3 Funny Debunked Graphic Design Myths

Graphic design is an amazing career. It takes years of experience, patience, determination, passion and creativity to do. The sad truth is that many people often overlook it, so much that it’s funny. Yes, I’ve researched the 3 most common graphic design myths and have taken the time to debunk them myself… along with adding some humor in the form of fake-captioned photos. Even if you’re not a graphic designer, you’ll enjoy this.

Myth: Graphic design is or should be cheap.

One of the most common misconceptions of the graphic design career is people thinking that it’s cheap. The fact of the matter is: it’s not… and it never should be. A typical graphic designer goes through 2-4 years of college to hone their skills and learn the proper methods, principles and techniques. It’s that added credibility, practiced skills and experience that make the price. We’re professionals. Would you really trust a doctor who only charged $5 for a visit, no questions asked? Probably not because first of all it sounds sketchy, and two, the higher price ensures you’re going to get professional services and guaranteed high quality results. We have to pay bills like everyone else, too. Plus, just like any other service — you get what you pay for. Almost every time, the quality of the end result can easily be measured by the amount the designer was paid.

Myth: The only computer graphic designers use are Macs.

Let’s start with some perspective by a similar stereotype: “All Philadelphians must love Philly cheesesteaks.” I’m sure there are some people from Philly who really don’t prefer them. It’s the same kind of assumption for us as designers with Macs. Yeah I use a Mac, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only computer graphic designers use. It’s 2016, which means it’s really hard to find something that doesn’t cross-platform these days. There’s nothing stopping a designer from using a PC. In fact, they’re cheaper, more affordable and you’ll get the same results. The only reason a graphic designer might use a Mac is the same reason anyone would use anything — preference.

Myth: When you own Photoshop, you can call yourself a designer.

Creating the most reused GIF on Reddit or being able to use the Clone Stamp Tool in Photoshop doesn’t give you the title of being a graphic designer. It takes years of experience, proper techniques and principles to give you the “design eye,” passion and drive for long days and seemingly endless weeks of projects filled with hundreds of rounds of client feedback to make sure what you create is perfect. The fact is, just knowing how the program works and making basic things aren’t enough to make you a graphic designer. What makes Helvetica a neo-grotesque sans-serif typeface? Have you kerned and tracked your type properly? Did you use the 5 principles of design? Does your client want a font family that includes ligatures for their brand? I could go on, but there are billions of knowledgeable tidbits that make the graphic designer who they are — and it’s not dependent on the software they use.

After all, we’re professionals and we love what we do. We charge a high price because you want a high-quality result. Most of us prefer Macs, but it doesn’t mean all of us use them. And just because you know how to work Photoshop and make some popular GIFs… it doesn’t make you a graphic designer yourself. Graphic design, just like any other post-college profession, is a dedicated career path that takes constant practice and endless learning. Just because I helped replace my father-in-law’s transmission in his Jeep, it doesn’t make me a mechanic.

Kyle Christensen

Kyle is the Brand Director at Red Branch Media.

Kyle leads our Graphic Design Department at Red Branch Media. His ability to manage incoming tasks, collaborate with the design team, hit deadlines and keep our file storage system well-organized has helped to shape the design department clients love today. While he’s away from the branch, he spends his time playing drums, video games, cranking the latest emo, pop-punk and screamo songs on Spotify, drinking local Omaha brews, and enjoying life with his wife. Kyle has a BASA with a Concentration in Graphic Design and a Minor in Art History from UNO.