12 skills to help designers get ahead in 2025, advice from the pros

Studio Moross graphics
(Image credit: Studio Moross)

How can designers thrive in an increasingly demanding creative landscape? From curiosity to resilience, mastering online collaboration tools to leveraging AI – and even reacquainting yourself with pencils and paper – there are plenty of ways to get upskill, adapt, grow and attract new opportunities.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to shake things up, we asked senior creatives, educators and industry leaders to weigh in on the skills that are really going to help grow your career.

For more inspiration on boosting your skillset, check out our pick of creative courses to help you upskill in 2025 and our latest how-to guides, from oil painting to starting an online business.

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Antonia Wilson
Freelance writer and editor

Antonia Wilson is a freelance writer and editor. Previous roles have included travel reporter for the Guardian, and staff writer for Creative Review magazine, alongside writing for The Observer, National Geographic Traveller, Essentialist and Eco-Age, among others. She has also been a freelance editor for Vogue and Google, and works with a variety of global and emerging brands on sustainability messaging and other copywriting and editing projects — from Ugg and Ferragamo to Microsoft and Tate Galleries.

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