How to Feel More Confident as a Designer

August 30, 2021

Throughout the years I’ve been working with fellow designers and strategists through the Brand Strategy School, I’ve learned one of the biggest (and most common) pain points for designers just like you is finding the ability to feel confident in themselves and their work.

And to be honest, it’s no surprise. The work we do as designers is so creative, and that can be incredibly vulnerable. We are looking inward—from the depths of our creativity—and bringing designs into the world that tell a story and make an impact in the lives of our client’s businesses.

It’s all too easy for us to become overly critical of the quality of work we’re producing, and even to be overly critical of ourselves.

But more than the quality of the design work we’re doing, I’ve noticed that so many designers feel this deep-seated insecurity when it comes to calling themselves an EXPERT.

And I believe that it all boils down to this idea that we do not feel confident in our work.

We think we need more experience, more accolades, or more… je ne sais quoi in order to confidently step into the role of “expert”.

So today, fellow designer, I’m sharing some simple ways to boost your confidence, so you can more easily step boldly into the role of expert—no fancy design degree required.

HOW TO FEEL MORE CONFIDENT AS A DESIGNER

First things first, let me reassure you, friend. Even with 9+ years of experience, I’m still learning and growing my confidence every day as a designer and strategist. This is not a skill or tool that will come to you overnight, but one that takes intentional, continual effort. When it comes to growing in confidence, remember that small progress is still progress; little bits of confidence will come to you here and there, and before you know it, you’ll be kissing imposter syndrome goodbye and stepping into the role of “expert” that you’ve always deserved.

In order to experience more confidence as a designer, you have to know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to feel like you don’t have it all together. It’s okay to feel like you’re still learning and growing. In fact, you should ALWAYS be learning and growing, no matter how long you’ve been in the biz! But that doesn’t have to negatively impact your sense of self, your self-worth, or your confidence.

As a designer, there are a few simple steps you can take in order to build more confidence:

1. GIVE YOURSELF THE SPACE TO MAKE MISTAKES

Friend, some of life’s greatest lessons are learned from mistakes. I’ve learned more from the mistakes I’ve made than I’ve learned from all of my wins and successes combined.

Why? Because my mistakes and failures have created unique learning opportunities that allow me to discover a new and better way of doing things.

Break up with perfectionism and allow yourself to be wrong from time to time. Give yourself permission to make mistakes, to go out of your comfort zone and try something new and totally mess it up. But pay attention in the process, and learn from those mistakes. In all honesty, that’s the very best way to learn how to do things right in the future.

2. CREATE FOR FUN

Carve out time in your schedule to create and design just for yourself. Give yourself room to simply create, even if it isn’t your best work.

Not everything you put out into the world is going to be amazing, and that’s okay. Really, you don’t even need to put your just-for-fun work out into the world if you don’t want to! Give yourself the freedom to flex your creative muscles by playing around and trying new things (AKA learning new things!). Plus, that new thing you try out? You might just fall in love with it! Get creative, get playful, and make sure that design is still something you’re passionate about. If you only ever design for clients, you’ll likely lose your love for the art of design pretty quickly.

By creating for fun, learning new techniques, and keeping your creative passion alive, you’ll surely begin to feel more confident in your ability to serve your clients well.

3. GROW YOUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY

Friend, please don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are so many great Facebook groups and YouTube channels full of fellow designers; turn to them when you have questions! Whether you’re learning a new tool in Illustrator or you’re figuring out how to arrange elements in InDesign, there’s a plethora of places you can turn for advice.

Oftentimes, when we struggle with confidence, we unintentionally isolate ourselves from others.

It’s easy for us to believe that it’s always going to be this hard. But if you’re able to open yourself up and ask for feedback or advice, then you’re able to see the truth—that not all is lost. There’s always hope. And what you’re doing is fantastic, even if you don’t always feel like it.

One of my favorite things about the Brand Strategy School is our private Facebook community. We have an incredible group of designers, strategists, and branding pros who, more than anything, are always there for each other.

I love this group because we have the opportunity to cheer each other on through rough days, through creative blocks, or through those less-than-ideal clients who make us want to throw in the whole towel.

It’s been so beautiful to watch my students help each other grow, and to see how much it helps people to get through their struggles by simply knowing they aren’t alone.

So please, friend, know that you don’t have to be alone, either.

Even if you aren’t part of the Brand Strategy School community, I still have a Facebook group just for you! Click right here to join my completely FREE community for designers and strategists just like you, and rest knowing that you’ll never have to feel alone in this journey again.

BONUS TIP: INVEST IN YOUR EDUCATION

When it’s feasible, friend, I so strongly encourage you to be willing to invest in yourself. Allow others to pour encouragement into your gifts and talents. One of the things I teach inside the Brand Strategy School is how to position yourself as an expert in order to guide your clients with confidence and clarity through your brand strategy process.

How you feel as a designer will overflow into your clients.

When you feel confident as a designer, it makes your clients feel confident, too. But when you’re feeling insecure, it impacts the quality of work you’re able to do and the experience you’re able to offer to your clients.

Giving yourself the opportunity to build your confidence is a gift you (and your clients!) deserve.

Taking time to learn through done-for-you resources can streamline your brand strategy process, giving you more time to pour into each of your clients. Having your processes set in a way that’s proven to show impactful results can give you the confidence to continually build a profitable and sustainable business.

How to Triple Your Income and Feel More Confident as a Designer

If you’re ready to take that next step to invest in yourself and ability as a designer, then friend, I’ve created a totally free, Netflix-style masterclass just for you! In this training, I’m breaking down the three most common mistakes graphic, brand, and web designers make that keep them from sustainably scaling their income.

So if you’re ready to kick those mistakes to the curb and learn how to build your confidence so that you can triple your income (without taking on any more branding clients!), then go ahead and save your seat for this free training!

Click here to register for the masterclass

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My name is Bonnie – I’m a brand designer, strategist, and writer which all adds up to one eclectic conglomeration of qualities that enables me to serve you well! Past clients have dubbed me "the Joanna Gaines of brand design," and I've had more than a few call me a dream maker, a game changer, and a design wizard (my Harry Potter-loving heart didn't hate that one, let me tell you!). At the end of the day, I'm a big-hearted creative who will get teary-eyed as you share the heart behind your business; who will lose sleep over the perfect font pairings and color selections to bring your brand to life visually; and who will work tirelessly to empower, encourage, and equip you to share your work with the world intentionally. 

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