Based on insights from Dribbble’s new Design Industry Trends Report, there are numerous in-demand, high-paying design jobs for designers in the upcoming year. Whether you’re looking for a new position or a new career entirely, understanding what types of design careers companies are hiring for (and what they’re looking for in candidates) will give you an edge as an applicant.
Whether you want to learn product design, graphic design, or simply move into a more specialized role such as motion design or illustration, the expanding job market for designers won’t be slowing down any time soon.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 most in-demand types of designers in 2022.
1.Product Designers
The most in-demand role companies will be hiring for in 2022 are product designer jobs. Product designers are responsible for coming up with solutions to real-world problems people have. They’re the driving force behind the websites, apps, and other digital products we use on a daily basis.
Becoming a product designer requires a solid basis in user experience design and user research. In addition, most product designers have experience working as senior designers on a design team, where they’ve implemented user-focused solutions. They should also have well-established design thinking skills, as that process will guide much of their work.
If your goal for 2022 is to land a product design job, you’ll want to focus your resume and portfolio on your problem-solving capabilities. Show how you apply things like user research and the design thinking process to your past projects. It’s also a good idea to show any management experience you have, either of a design team or in other positions since product designers often manage other designers.
Product Design Career Resources
- 5 Tips for Landing a Remote Product Design Job
- Get Product Design Portfolio Advice From a Design Recruiter
- 5 Soft Skills Every Product Designer Should Master
Art by Karina
2.Graphic Designers
Graphic designers do a variety of tasks, from designing logos, print & publication graphics, social media templates, advertisem*nts, and so much more. Before embarking on this kind of career path, it pays to decide whether you want to specialize in certain types of graphic design or if you’d prefer to be a generalist.
When applying for graphic design jobs, your portfolio will be your most valuable asset. Be sure that it includes good representations of the types of designs you’ve created. Take time to craft a narrative around each design, discussing the design problem presented as well as the solution you came up with. Mention any problems or blocks that presented themselves along the way, as well as how you overcame them.
If you’re searching for a graphic design position, be sure you search for related jobs as well. For example, you might find positions listed under visual designer, content marketing designer, or UI designer that are actually what you’re looking for. And more senior graphic design positions might be listed under titles like art director or creative lead.
Graphic Design Career Resources
- How To Become A Self‑Taught Graphic Designer
- 10 Excellent Free Online Graphic Design Courses
- 5 Soft Skills Every Graphic Designer Needs To Get Hired
Art by Jonathan Holt
3.UI & Visual Designers
Closely related to graphic design is UI Design—sometimes referred to as Visual Design. Really, these positions are a subset of graphic design, focused solely on designing digital interfaces and content. Some UI designers will also have a basic grasp of HTML and CSS, while visual designers rarely implement those skills in their work.
To get hired as a UI or Visual Designer, you’ll need to focus on your design portfolio. Showcase the designs you’ve created, and be sure to incorporate the stories behind those designs. As a UI/visual designer, you’ll likely be working as part of a team to actually turn your designs into usable products. So understanding how to work with developers, other designers, product managers, and the like will help you excel in this career.
UI Design Resources
- 10 Fundamental UI Design Principles You Need to Know
- How To Improve Your UI Skills: 5 Tips From The Pros
- 7 UI Tools For Creating Better Digital Color Palettes
Art by Joanna Nowak
4. UX Designers
User experience (UX) designers are in charge of figuring out what users want and need, and then figuring out how to provide those things. They’re often primarily focused on the early stages of the design process, including user research, wireframing, creating mockups, and early prototyping.
Some UX designers also do UI design, taking the project from those early stages through the end product. Even those who work with UI designers generally have a hand in the entire design process, to make sure that the finished designs still meet user needs.
Because much of the work UX designers do is “behind the scenes,” it’s important that portfolio pieces explain the full story of their work on the project. It should explain the design problem, the research or other methods they used to come up with solutions, as well as any actual design assets they contributed to the project. A cover letter and resume can also explain these things, in addition to your portfolio.
UX Design Career Resources
- The Ultimate Guide to Getting Hired in UX Design
- How To Build A UX Portfolio from Scratch
- How To Get Your First UX Internship
Art by Dragana Krtinic
5.Motion Designers
Motion designers are responsible for creating all of the animations and micro-animations, along with many of the videos, we see in various digital products. Beyond digital products, they may also create motion graphics for film and TV. They design everything from movie trailers and commercials to the micro-animations that provide immediate feedback to users on websites and apps.
Motion designers will need to create video portfolios that can showcase their true talents. As with other types of design titles, a portfolio that discusses the way the designer approached the design problem will be more impressive to potential employers than one that simply consists of images and videos. You can browse Motion Designer Jobs on Dribbble.
Motion Design Resources
- How to build your audience as a motion designer
- 6 handy animation tutorials to enhance your designs
- Tips for creating web animations
Art by Jonas Mosesson
Land your next design job
We hope this information gives you a better look at where design teams are looking to invest as we move into 2022. Remember, the key to getting hired for any design job is crafting a compelling portfolio that showcases your skills and the breadth of your work. Sign up for Dribbble Pro today to start investing in your design career, build your professional portfolio, and get hired.
