The title of this article is basically the subject I explored in my master's dissertation in Strategic Design. My interest was to understand what skills (competencies) are needed to perform well in digital design, usually as part of multidisciplinary teams, because I don't know any professional who can develop something entirely on their own, and if there is someone, they must be close to extinction.

More and more, to face the challenges of a complex and digital society, we need to align ourselves with different areas of knowledge to try to meet and solve people's daily problems. Bringing this vision into the microcosm of software and hardware development, the challenge becomes even more difficult, as it presents a world in rapid transformation and evolution, where real-world concepts need to be revised and adapted.

But it is a mistake to think that just being a nerd addicted to studying and knowing theories and technical aspects of the design profession will guarantee success. Technical knowledge is only one of the pillars of skills that a professional needs to develop and keep up to date in order to deliver high-performance solutions.

Tools evolve and new ones are released every day. Instruments, techniques, processes, and methods of digital design are influenced by the intense technological transition we are experiencing. In this field, there is no room for complacency with acquired knowledge. What is needed is a thirst for learning, which I consider one of the main skills or competencies of a designer. Having this thirst for learning is an essential skill for those working with technology and design. It must become a hobby, as if each new piece of knowledge acquired were part of a collection.

I consider the thirst for learning a master skill that implies the mobilization of other competencies such as persistence, methods of collecting and organizing information (research), an interest in going through processes multiple times to solidify knowledge and enrich one's source of references and case studies, an interest in participating in events and sharing knowledge through various media channels, and an instinctive desire to experiment and explore as well as to test and define.

So, we can say that keeping up with the evolution of design methods, techniques, and tools is the bare minimum required to build a career in digital design.

But as I was saying, the technical aspect of a profession is just a small part of the knowledge and skills necessary for good performance. A designer has always had, and will increasingly have, the human being as the user of their creations. In the digital realm, user-centered design is the foundational reference, and to serve this specific user, the designer must remember that they too are part of the same species, humans.

Additionally, they must understand that the needs of a complex and networked society, as discussed by Morin and Castells, require that different areas of knowledge connect to build or conceive something greater. In doing so, multidisciplinary teams emerge. These are spaces of practice and work that require, beyond technical knowledge, relational and behavioral competencies.

Behavioral competencies are important because many skills require a personal attitude, a behavioral trait that depends solely on the individual, such as curiosity.

Relational competencies are also necessary because we are indeed in a networked society that enables interconnected work. To increase our connectivity and effectiveness as professionals, we must greatly improve our capacity for interpretation, communication, and expression. This involves competencies in relation to others, skills that facilitate relationships and minimize potential friction.

Studies from various fields of knowledge such as psychology, sociology, and communication point to the ability to relate as an essential competency for professional and personal success in these new times we live in. Once again, this involves self-knowledge, understanding others, and studying behavior.

In design, we often speak of concepts like empathy, user research, ethnography, and involving the user in the solution creation process as a key element. For that, the designer must be able to listen not only to the user but also to their teammates, be kind, build trust, show empathy and identification with the user and the problem, be a keen observer, and be humble and inclusive.

All these skills mentioned here are not exclusive to designers but are essential for success in any modern urban activity in today’s society, especially since we are increasingly working in multidisciplinary teams, whether co-located or remote.

In a quick study I conducted with my network of over 29,000 social media connections, using a social media questionnaire, I asked my colleagues what skills they considered necessary to work as a designer. The engagement was great, and with over 300 responses, I selected the 42 most frequently mentioned competencies. The results are shown below.

Competencies that a good designer should have, as cited and explained by designers in the survey:

1. Curiosity, 2. Courage, 3. Humility, 4. Willingness to always learn, 5. Self-confidence, 6. Resilience, 7. Patience, 8. Adaptability, 9. Argumentation skills, 10. Speed, 11. Boldness, 12. Common sense, 13. Empathy, 14. Good taste, 15. Sociability, 16. Aesthetic sense, 17. Awareness, 18. Objectivity, 19. Creativity, 20. Persistence, 21. Ethics, 22. Simplicity, 23. Storytelling, 24. Decision-making, 25. Open-mindedness (freedom from prejudice), 26. Entrepreneurship, 27. Ability to listen, 28. Critical thinking, 29. Investigative instinct, 30. Facilitation, 31. Collaboration, 32. Communication, 33. Methodological adaptability, 34. Organization, 35. Big-picture thinking, 36. Attention to detail, 37. Focus, 38. Business acumen, 39. Inclusiveness, 40. Detachment, 41. Self-teaching, 42. Didactic skills

Among these 42 competencies cited, if we classify them into the categories technical competence, behavioral competence, and relational competence, the table would look like this:

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This roughly means that, according to the survey respondents, among the 42 competencies mentioned:

66.5 percent are considered behavioral competencies
24 percent are considered relational competencies
9.5 percent are considered technical competencies

This result offers insights into how Brazilian designers perceive the necessary competencies for performing their role. It also suggests that behavioral and relational competencies are increasingly seen as more important and valued than technical competencies.

It is understood that a failure in behavioral or relational competencies can compromise the use of an entire set of technical skills.

Of course, this is a methodologically limited result and should not be used for broad generalizations. Still, it clearly points to how designers currently perceive these issues, especially in a time when digital design, UX (User Experience), and UI (User Interface) are highly valued in the technology and business sectors.

This article will have a part 2 addressing another question from the research: what not to be when working as a designer in multidisciplinary teams.

Ubiratan Silva, M. Sc.

Digital Design Lead / PhD Candidate in Design at UFRGS / M.Sc. in Design / Professor / Consultant / Design Leadership / Designer