At the start of this week I, unfortunately, got ill and had to spend a few days in bed which feels like torture especially when the sun is beaming outside. 

I’m the type of person who struggles to watch television for long periods, from the guilt of not being productive combined with a very short attention span. However, being bed-bound I had no other choice than to indulge myself in something on Netflix (other streaming platforms are available). 

As I scanned through the options I scrolled straight through to the continue watching section to carry on with something familiar and as I worked on the dilemma of Shameless or The Office (US) a vibrant cover hit my peripheral vision and I knew instantly that I would not be watching the drunk ramblings of Frank Gallagher for the next few hours. 

So there it was ‘The Andy Warhol Diaries’ the bright vibrant pop art cover instantly drew me in, I pressed play hoping that the next five minutes would capture my attention so I could feel like an intelligent aesthete as opposed to a sniffling slob. Three episodes later I was captivated and inspired, seeing someone take risks and not be afraid of who they were or what they wanted to do made me feel like I had so much freedom with creativity.

It’s difficult to compare an artist and a graphic designer because as a designer you’re always designing for someone else’s needs and don’t have the freedom to create whatever you want and experiment. As a Graphic Designer, you’re trusted with someone else’s reputation so the thought of taking risks can be daunting.

After finishing the series I’ve been thinking about my profession and how I could push on further in my career and improve my skillset. I’ve been wondering if just being a graphic designer who does his job well is enough or do I want to go that step further and become an artist. As a graphic designer should I try and be a great photographer, videographer, editor, painter, artist, typographer, web developer, or copywriter. 

Is this just wishful thinking hoping you could be a master of them all or will you be stuck with the tag of jack of all trades, master of none? It’s taken around five or six years to get to a competent level in Graphic Design and I am still way off where I’d like to be with the constant insecurity of seeing young design students on Behance designing things I could only dream of. I think if you aren’t aiming to be the best at what you do what’s the point and would someone rather hire a great graphic designer or a good graphic designer who is also a good photographer, videographer, or artist?

As a freelancer, you are stuck with the responsibility of being a jack of all trades but the great thing I’ve noticed about being employed by a marketing company is that I have the luxury of working in a team of masters. Having the time and space to focus on your own expertise definitely results in the final product being the best it can possibly be. 

Delegating can often be seen as a negative trait but trying to conquer everything yourself will almost always result in failure or one aspect failing. So having confidence in your own skills and colleagues allows you to collaborate within a team to ensure the perfect result.

We can dream of being the perfect creative and being the master of everything but today, right now it’s probably best to delegate…