You learn so much by simply doing. From your first job as a designer to your most recent one, you’ve gained loads of experience that can’t be taught in a college or university. But in a digital age that guarantees the landscape is constantly changing, you also need to continue your education in some way to ensure you’re designing with the future in mind.
This is more than just going out and finding fresh inspiration in the world—it’s how you actually expand your skill set after you’ve gotten a degree, landed a job, and gotten a steady stream of clients. Maybe it’s schooling yourself on the ins and outs of social media platforms (for a mobile-first campaign like Mountain Dew) or familiarizing yourself with a totally new market for a brand (like Patagonia’s beer), but one thing is certain: the role of a designer has blurred lines. So whether you enroll in classes in person, take them online, enlist the help of someone who can teach you new software, read, join online forums, or even teach others your craft, it’s your job to stay a step ahead.
