(New) skills need to survive

2025 has been a year of disruption. Many designers in our orbit are questioning their life choices. All indicators say 2026 will be as turbulent.

The erosion of design skill(s) is happening socially (undermining business confidence), economically (reducing profit), and environmentally (global uncertainty).

It is clear; relying on design expertise to survive is no longer sufficient.

These are the (new) survival skills creatives need…

Survival skills

Data analysis

We live in a data-rich environment. Ability to understand and incorporate data to support and measure a design solution is increasingly valuable.

Art direction

Yes, designers have always ‘art directed’ but this is not direction of art. It’s direction of AI, of inhouse teams, of self-driven projects. Direction with creativity and clarity.

Behavioural design

Clients and brands are already seeing a ‘likeness’ delivered by AI. The bias for products and services to be more human-like will need psychology and behavioural science knowledge.

Strategy and research

Both strategy and research are moving from a would-be-good-to-have to a critical survival skill. With clients taking design inhouse, understanding and communicating the ‘why’ behind your design solution will give the transaction currency.

Agility

Ability to adjust to change, resize, reshape and reassess makes a business sustainable. Nimble is about flexibility and access to skillsets, not about size

So what?

Here’s what we’re seeing in our work:

• design skill alone is no longer enough.
• deep knowledge and expertise in tools is becoming increasingly obsolete.

Instead, we’re seeing clients wanting diagnosis and direction.

Agility is everything – our business included. Most of our work has transitioned from purely business advice to helping creatives adapt to the changing environment by developing these new skills.

As always, happy to discuss further, just email Carol.

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Carol Mackay

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About Carol

After 30+ years running a design studio, I accumulated a pretty special network of fellow designers. One thing most have in common: a need for more information about the ‘business’ side of design. Most are impatient with any task competing for time spent doing what they love – designing so they wanted more info about how to work more efficiently and effectively.

Not me. I love that intersection between design and business. I built a career working with Ombudsman schemes, the Emergency Services sector and the Courts. My special power has always been an ability to use design to translate the difficult to understand or the unpalatable message.

I now use exactly the same skills with creative business owners. I translate the indigestible into bite-sized chunks of information. I share insights, introduce tools and embed processes to help others build confidence business decision-making skills. More confidence makes it easier to grasp opportunities. More confidence makes it easier to recognise a good client from the bad.

Outside DBC I have mentored with Womentor, AGDA The Aunties, and most recently Regional Arts NSW.
And I’m a proud volunteer and board member of Never Not Creative.

Always happy to chat, I can be contacted here.