What type of skills do you suggest a designer have?

Time management, basic project management skills, understanding other roles and how to communicate to them, understanding and create contracts, being able to offer a range or solid scope of work when working with people to make projects as transparent and efficient as possible, understanding of different tools across print and digital. In the end, pick up skills that actually work for you and help you be better in the area you want to be in.

What do you admire in other designer portfolios?

I love full branding projects, I love seeing video and animation and live examples, interesting packaging, projects that have missions for community and things to make the world truly better, sustainability aspects, people who have personality and are on their own path, people who have skill outside their career and off the computer. I’m always saving people who doing things that are extremely unique and special, but it’s all subjective. Also those who can write and story-tell I am so envious of. Language is powerful. And on that subject, people who speak and work in multiple languages I really admire.

Other than Adobe Creative Cloud, what are other programs that you suggest designers know?

As someone who grew up in this in between age and had schooling that was so Swedish design and print-focused, I envy those who have had more learning in digital, web, app, and certain tech spaces. I’ve recently and, late behind everyone else, gotten into Figma. I was using Sketch but didn’t love it and the versatility and expansion of Figma has been extremely impressive. Some things I use: Keynote, Google Workspace, Figma, Adobe CC. I’d suggest learning about motion design, animation, and 3D programs as well.

How many years of experience do you look for in a designer and what type of education would you prefer them to have?

I don’t hire really at the moment, but I think the actual talent and execution of the work and time of experience isn’t always dependent on each other. I don’t think education really matters anymore either. I look at how and what people make, you can be self-taught or be on a different track and then switch to design. What matters is the attention to detail and process you build for yourself.

What are some skills or traits you feel are rare to find in a designer?

People who are kind, patient, understanding, can hold their own but know how to work with and around client needs and issues. Finding someone who can execute as good as the taste they have. I find that I love a lot of things but trying to create work that’s good as what I love, it’s much harder. There’s so much consideration and research that comes with creating a strong project. I think being able to have humility, look at your work objectively and separate your ego is very important.