Lines, Layers, and late nights: What it takes to be a Designer

For most people, the idea of becoming a designer sounds dreamy. Artsy Pinterest boards, aesthetic colour palettes, that perfect Instagram grid. And yes, all of that exists. But what people don’t see is the effort behind the elegance.

"Design is not just how it looks and feels. Design is how it works." – Steve Jobs.

Design is something which opens up a person’s mind and leads a person to think in ways which a person might have never explored.

Let’s be real. To outsiders, becoming a designer sounds like vibes — Pinterest boards, aesthetic reels, cool tote bags, black outfits, Moleskin notebooks, and iced coffee.But no one talks about the crying-over-fonts part. The 37 open Chrome tabs. The “this looked better in my head” breakdown. Yeah. That part.

If you’re wondering how to become a designer, know this: it’s more than just choosing a career path

—it’s choosing a lens through which you view the world. You begin to see stories in textures, possibilities in shapes, and beauty in the everyday.

It’s not always easy. The journey is filled with self-doubt, endless edits, unspoken expectations, and sometimes, silence where you hoped for applause.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep creating. Keep exploring. Keep feeling.

Because design doesn’t ask you to be perfect—it just asks you to be present.

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What attributes are required to become a DESIGNER?

1. A Designer Needs Curiosity:

Before anything else, a designer must ask questions. Why is this shaped like that? Why does this colour work? Why does this logo feel powerful?Every day, I find myself analysing the tiniest details—from the curve of a leaf to the layout of a poster on the street. Curiosity is our greatest tool.

Asking questions is one of the most important attributes of a designer, not just a designer but in general life too—a person needs to ask questions, needs to be full of curiosity and that’s how a person finds his way and path in life.

This curiosity is the first step in understanding how to become a designer.

2. Discipline Over Just Talent: People think creativity just flows like magic—but honestly? It’s sleepless nights, multiple drafts, and a LOT of Ctrl+Z.

You have to show up even when inspiration doesn’t. Real growth happens in those moments when you want to quit, but you refine again anyway.

Some days you feel like the main character. Some days you’re just a side character staring at a blank canvas with zero braincells.

Talent? Great. But consistency is the cheat code.You keep showing up, even when your vibe is off, even when Canva crashes, even when your professor says, “Hmm... interesting concept.

”Discipline is a key ingredient in how to become a designer who lasts in the field.

3. Criticism is Fuel:

Not everyone will love your work. That’s a fact.But learning to take feedback without losing your spark? That’s growth. I’ve cried over critiques. But I’ve also grown stronger because of them.It’s all part of shaping your voice.Every designer will hear criticism. Some of it will hurt.But learning to listen, to take what helps and leave what doesn’t—that’s a strength.Good feedback doesn’t break you. It sharpens you.

Understanding how to become a designer also means learning how to transform feedback into a stepping stone.

4. Inspiration is Everywhere:

From Studio Ghibli's soft skies to the way shadows fall on my desk—everything is design. You just need to look close.

What makes a designer different is the ability to see the ordinary in an extraordinary way.Inspiration isn’t limited to Behance or Instagram.

It lives in nature, in daily life, in film scenes, in old architecture, in music.

Sometimes, the best colour palette comes from a sunset. Sometimes, a great design idea appears while drinking chai on the balcony.

If you’re exploring how to become a designer, start by noticing the world around you.

5. It’s Not a Job. It’s a Calling: You don’t just become a designer—you feel like one.

When you start noticing typography on street signs, when you're more excited about textures than trends, when you sketch ideas during chai breaks—that’s when you know.

Why do you design? For expression? For storytelling? For impact?

Even if it’s to make someone smile through a poster or to solve a real-world problem through UI UX—it matters.

That is why you are your anchor when things feel uncertain.

That sense of purpose is what truly defines how to become a designer with impact.

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So, what does it take to become a designer?

It takes:

• A curious mind that never stops asking

• A heart that keeps creating even in silence

• The strength to grow from feedback

• The courage to stay original

• And the belief that your work has meaning—even when it’s not yet seen.

Design isn’t just about making things look good. It’s about making people feel something.And in a world that moves fast, that connection? That emotion? That’s everything.

To every young designer out there—if you’re still figuring out how to become a designer, know that your journey is valid.

Keep going. Keep creating. Your voice matters, and your designs are slowly shaping the world.