Supercharge your design career: the 5 soft skills you need to master

When it comes to career-defining skills in the design world, the spotlight often falls on technical mastery: the ability to nail composition, manipulate colour theory, or wield the latest tools like a pro.

And these things are critical: after all, there’s a reason 88% of freelancers believe ongoing learning and upskilling is essential for keeping pace with industry changes and future-proofing their careers.

However, there’s more to the story when it comes to long term success. Communication, emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills are what set you apart, and will ultimately help you form lasting client relationships, navigate tricky feedback, and keep pace with a rapidly evolving industry.

Here are five critical but ‘soft’ skills every designer should embrace to build a lasting creative career:

01. Adaptability: the key to staying relevant

In today’s market, the only constant is change – so treat adaptability as part of the job description. New tools, fresh trends, and shifting client preferences mean that what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.

The most successful designers are the ones who are curious by nature. They stay sharp by exploring new creative tools (yes, even AI), but also keeping up with industry trends by subscribing to newsletters, and following peers and constantly learning – whether through experimentation, through YouTube or exploring the best social media platforms for designers.

Adaptability and a continuous growth mindset ensures your style never stagnates; the most exciting designers aren’t afraid to try something new but are comfortable evolving.

02. Clear and confident communication

Design is about problem-solving, but it’s also all about the people. Even the best creative solutions fall flat if you can’t explain your choices clearly, confidently and kindly: so communication can make or break a project.

Communication doesn’t just mean speaking to your clients; it means setting clear expectations for the project from day one. Once you’ve established a solid understanding of the brief, share your working hours, preferred feedback methods and turnaround times with the client. A little clarity goes a long way.

And during the project, continue that communication with clear scope documents and defined feedback milestones. They’re a great way to build trust with clients, and trust leads to repeat clients.

03. Resilience: bouncing back from unexpected setbacks

Designers often pour their heart and soul into their work, so negative feedback can sting.

But to be a great designer, you have to accept that not every project will be an instant hit with the client. You will get notes. You will have off-days. The trick is learning how to bounce back, and separate critique from your self-worth.

Feedback from clients who don’t speak your creative language can feel harsh, but it’s important to really listen to what they’re trying to say, maintain perspective, and not take it personally. Feedback is just part of the process, not a judgment of your talent.

To keep your creative confidence up, find what helps you reset best. Whether it’s taking a mid-project walk or run, venting to peers in a Slack or Whatsapp group, or simply stepping away from the screen, keeping yourself grounded can help build resilience and set you up for sustained success.

04. Collaboration: working well with clients and teams

Even if you’re freelancing solo, outstanding design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. As a designer, you’re collaborating with clients, stakeholders, developers, printers – the list goes on!

Each group has their own expectations, communication styles, and sometimes even time zones. Designers who thrive are those who treat collaboration as a true partnership.

That doesn’t mean being a pushover; rather, it means that you have to show empathy for others involved in the project and negotiate differences. Whether someone’s being difficult or simply disorganised, your ability to stay calm, respectful, and proactive makes you stand out.

Remember, your technical talent matters, but your reputation as someone people want to work with is pure gold.

05. Knowing your worth and owning your value

Confidence isn’t reserved for CEOs presenting keynote speeches and pitch decks: it’s essential for designers when it comes to pricing, boundary-setting, and making business decisions.

Especially for freelancers, understanding (and articulating) your worth is a game-changer. Don’t mistake confidence for an ego trip: it’s about communicating your values and boundaries to clients in a way that is clear and helps them understand what you bring to the table.

In practice, that might mean professionally pushing back on unreasonable or unrealistic requests, sticking to your regular hours, or holding firm on rates that reflect your skill level.

Confidence also fuels creativity, often creating the space to try out bold or unconventional ideas and experiment with new techniques. The bottom line? Know what you bring to the table, and don’t be afraid to take up space.

In an industry as dynamic and competitive as design, creative talent gets you noticed, but soft skills build your career. Designers who thrive long-term are the ones who have invested in their adaptability, communication, resilience, collaboration skills and confidence as much as in building their technical know-how.

These qualities will help you build better relationships, land better clients, and enjoy a long-lasting creative career. So if you’re looking for an edge, start by asking: how can I level up the way I work with people? That’s the key to success.

When collaboration goes right, great results happen. See the winners of the Brand Impact Awards 2024 for examples of brilliant design.