Some people call themselves designers while some are not sure if they can call themselves a designer.  So how do you know if you are a designer?

There are people that spend many years and many dollars going to design college.  They actually get a degree which gives them the right to call themselves a designer.  A doctor goes to school to earn the right to be called a doctor, right?  So, you could say that in order to be called a designer you need to earn a degree.

It could be that many of the people that attend a design college feel that you should have a degree before you can be called a designer.  The problem with this line of reasoning is that some people the have design degrees can't design their way out of a paper bag.  I know that sounds a bit harsh, but I have seen people like this.  They may know how to do the art but they need a blue print to create something.  This person may be very good at reading that blue print and doing a quality job, but this makes them a craftsman, not a designer.

Design school can be beneficial because it will expose you to many types of design and give you the basic rules of good design.  Studying the designs of others is not cheating; it is a way of expanding your horizons.  My point is that a degree in design does not make you a designer, but studying design either in school or on your own is a good thing.

If going to school does not guarantee that you will be a designer, then how can you become one.  Some might say that either you are born with it or you are not.  Some psychologists say that we are all born with creativity but it gets stifled early in life.

If our creativity can be stifled, why can't it be rekindled?  What would it take to ignite our creativity?  As with most things in life, practice really is the key.  If you don't try to exercise your creativity, you will not be creative.

Choose a medium to work with and don't be afraid to try new things.  Many people are afraid that they might make a bad design and therefore they would not be a designer.  The fact is that no designer makes all good designs, so don't be afraid.  Design talent is something that you improve and develop over time with experience.  Don't expect that everything you make is going to be a masterpiece.  If fact, the less pressure you put on yourself to be a great designer the easier it will be for you do develop you design talents.

Creativity is a prime factor in being a designer.  To be creative, you need to be relaxed.  This is why you should not worry about how your design is going to turn out.  The stress of worrying about the result will stifle your creativity and cause a bad result.  Just relax and don't be afraid to try something different.

Many really good designs are just a modification of something that someone else has done before.  I may be a new little twist that is a combination of a couple of other ideas.  Don't worry about using ideas from other artists in part of you work.  Sometimes the idea that you are starting with from someone else can be an inspiration that sparks a whole new design.

To become a designer, relax, have fun, look for inspiration all around you and don't worry about the results.  With practice your designs will continue to improve.