Designer Professional Development
At Lyquix, we are committed to empowering our Graphic Designers to grow their skills, expand their impact, and advance their careers. This guide serves as a roadmap for professional development, outlining the core technical and non-technical skills expected at each career level: Junior, Mid-Level, Senior, Lead, and Principal (see Technical Roles Levels).
By following this framework, you'll be able to:
- Identify the skills needed to perform effectively at your current level.
- Understand the areas to develop to advance to the next level.
- Align your learning and work with Lyquix's standards of excellence.
Our focus extends beyond technical proficiency. We value well-rounded developers who communicate effectively, think strategically, and contribute positively to our team culture and client success. Your growth is a collaborative effort, supported by mentorship, learning opportunities, and a clear progression pathway.
Expertise Levels
To guide your development, we use a system of Expertise Levels to measure your proficiency in specific skills, tools, or concepts. These levels provide a structured way to assess progress and identify growth opportunities. Use the table below to assess where you stand with each skill and identify steps to advance to the next level.
| 🟣 Familiarity | 🔵 Working Knowledge | 🟢 Proficiency | 🟡 Advanced Proficiency | 🔴 Mastery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness of a skill, tool, or concept but with little to no previous practical application. | Ability to perform basic tasks with abundant guidance; sufficient understanding to contribute in a supportive role. | Competence and independence in using a skill or tool to complete routine tasks effectively. | High level of skill, capable of solving complex problems and improving workflows; dependable expertise. | Recognized mastery of a skill or tool, capable of innovating and mentoring others; demonstrates thought leadership. |
Core Technical Skills
The following table outlines the essential skills and technologies for graphic designers Lyquix. For each skill, the table specifies the level of expertise expected at different job levels.
Use this table to:
- Understand what is expected of you at your current level.
- Identify the skills you need to develop to advance to the next stage of your career.
- Track your progress and set goals for continuous improvement.
This table represents the minimum requirements for each job level. To be considered at a certain job level, you must meet all listed requirements at the expertise level shown. It is not enough to demonstrate that you are capable of performing a listed skill or task at the required expertise level; you must perform these tasks consistently and reliably.
For example, a Senior Graphic Designer is expected to be knowledgeable about accessibility best practices, including ensuring adequate color contrast between text and background. Forgetting or neglecting to check color contrast, even once, without a justifiable reason (e.g., unforecastable circumstances), is not acceptable. At Lyquix, we rely on team members to deliver work that meets expectations consistently and correctly. Knowing what is required but failing to check for or implement it demonstrates a lack of diligence, which is not aligned with the expectations for any role.
This structured approach helps ensure that you not only meet current role expectations but also build the skills necessary for long-term success.
| Skill Area, Technology, or Tool | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior | Lead | Principal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web and Digital Design | |||||
| UI design for websites and web apps | 🔵 | 🟢 | 🟡 | ||
| Interaction design principles | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Accessibility and usability best practices | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Email template and graphic design and cross-client considerations | 🟣 | 🔵 | |||
| HTML, CSS, and JavaScript capabilities and design implications | 🟣 | 🔵 | |||
| Usability testing and user research methodologies | 🟣 | ||||
| Mobile and desktop apps UI design | |||||
| Branding and Visual Design | |||||
| Creating digital and print assets | 🔵 | 🟢 | 🟡 | ||
| Brand identity development | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Layout, typography, and color theory | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Font design and customization | |||||
| Content and Information Design | |||||
| Collaboration with content creators | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Readability and user engagement optimization | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Information design principles | 🟣 | 🔵 | |||
| Data visualization techniques | 🟣 | ||||
| Content strategy and SEO | 🟣 | ||||
| Tools and Software | |||||
| Design tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) | 🔵 | 🟢 | 🟡 | ||
| Photo editing and color correction | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Vector graphics and illustration | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Image optimization and file formats | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Collaboration and project management tools | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Animation and motion design tools | 🟣 | 🔵 | |||
| General Skills | |||||
| Applying design best practices and workflows | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Finding inspiration and staying updated on trends | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Exploring tools and troubleshooting software | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Researching and solving design challenges | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Working with photo and video teams | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Communicating with third-party production teams | 🟣 | 🔵 | 🟢 | ||
| Project management and organizational skills | 🟣 | 🔵 | |||
| Using AI-powered tools for design | 🟣 | 🔵 | |||
| Web development collaboration | 🟣 | ||||
| Documenting workflows and processes | 🟣 |
Non-Technical Skills
These are skills that evolve as you grow in your role. They are not fixed but develop through practice, experience, and feedback. As you progress from Junior to Mid-Level, Senior, and beyond, the expectations for these skills increase in complexity and impact.
At each stage, you'll be expected to demonstrate a higher level of responsibility and independence, and apply these skills to more complex tasks, projects, and team dynamics.
Refer to Areas of Development for a complete description of the non-technical areas of development.
| Skill | Definition |
|---|---|
| Collaboration & Communication | |
| Team Collaboration | Works effectively with team members, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity. |
| Clear Communication | Articulates ideas clearly and adapts style for technical and non-technical audiences. |
| Technical Articulation | Clearly explains technical concepts, solutions, and decisions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. |
| Constructive Feedback | Provides actionable, supportive feedback to colleagues and accepts input gracefully. |
| Knowledge Sharing | Proactively shares insights, expertise, and learnings to enhance team knowledge and growth. |
| Project Management Awareness | |
| Task Management | Organizes, prioritizes, and completes tasks efficiently, meeting deadlines consistently. |
| Understanding Project Workflows | Demonstrates awareness of project planning, execution, and dependencies to deliver results. |
| Client Focus | Ensures deliverables align with client goals and enhances the client experience. |
| Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen | |
| Big-Picture Thinking | Connects technical work to broader team, project, and organizational goals. |
| Strategic Decision-Making | Makes well-reasoned decisions that balance risks, value, and business objectives. |
| Continuous Improvement | Identifies opportunities to improve workflows, processes, and team performance. |
| Leadership & Mentorship | |
| Mentorship | Supports junior and mid-level team members, helping them learn, grow, and achieve goals. |
| Leadership | Drives team progress by setting a positive example, providing direction, and ensuring high-quality work. |
| Advocacy | Champions best practices, team needs, and technical excellence within the organization. |
Attitudes and Disposition
These are foundational qualities and work habits that define how you approach your work, your team, and challenges. Unlike skills that develop over time, these traits reflect a mindset and behavior that are expected consistently at all levels.
Attitudes and Disposition represent the qualities that build trust, foster collaboration, and drive success—both individually and as a team.
Refer to Expectations for a comprehensive list of value-based expectations.
| Skill | Definition |
|---|---|
| Problem-Solving Attitude | Tackles complex challenges proactively, finding innovative and effective solutions. |
| Analytical Thinking | Breaks down technical problems logically and applies systematic problem-solving approaches. |
| Organization and Discipline | Demonstrates excellent time management, prioritizes tasks effectively, and meets deadlines. |
| Attention to Detail | Delivers thorough, precise, and high-quality work while ensuring consistency and accuracy. |
| Optimism and Adaptability | Maintains a positive attitude and adjusts effectively to shifting priorities or challenges. |
| Initiative and Ownership | Takes responsibility for assigned tasks, anticipates challenges, and proactively finds ways to add value. |
| Reliability and Accountability | Follows through on commitments, takes ownership of outcomes, and ensures work meets high standards. |
| Professionalism | Upholds ethical standards, shows respect for colleagues and clients, and maintains composure in all situations. |
| Continuous Learning | Demonstrates curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, staying updated on trends, tools, and best practices. |