As we progress in our careers, things start to make more sense. But for me, things started to feel a bit unsure. I was feeling lost until I chatted with some seasoned designers. Their straight-up advice really helped me see things in a new light.

The Chinese version of the article is on my Medium.

Be a specialist or generalist?

I’ve been feeling pretty unsure about my role as a designer lately. I call myself a “design generalist” because I like to dive deep into different subjects and share what I learn on Instagram and Medium. But some negative feedback has me doubting my skills. In today’s super specialised design world, I’m wondering if there’s even a place for designers like me who like to dabble in a bit of everything.

What do experienced designers think?

I’ve chatted with some design pros about whether design and UX roles will still be relevant in the future, and if being a generalist or specialist will be more in demand.

Some people are skeptical of generalists because the market is becoming more specialised and designers need to have exceptional skills to stay ahead. Others doubt specialists because they have limited knowledge and techniques. However, many believe that multi-skilled generalists will always be needed and won’t be easily replaced.

The design job market in Hong Kong

Both arguments make sense. Let’s dive into what the job market for UI/UX designers looks like in Hong Kong.

So, in the UX design field, there’s a trend towards specialisation. Companies are now looking to hire UX researchers and service designers, which means UI/UX designers need to have more specific skills and qualifications. It’s like levelling up in a video game — higher job levels. This kind of specialisation is common in big, traditional companies that have the budget to hire different types of specialists.

But wait, there’s more to the story!

Many companies are going through a digital makeover. Some new startups and small businesses are moving towards a flat structure, similar to what we see in other tech companies. This means there’s no strict hierarchy of designers, giving employers the freedom to hire people with a diverse set of skills, making the hiring process more flexible. However, this lack of hierarchy could also lead to designers being paid less than they deserve.

Expertise and skills

Also, there are a brunch of other things to consider, like experience and skills. The specific hard skill someone has could really make a difference.

Software skills

Some people think that specialists might be phased out in the market because anyone can easily pick up software skills with practice. This means that even beginners can become skilled pretty quickly. So, software skills may not be as important as they once were. This leads to mid-level and senior designers passing off design tasks to their junior team members. That’s why it’s important for them to realise the importance of software, not just how to use it.

Apart from technical

Professional ability goes beyond just knowing technical stuff. Take a graphic designer for example – their creativity and artistic skill are what make them special. Even with all the fancy AI out there nowadays, you can’t replicate the years of knowledge and expertise that humans bring to the table.

When you’re looking at job requirements, it’s not just about having the right skills – it’s also about your personal strengths.

A UX researcher with a different background can bring fresh perspective to the table. And an engineer with an insurance licence can really shake things up at an insurance company. It’s all about the unique mix of academic background, work experience and strengths that sets you apart.

Strategic thinking

Soft skills are super important for folks in middle and senior positions. Leaders need to have a good sense of business and be able to think strategically in order to come up with solutions for customer and product issues. Data analysis can be a bit tricky to get the hang of. But critical thinking is essential for figuring out what’s going on and making smart decisions.

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After weighing both sides of the argument, let’s give the props to both design generalists and specialists who put to the work.

Who cares who’s better or who came first, right?

Design is all about problem-solving. Full-stack engineers aren’t better than front-end engineers, and generalists shouldn’t be pitted against specialists. Everyone in design has one goal: tackling problems head-on.

Different companies have different needs and preferences when it comes to hiring. Some may prefer specialists, while others prefer generalists. Before making a hiring decision, it’s essential to consider the nature of the job and the skills of the existing team.

As a design manager, I know that not every talented individual is the right fit for every job. It’s disappointing when someone doesn’t get hired, but sometimes they’re just not the right match for the role. It’s all about finding the perfect fit for the team.

Team structure

Whether the team is made up of specialists or generalists, I think they’ll still do a great job.

Picture a radar chart where a team of specialists excels in specific areas, each member handling a different task. On the flip side, a team of generalists is more balanced, with everyone being good at everything. Despite their unique strengths, everyone will learn and improve. In the end, both kinds of teams bring a variety of skills to the table.

Final words

Chatting with people and thinking about things made me realise that being a generalist shouldn’t stress me out or make me feel bad. I’ve picked up a bunch of random knowledge just out of curiosity, and with a small team, I had to learn new stuff to make things better.

I know what I’m good at, so I choose jobs that fits my skills and go with the flow of the job market. But actually there’s no need to stress out too much – we only have 24 hours in a day!

If you think about it, we can’t know everything about everything, right? You probably focused on one area in college, so pursuing higher education or becoming an expert means you’re tending to those specific skills while maybe missing out on other stuff. Is it better to be a specialist, or does it limit you? And hey, remember when unicorns were all the rage? Do people even talk about them anymore?

Why not just go for it and share your thoughts with the world?

If you’re really good at something and believe in yourself, you can make an impact wherever you go. Stay curious, keep a positive attitude, and soak up knowledge like a sponge. All this will add to your skills and abilities, making you stand out even more in your work and personal life.