Have you ever been afraid of being considered an impostor in the workplace? Do you lack confidence in yourself and your abilities? Do you not think you can meet the needs of a new project? Are you afraid of not being up to the demands? When these questions arise, what is known as the impostor syndrome often appears.
Sometimes it can be a world of work to start a new career path or take on a new job challenge. Whether we are learning new methodologies, procedures or we are learning to use new tools for graphic designers, the learning curve can give us the feeling that it never ends and doubts arise as to whether we are on the right track or whether we will be up to the task.
Let’s see how this syndrome can affect the designer, the types that exist to be able to identify it and some tips that have helped me to overcome it.
What is impostor syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is the irrational conviction that you don’t deserve your own achievements and that your successes have been the result of luck, mistake or deception. For designers, this feeling can manifest itself in thoughts such as: “My peers are so much more creative than me”, “My portfolio is so weak, I don’t know where I’m going” or “I don’t know enough about typography, such and such a programme or editorial binding”.
These shadows or negative thoughts can cause us anxiety, affect our self-esteem, and in some cases, condition us not to dare to take on new challenges for fear of “not being up to it”. However, this psychological phenomenon has no real basis in our abilities and often affects both experienced designers and beginners.
Why is impostor syndrome so prevalent among designers?
The world of design in general is full of great and complex creative challenges. This in itself is a challenge. Perhaps we graphic designers are particularly vulnerable to impostor syndrome. Let’s look at some of the reasons why I say this. It might help you to reflect on your particular case:
- Competition: Graphic design is a very competitive field with a constant evolution of trends and tools. It is therefore very easy to feel overwhelmed and unable to keep up to date on a continuous basis.
- Subjectivity: Design has a very subjective component. What one person finds striking and provocative, another may not be impressed at all. Constant (often unconstructive) critical freedback can make artists or designers question their talent and feel less confident about taking on new challenges.
- Outreach: Graphic designers often have to present their work on social media, in portfolios, etc. This level of exposure, or public disclosure, can increase the feeling of being ‘under the spotlight’ by increasing the fear of being judged or singled out.
- Multidisciplinary: A good graphic designer not only needs to know about aesthetics, composition and making things look ‘pretty’, he/she also needs to have a high knowledge of graphic design tools, branding, communication, psychology, etc. This multidisciplinary demand can make a designer feel overwhelmed or inadequate if he or she does not master all areas to perfection.
Typologies of impostor syndrome
1.- The Perfectionist
The perfectionist focuses on the “how”. They often set excessively high goals that are often simply unattainable. They are usually control freaks and even once they feel that success has been achieved, they are rarely satisfied.
In design, one of the most effective ways to improve your work is to seek out quality, constructive feedback on design. If you are one of those people who do not take feedback well, you may be in this typology.
Are you a perfectionist? Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you dislike or find it difficult to delegate to others?
- Do you feel that the only acceptable result is 100%?
- Are you one of those who think: “If you want something done right, do it yourself”?
2.- The Superhero
The superhero focuses on “how much”. The number of roles, relationships and projects to work on at the same time is directly related to their self-esteem. This can be detrimental, both to themselves and to the people around them.
The superhero often focuses on quantity over quality, damaging their efforts in the long run. These people tend to be dependent on the external validations provided by the work rather than the work itself.
Think you can take on the supervillain? Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you feel you need to work harder than your peers to demonstrate your skills?
- Have you sacrificed your hobbies and passions for your day job?
- Do you work late, even when you have finished the project in question?
- Do you find it difficult to relax?
3.- The Natural Genius
The Natural Genius focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘when’. This type of person tends to think that everything must be done easily and quickly. If it is not, then it is no good. If a product is not perfect from the start, the Natural Genius is likely to discard it for something that is easier.
Design is about trying, failing, learning and creating. Success takes time, learning and experience. If this makes you uncomfortable and you want to go into design, you would do well to work to overcome it.
Are you a natural genius? Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you tend to excel without trying too hard?
- When you were a kid, were you often recognised as the star of the team?
- Are you uncomfortable having a mentor or someone who may know more than you do about something?
- Do you avoid things you don’t know how to do yet?
4.- The Solitaire
The Loner or solitaire is primarily concerned with the ‘who’, which is almost always themselves. Often, the solitaire tends to have difficulty asking for help. Because of the loner’s need to always do things on their own, they tend to neglect their own needs by taking on too much at work.
