Tabitha Swanson for It’s Nice That:

A few years ago, I realised that within a week, I was using about 25 different design programs, each with their own nuances, shortcuts, and technological learning curves. (That number has continued to grow.) I also began to notice less time to rest in the state of full technological proficiency in a tool before trends and software change again and it became time to learn a new one. I’ve learned so many skills over the years, both to stay current, but also out of genuine curiosity. But the pressure to adapt to new technologies as well as perform on social media, update every platform, my portfolio, website and LinkedIn and keep relations with clients, is spiritually draining. Working as a creative has never felt more tiring. I posted about this exhaustion on Instagram recently and many people got in touch saying they felt the same – do you feel it too?

I get it. There's always so many new things to learn and keep up with, especially in the age of AI. That's why I think the strategic skills are more valuable and therefore more durable in the long run.

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POV: Designers are facing upskilling exhaustion

Why is lethargy growing among designers? Creative director, designer and SEEK/FIND founder, Tabitha Swanson, discusses where our collective exhaustion to upskill and “grow” has come from.

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