Don’t get me wrong, I love Photoshop.
Outside of MS Paint, Photoshop is my favorite pixel-pushing program. I’m definitely not bashing Adobe (even though their monthly subscription model has been draining my bank account for years).
The problem is this: people associate graphic designers with the tools they use. And that devalues the designer (and Design at large). Just because you can use Photoshop and mash pixels, doesn’t mean you’re a designer. And just because you’re a designer, doesn’t mean you leverage Design Thinking.
Photoshop is not design
- Design is a universal concept. It’s the structural framework behind an idea. Photoshop is a software application.
- Design is the visual representation of meaning. It’s potent, layered expression. Photoshop is a software application.
- Design translates across all tools, platforms, and media channels. Photoshop is a software application.
The moral of the story is this: Design is more valuable than Photoshop. If you’re looking for a designer so you can be a Photoshop puppeteer, you’re missing the point. A good designer creates potency in ways that extend beyond software.