Loners should remember that no one is a remote and isolated island when it comes to learning and growing, especially in the field of design, where collaboration is key.
Think you’re a loner? Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you often say: “I don’t need any help”?
- Do you feel that the only achievements worth celebrating are the ones you achieved on your own?
- Don’t like group work or team projects?
5.- The “Expert”
The expert’s main focus is on “what” and “how much” one can know or do about something. Their greatest fear is being exposed as not measuring up or being ignorant. For the expert, even a small lack of knowledge means failure.
In design, tools are constantly changing and improving. It is practically impossible to know about all the branches that make up this profession, so ‘experts’ must allow themselves time and be kind to themselves when they don’t know something.
Are you an “expert”? Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you avoid applying for a job unless you meet all the requirements?
- Are you constantly looking for new training?
- Do you reject praise?
- Do you expect to know everything and feel ashamed when you don’t?
That said, there are some signs that you may be experiencing imposter syndrome. These may include:
- Self-sabotage: You postpone projects for fear of not making it ‘perfect’ or not knowing if you can meet expectations, which leads you to avoid starting a job.
- Rejection of success: When you receive praise or compliments for your work, you feel that you don’t deserve them or that the other person is exaggerating.
- Self-demand: You set unattainable goals for yourself, which causes a lot of wear and tear and a constant feeling of “you could have done more”.
- Fear of failure: You worry too much about being criticised or not measuring up, which prevents you from taking on new challenges or presenting riskier proposals.
Tips for overcoming this syndrome
If you feel the shadow of the impostor lurking over you, here are some tips that might be useful now or when you are likely to face it again.
- Recognise your achievements: Keep a record of your successes, big or small. Write down every goal you have achieved. This will help you to recognise your own efforts and further strengthen you as a professional.
- Accept constructive feedback: Try not to see criticism as a threat to your abilities. Instead, see it as an opportunity for growth. Feedback is a valuable aid to improvement and not a criticism of your abilities as a professional.
- Find a support network: Find your community. Share your experiences and your feelings with other designers or friends. It is likely that many have gone through the same thing. Having a support network that understands how you feel will help you feel less alone and more confident in your work.
- Commitment to lifelong learning: Like many other professions, graphic design is organic. It is constantly evolving, so it is normal not to know everything and not to be an expert in each of its branches. Keep learning and don’t let insecurity hold you back. With each course or new tool you master, you will strengthen your confidence.
- Avoid comparisons: Every designer has their own style and creative process. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on improving your own skills and set your own path. Beware of social media! They are a great source of inspiration, but they can also be a dangerous trap.
- Getting it wrong, it makes a way: Not every project will end up being perfect, and that’s fine. What’s more, perfection is just a thing of our minds. It doesn’t really exist. Making mistakes is part of learning. Try to see failures as opportunities to evolve and improve your graphic style. And if you feel overwhelmed, that’s OK. Break tasks down into smaller, more realistic chunks.
- Enhance your differences: The best of design and creativity is in the diversity of opinions and points of view. Not all graphic designers have to be the same or think alike to be excellent professionals. If your style differs from others, then it is valuable precisely because it is unique.
- Trust in your skills: Do not seek external validation of your work. It is you yourself with your talent and knowledge who, more than anyone else, has to feel happy and comfortable with the work you have done.
It’s impossible to know everything, so it’s OK if you don’t. Mistakes are part of the creative process. We are all learning, so don’t be afraid to ask questions you don’t know. Don’t worry about being embarrassed, it’s better to be proactive and curious than to be left with doubts and worries about whether you’re doing it right or not.
Conclusion.
Impostor syndrome is an emotional hurdle that many designers face at some point in their career. It’s a very common feeling that doesn’t reflect your true abilities, so don’t feel alone in this. The important thing to realise is that it doesn’t become a wall to your creativity.
Remember that you are here, not because of luck, but because of your passion, work and talent.
Regain your confidence!
Hi, I’m Roberto Vidiella.
I am the founder and Creative Director of VIDI. I am passionate about graphic design, and through this blog, I try to deepen my knowledge and share what I have learned during my career. If you leave me a comment, you help me to keep learning and improving, and I’m really excited about it!