Do you think anyone can become a good graphic designer?

[<b>]

Originally Posted by Obsidian86

I believe any normal human being with no major malfunctions or disabilities has equal chances of obtaining a certain level of mastery of graphic design as anyone else with no major flaws, given they have a specific desire, time and money to do so.

I don't mean to be argumentative, but I'm curious about your reasoning...

Do you believe the same is true of physics, music, sports, literature, etc. Could any normal person with sufficient drive become an Einstein, a Mozart, a Gretzky or a Faulkner, or is it just graphic design that doesn't require innate talent?

[Obsidian86]

Given enough time, desire and money they could.

[skribe]

WOW. I had no idea that if I had enough time, desire, and money, that I could increase my I.Q 40 or 50 points.

[kemingMatters]

If you have the drive to actually apply yourself then yes, if you have reservations or believe life will go on without completing what you've set out to do then no.

[Buda]

I think anyone can train in design and get good enough to make a living from.

But not everyone could be good at design. You cannot teach good taste. Without good taste, you're either copying other work or stabbing in the dark. You'll never create something good on your own because you wouldn't know good if you saw it.

So my answer is no.

[Obsidian86]

But in your opinion, who decides what's good? The client? The client's customers? Other graphic designers, or the general population? Just curious I guess.

[Rachel B]

Master is a pretty loaded term. You will become really good with practice, study, etc. I think what you need for that is to want it bad enough. But to become a truly great designer? A master designer?
I think I have to stand with PD and B on that.
Cause master designer insinuates a stroke of genius that flows through your work. And you just can't study enough to become a genius.

[PrintDriver]

Originally Posted by Obsidian86

But in your opinion, who decides what's good? The client? The client's customers? Other graphic designers, or the general population? Just curious I guess.

It's good if it sells the product. That is what good design is all about. ROI. Sad but true. The product doesn't have to be an actual physical item. It can be anything from an idealism to a politician to a toilet tank.

I don't necessarily agree with the term 'good taste'.
'Demographically pleasing' might be more accurate.

[<b>]

Some people can sing well, with a good strong voice and a good range, while others can't even carry a tune. As a small child Mozart could pick up any one of several musical instruments and simultaneously compose and play an original piece of complex music on demand. I used to work with an illustrator who didn't like to draw, never practiced and had no interest in art, yet he could accurately draw almost anything entirely from memory. I have a weird form of dyslexia that prevents me from remembering numbers in their right order, yet the boy in the house next door who has Asperger has memorized the local telephone book.

I really think that it flies in the face of all evidence to assume that people are equal in their abilities to master all things. When I dial a phone number, I have to carefully check each digit several times against a written-down number to be sure I've entered them the right way, yet the kid next door knows every phone number in town and can recite them in reverse order when asked to do so.

I've listed extremes, but to me it's obvious that people's natural abilities differ to varying degrees from the barely perceptible to the profound. Practice and dedication can go a long ways in mitigating these differences, but I could practice eight hours each day for the rest of my life and never have a tenth the musical ability that Mozart possessed at age five.

[Rachel B]

I really think that it flies in the face of all evidence to assume that people are equal in their abilities to master all things.

+1

(although a very politically incorrect mindset)