Impact of COVID-19 in design Industry

The pandemic has altered life as we know it. But it’s not the end of the road yet. We, humans, are an adaptive species, which explains our flair to wiggle out of the toughest of the tough challenges.

The coronavirus outbreak came unannounced and spread faster than a wildfire, leaving us little to no time to prepare for the fall our personal and professional lives would take. But, a few months into the outbreak, and a lot of us have managed to find peace in the fact that this is how life is going to look like in the coming months, or maybe even years.

The vaccines will take time, and therefore, the only solution, for now, is to stay home and figure a way to meet work deadlines and submissions. Well, it sounds easier said than done.

However, the creators of the design world seem to have found a sweet spot. They are staying indoors, doing their job and making money.

Sure, the design industry too has suffered in the last few months due to the economic backlash following the COVID-19 chapter, but the designers are positive about the gift of time the pandemic has bestowed on them.

We spoke with industry experts to understand what the pandemic means for their work and how it has changed their career. And here’s what some of them had to say. 

The Chris Do

CEO & Founder – The Futur

“The global pandemic has forced us all to stop and reflect on what we want from life, relationships, and what kind of impact we’ve had on communities and the environment. It would be additionally tragic if we didn’t use this opportunity to learn and change. Don’t just pick up where you’ve left off. Look ways to do something better,” the entrepreneur-educator shared.”

 

G’day Frank

Logo & brand identity designer for Tech & Aussie businesses

“Personally, COVID 19 hasn’t affected my business at all. It mentally affected me when our country first went into lockdown and I felt mentally constrained at the thought of not being able to go out. But I realized I didn’t have to go out much anyway in my day to day as I work from home and for myself,” the Sydney-based logo & brand identity designer expressed. “

Ryan Hayward

? The mind behind @pitchproof
?‍♂️ Designer, Startup CEO

Ryan keeps it short and simple:

“Showcase the power of virtual.”

Michael Janda

? Author: Burn Your Portfolio
? Author: The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing
? Co-host: Biz Buds Podcast

“Over the past decade, a lot of design work has been done remotely. COVID 19 will force the rest of the creative world to figure out remote working. As for COVID 19 affecting business, companies that only sell through brick and mortar stores will need to pivot now to include a digital strategy or they will likely struggle on their way to failure,” the author pointed out.

Saksham Verma

Freelance Art Director, Activist

“I think this is a good time to be productive despite the pandemic. I feel most of us had certain ideas or projects that we always wanted to do. So we can use this time at our hand to relax and concentrate on ourselves more,” Saksham echoed.

Miriam Isaac

UX Designer
?️Interviewed by @instagram for the @design launch
??Top 18 UX Instas to Follow
?Top 50 Woman in Marketing 2020
?Worked in Fortune 200

“Throughout all of history, the one thing that has the power to connect us all is collective suffering. From wars, to plagues, to attacks. When we are fighting to survive, we put aside our differences and come together as one to beat the external force.

There’s no denying Covid-19 has done this to humankind. Not only have many come together to think of solutions to beat the virus but many have come together to help us beat the emotional and mental toll this pandemic is causing. “

Vibhu Mehta

?‍? Tech Evangelist
❇️ Visual Maven
?️ Creator

“I don’t think so our industry has been impacted heavily due to the pandemic. The demand for designers has only seen an upward growth as everyone wants to push their businesses into the online realm. In today’s time and age, every firm needs a designer. On a personal level, it has been a great time for me to pick up new skills, polish the old ones and spend the extra by enrolling in informative design-based courses,” Vibhu added.

So, what’s keeping the design industry afloat?

With office spaces shutting down and people forced to work out of their homes, technology has taken not-so-surprising precedence in everyone’s lives.

Every business person worth his/ her salt knows that this is the best time to use all digital channels including social media, emails, search engines, and such to connect with a potential customer base. But for that to happen, informative and visual content must be churned out on a regular basis, which is where designers step in. They are able to seamlessly convert ideas and presentation points into useful, and engaging communication material that assists in furthering a venture. Therefore, designers are probably the only crop of skilled labor who are, maybe, going to sleep peacefully.

Let’s hope, other industries are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.