Think before you promote yourself as a ‘self-taught’ graphic designer

• by gmashworth
• in Design
• posted July 13, 2018

I’ve been operating in Botswana for several years now, and the design industry is saturated. We’ve got large agencies, boutique studios, freelancers, photographers, print shops, photocopy outlets, interior decorators — and just about everyone else claiming to offer graphic design services. When you step back and assess the quality of design across the board, it’s clear there’s a significant deficit. Don’t get me wrong — there are talented designers out there, but they’re the minority. The majority tend to be individuals who are self-taught. And while I have no issue with being self-taught in itself, I do believe it’s degrading the design industry in a way that needs to be discussed.

What stands out to me is the pride some self-taught designers take in being self-taught — almost like it’s a badge of honour. But why? To the average client who isn’t trained in design, “self-taught” can easily be interpreted as “amateur.” If someone were hiring a professional in any other field — a doctor, a mechanic, a pilot — they wouldn’t be reassured by hearing “I’m self-taught.” So why is it considered acceptable in graphic design?

Graphic design is a creative field, yes — but that doesn’t mean it should be free of professional standards. You don’t necessarily need a degree, but you do need a strong foundation: design principles, visual hierarchy, typography, colour theory — the fundamentals. Unfortunately, many self-taught designers skip these entirely and go straight to mastering software. But knowing how to use Photoshop isn’t the same as knowing how to design.

“There is no replacement for a conceptual education. Knowing software is not the same as being a designer.” — Jamie Cole, Editor/Creative Director, Red Barn Media Group

Many self-taught designers jump in with Photoshop, and soon enough, they’re calling themselves “graphic designers” or even “brand strategists.” Some go as far as running workshops or offering tutorials, claiming they can teach design in a week. It’s a dangerous oversimplification of a complex discipline. As Jamie Cole says, there’s a why to design, not just a how. Too often, self-taught designers only learn the how — and that’s not enough.

“Most self-taught designers learn software… they don’t learn how to design. Without design fundamentals, self-taught designers can only imitate.” — Gina Goldie

This epidemic isn’t limited to design. Photography is another area that’s become oversaturated. A recent article in the Botswana Gazette mentioned a government initiative called “Keeping Youth Busy,” and it claimed Botswana has over one million photographers. That’s nearly half the population. Hopefully, that figure includes anyone with a smartphone. Still, the message is clear: a small number of professionals are now competing with a huge number of hobbyists and part-timers.

The idea that everyone can be a photographer or designer just because they own the tools is misleading. Imagine you taught yourself how to drive and then got behind the wheel of a Ferrari — things might go well for a while, but the lack of training eventually shows. The problem is, when these crashes happen in the creative world, it’s not just personal failure — it drags down the whole industry.

I want to be clear: not all self-taught designers are bad designers. Some are naturally gifted and have taken the time to learn the fundamentals on their own. But they’re rare. And even they will tell you that self-education is only part of the journey.

“Design has been around a lot longer than Photoshop. Being able to use a hammer doesn’t make you an architect.” — Andrew Le, Graphic Designer, Web Developer

There’s also the issue of social media, which has become both portfolio and validator. Likes, comments, and shares give the illusion of quality and success. But popularity isn’t a reliable measure of skill. Most of those likes are from friends and family, or others who don’t know what good design really looks like. In Botswana especially, there’s a strong sense of local pride — we support our own, which is beautiful — but we must also learn to challenge and critique, because that’s how we improve.

Social media can give a false sense of accomplishment. Young designers post a few pieces, receive praise, and believe they’ve arrived. But seasoned professionals can see the difference. They can tell when something lacks structure, balance, or meaning. They see when style is used to cover up the absence of substance.

“I can often pinpoint self-taught graphic designers based solely on their portfolios because of their blatant disregard for basic design fundamentals.” — Ashley Schwartau, Creative Director

This new generation of creatives is focused on personal branding — projecting the image of a luxury product, without necessarily having the build quality to back it up. It’s all bravado. And while that might get them noticed in the short term, it risks eroding trust in the industry as a whole. Especially now, when clients can make their own “designs” with Canva or AI, the distinction between amateur and professional must be crystal clear.

Ultimately, everyone in this industry is judged on the quality of their work. If you’re self-taught, that’s fine — but don’t lead with it. Let your work speak for itself. Focus on the fundamentals. Earn your confidence. And don’t promote a path that skips the hard parts just because it’s quicker and more popular.

Because the damage caused by the self-taught mentality isn’t just personal — it’s collective.