process.

While you are a student, these accumulated sketches are just as important as experience itself. Looking back at them later also helps reinforce the reasoning behind your final designs and gives you confidence in your ideas.
Ideally, your process should be about 80% sketching and 20% digital tools.

Are you trying to master just one tool?
Of course, becoming highly skilled with a particular tool is valuable, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, if possible, I recommend touching a wide variety of tools, even if only at a basic level.
Simply understanding what kinds of functions different tools offer can be extremely useful.

The reason is simple.
Once you enter the professional world, it is very rare to work on a project entirely by yourself. Companies tackle projects as teams, and responsibilities are divided among many people. Naturally, that means a wide variety of tools are used throughout the process.
Having at least some familiarity with different tools allows you to adapt much more flexibly.

When using a tool you have never touched before, you often end up searching for instructions while working — but the hardest part is not even knowing what you do not understand yet.
That is why casually experimenting with tools beforehand can be surprisingly valuable. Even a vague sense of how a tool feels to use can make a huge difference later.

Having that intuitive familiarity dramatically affects your speed once you begin working professionally. And in reality, most tools are ultimately learned through actual work experience.
More than anything, practical experience is what truly leads to growth and skill development.
That may be difficult to fully understand until you enter the workforce yourself, so for now, focus on what you can do right in front of you. There is no need to overthink or intimidate yourself.

I was reminded of something a senior creator once said:

“There will always be younger creators who are more talented than you. I just make things so I can enjoy a good meal. That’s really all there is to it.”

The more students pressure themselves, the more cornered they can become.
Of course, some people are motivated by pressure, but setbacks will inevitably come at some point — and that is when your true character is tested.
I believe the most important qualities for designers and creators are the ability to think broadly, stay flexible, and above all, accumulate a wide range of experiences.