Can Anyone become a Graphic Designer?

Personally I believe anyone can do anything they set their mind to, but if you think design is easy or you don't need any experience or training, you would be sadly mistaken. If you want to know if you got the right stuff for the job, consider the list below.

Do you have a natural eye for design?
It is very important that designers have a natural ability to recognize what works and what doesn't and why.

Do you enjoy creating art?
Let's face it if you don't enjoy what your doing for a living your not going to get very far.

Do you have good communication skills?
Communication is essential and often understated in the design field.

Do you like working with computers?
Design is becoming entirely computer based. If you don't like working with computers your design opportunities may become extremely limited.

Can you keep up with technology and trends?
If you are planning on becoming a web designer, you may find it difficult to keep up with new coding practices, standards, browser compatibility, etc.

Do you like to be a jack of all trades?
Now more than ever Graphic Designers need to have knowledgeable in web, print, and logo design, however it is always a good idea to specialize in one area.

Can you handle the competition?
The world is changing for the Graphic Designer. There is a flood of competition from "newbies", but just because you own a copy of Photoshop does not make you a Graphic Designer.

Are you willing to take training and gain the required skills?
All designers should have basic training in The Arts and know the design elements and how to apply them. It is not enough to be able to make a design, but you must explain why you made certain choices and why your design is the best way to communicate the message or idea.

Always remember the goal of a Graphic Designer is to communicate a message.