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Should you really start a graphic design career today?
Leave Design & Find a Different Career Option
I was going to say this to a Newbie, not even a beginner.
What’s the difference between a beginner and a newbie?
Both mean the same thing. But the distinction I’m trying to make here is subtle: the newbie hasn’t even started yet. No journey, no failures, no real attempts — just intention, and maybe curiosity.
Back to the Story…
Today, a known acquaintance reached out and said,
“Hey, can you help this guy with a job or something?”
I said sure, and they sent me a portfolio link.
At first glance, it seemed… okay. Three images. Minimal content. Just a one-liner and an image of the product.
If you’re a designer, you know product ads aren’t easy. You deal with lighting, shadows, reflections, and making the product feel real in its environment. But this portfolio had none of that — it lacked depth, both visually and conceptually.
Still, I said I’d talk to him.
He texted me “Hi” and he resent the same three images. I looked closer and realized — this was probably made on Adobe Express on a phone. So I asked him. He confirmed.
And that’s when the reality hit.
YOU CAN’T ANDROID YOURSELF INTO AN INDUSTRY THAT USES GENERATIVE FILL DUMBO!
(I obviously didn’t say this to him.)
In a world where tools like ChatGPT generate images and write 99% of your content into images fairly right. You simply can’t survive as a designer by creating things on a phone. Let alone make a living off it.
I told him straight:
“You need a laptop. You need to learn Photoshop.”
He replied:
“I’m going through a rough financial situation. I can’t afford a laptop right now.”
That hit me.
I remembered my early days — I was broke too. My laptop barely ran Photoshop. High latency, endless freezes, and yet I stuck with it. I did free work for months, sometimes got ghosted after delivering entire projects.
I’m not even “there” yet. I’m just surviving. Still hustling. Still figuring it out.
I Wanted to Say: “Leave Design”
I swear, a part of me wanted to say:
“Leave design. Do something worthwhile.”
I’ve heard that before. Multiple times. And I know exactly how it feels when someone says that to you.
It crushes you.
So I didn’t say it. I just wished him luck and ended the conversation.
The Truth Is…
I did feel like I was hiding the truth from someone naïve.
Writing this is my way of clearing my head — my guilt. The truth is, some people will make it, no matter what tools they use or how late they start. And others, even with all the resources in the world, might not.
I don’t know which side this 22-year-old falls on. But maybe that’s not for me to decide. Maybe he needs to figure it out himself.
And hey… he’s only 22. Things can still work out.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes we meet versions of our younger selves in others, and it’s hard not to project our own experiences onto them. But everyone walks a different path. This isn’t a post about giving up or giving advice. It’s just a reflection. A moment. Some people begin before they even start. Others start and never begin. The difference? Maybe only time will tell.
I will never know, if he would make it or not. If he feels worth trying and he tries out, he might win in some other way. He might find a loophole and go to a very different niche and make a living. I will never know the future today, and it makes me really incapable of telling someone if one should pursue something or not.
What do you think?
I write stories about My Life Lessons, Creative Career Growth & Mindset.
If you like my work, you can connect with me
