There are two main challenges connected with the specialist strategy – lack of clients and discipline. The first obstacle is obvious – most designers do not have a steady stream of clients who need just one type of work. However, you can overcome this by actively developing your specialist portfolio and seeking clients you want to work with. It will take some time but it’s far from impossible. The discipline is the harder part and comes after you become a specialist. You need to ruthlessly reject projects which have nothing to do with the area of your design specialization, no matter how lucrative they are.
We are all too easy to accept a well-paying job which can be turned around quickly but this ruins the reputation of a specialist and throws you back into the generalist waters. Is design specialization for you? The best way to answer this question is to ask yourself whether background remove service you truly enjoy designing particular things and wouldn’t mind doing that for the rest of your life. If yes, then you might have the commitment and discipline required to become a reputable specialist designer. Otherwise, consider strategy 2. 2. Doing things your own way – the signature approach The signature strategy is harder to implement but easy to describe – you basically do everything but you do it in a specific way.
Compared to design specialists, you do not have to narrow down your design field; however, everything you design has to carry a distinct, recognizable style. Plus, you can find enough paying clients who love your work for what it is. The signature strategy is common in the fashion industry but rare in the graphic design business because it takes boldness and determination to keep your own artistic flavor regardless of what most clients prefer. But if you succeed, it pays back well. Mirko Ilic is a signature designer spanning almost all design fields but his work comes with a twist of his own. Photo credit: City Magazine Consider Mirko Ilic, a renowned designer and illustrator from New York.