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Have you ever felt… small when someone asks you what you do?

Like the words don’t quite hold the weight of everything it means to be a designer?

You’re standing there, heart full of creative energy, and you say—

“I’m just a graphic designer.”

And yoh… that “just” stings every time.

I’ve been there.

And in this blog post, I want to talk to you like we’re sitting on the porch with coffee, unpacking the real reason why this happens—and how we stop shrinking into roles the world doesn’t fully understand (yet).

Because here’s the thing:

The only way the industry will ever respect us, is if we start first.

Let’s Talk About That “Just”

I once had someone I really admire say to me:

“I’m almost embarrassed to say I’m a graphic designer.”

It broke my heart.

Because she is ridiculously talented.

But also… because I knew exactly what she meant.

How did we get here?

Why do we feel like we have to downplay what we do to make other people comfortable?

The truth is, we’ve been conditioned to treat design as something “extra.”

Nice-to-have. Aesthetics. Decoration.

But friend… design is not fluff.

It’s power.

It’s how the world understands brands, services, products, people.

It’s how we trust.

It’s how we decide.

Look Around You — Design Is Everywhere

Wherever you’re reading this right now—pause for a second.

Look around you.

Your phone screen.

The logo on your coffee cup.

The packaging of your favourite snack.

The email signature that made you click.

The layout of this blog post (yes, even this).

The pattern on your shampoo bottle.

The signage on the road you drove on this morning.

Even the birthday card you forgot to post.

Design is woven into every single moment of our day.

And here’s the kicker: behind every single one of those moments…

was a designer.

Someone like you.

Someone who made a million micro-decisions that led to this exact feeling or outcome.

We are not “just” anything.

We are translators of ideas.

We are visual problem-solvers.

We are the bridge between what a business dreams of… and how a client actually experiences it.

I Shrunk Myself Too (But Not Anymore)

I still remember the moment so clearly.

I was sitting at a braai.

Someone across the table—business owner, sharp suit, big title—asked me what I do.

And I shrank.

“I do graphic design,” I said. Quietly.

And the conversation moved on.

But in my head, I was screaming:

“I take businesses into the future. I bring their vision to life through strategy and design.”

But I didn’t say that.

Because at the time… I didn’t fully believe it yet.

That Was My Turning Point

I got tired.

Tired of being last in the project timeline.

Tired of being asked to “just make it pretty.”

Tired of being seen as the helper. The decorator. The extra.

And that’s when things shifted.

I changed my title—from graphic designer to strategic designer.

I stopped sitting on the sidelines of my own projects.

I started leading.

Asking better questions.

Sharing the “why” behind my designs.

And setting real boundaries around timelines and revisions.

And slowly… the respect followed.

Here’s What’s Really Going On in the Industry

Let’s be honest.

Clients want fast.

They want cheap.

They want Canva speed with agency quality.

And unlimited changes while they’re at it.

And we can’t expect anything less—platforms have taught them this is how it works.

But that doesn’t make it okay.

What we do takes thinking, energy, heart, and time.

We’re not a drive-through.

We shape the way people experience the world.

Remember A Bug’s Life?

Yes, I’m quoting Pixar.

There’s this scene in A Bug’s Life where the villain says:

“One ant is nothing. But if they ever figure out they outnumber us…”

That’s what I see in the design world.

We’ve been taught to work quietly.

To not complain.

To smile and say yes.

To “just make it work.”

But imagine if every designer you know—started showing up in their power.

• Charged what they’re worth
• Explained their process
• Said no when something’s out of scope
• Held timelines and boundaries
• Shared the value of what they do instead of hiding it

The world would have to catch up.

And honestly? Some already are. I’ve seen it.

Start Here: One Small Shift

No, you don’t have to change your entire business overnight.

But what if you chose just one moment this week to show up differently?

Say your title with pride.

Explain your thinking.

Pause before you agree to “one more little change.”

Say:

“This work matters. And I know why.”

Say it in the mirror.

Say it while you’re walking the dog.

Say it on the phone with a client.

Say it at that next networking event, even if your voice shakes.

You are a designer. A communicator. A creative leader.

Try This

In the episode, I shared a little prompt I’ve been using when I need to get unstuck:

“I don’t want to call myself a graphic designer, although that’s what I do. I love branding design and corporate work. What’s an alternative title I could use to describe what I do?”

Pop that into ChatGPT. See what comes up.

Get playful.

Say what you really do. Not what the industry has boxed you into.

Then try it on.

Even if it’s just to yourself for now.

Say It With Me…

“I’m a designer.

I help people connect, feel, and act.

I solve problems with creativity, strategy, and heart.”

That’s not “just” anything.

That’s everything.

Thanks for being here.

Thanks for showing up—even on the days you feel invisible.

You’re not alone in this.

And I’ll keep reminding you until you believe it:

You are a powerful designer.

And the world will start respecting us…

when we respect ourselves first.

One client at a time.

One boundary at a time.

One “what do you do?” at a time.

—

Check out the Playbook Planner + Playbook Desk—designed to help creatives like you work smarter, lead with confidence, and design your life, one day at a time.

Bonus Freebie:

Download the Designer’s Guide to Better Questions to lead stronger client conversations.

Thanks for reading.

Come back to this post whenever you forget how much you matter.

Because you do.