The Swiss Army Knife Approach...

I've started to notice a trend that is rising up within the graphic design community. No longer is it enough to be just a designer. You have to have something else going for you as well. I'm not sure if it is because the pay isn't there (I don't think that's the case... we get paid pretty good for just drawing) but more and more I am noticing designers entering the field with multiple disciplines. Sometimes the fields or interests compliment each other and sometimes they are completely opposite. Personally, I'm of the mindset that the more you know the better off you are. So who's to say you can't have a biology degree and still be a designer; Margo Chase (Who Are We - Part: 2) did it and she is one of the most respected designers in America today. Other designers like Randy J Hunt (Who Are We - Part: 10) are pushing the envelope by being a business man, designer, and basically a social worker (I'm not sure how to categorize his efforts in helping the less fortunate) . People like this are perfect examples of why you should not just take a 9-5 and be happy doing just that. Stretch yourself.

We are designers. We live in a world that revolves around marketing, advertising, and sales. We understand the angles and know what the consumer is thinking. So lets apply what we know to ourselves. Ask yourself, would you want to buy a pocketknife with only one blade or ten? I know, it depends on what you're using this knife for but work with me here. Most people would see the ten bladed pocketknife, snatch it up, and probably pay more for it. Same applies for designers or any professional for that matter. If you are able to accomplish what three people can, you're an extremely marketable individual and pretty valuable as well.

So when it comes to competing in today’s emerging design community, you cannot be caught sitting on the sidelines. There are too many people out there wanting to know more and do more. You cannot afford to be left behind. As young designers, this is a golden opportunity. We are not stuck in a rut, having mastered only one aspect of an expanding field. Branching out is not a goal we must set for ourselves to stay current. We are already there. We are free to experience every option, learning as we go, and applying those experiences to better our career and ourselves. Dare to push yourself and expand you capabilities. Ultimately, you will be the one who benefits from it.