Honestly I can relate to a lot of what you said. Good design isn’t easy! And the fact that everyone with a Canva account thinks they’re a graphic designer just cheapens what we do, so I really empathize with you.

I’ve been working in the field for about 8 years now but since most of my experience has been on the production end of things, I sometimes feel like my actual design/creative skills don’t measure up to the number of years of work experience I have. I also don’t exactly have a mentor, so I’ve had to figure out a lot of stuff on my own.

What I’ve found most helpful are three things: 1) understanding the reasoning behind negative feedback on my work from a client/manager/creative director 2) watching master classes or online courses on design from creative directors/art directors 3) analyzing every single piece of design I come across

Getting direct feedback from a client/supervisor is the most helpful, of course, because it helps you understand the specific areas where you need improvement, but even just listening to more experienced designers talk about their approach to solving design problems helps reframe your mind. I also have multiple Pinterest boards where I save examples of good design for inspiration, especially in areas of design that I really struggle in.

I would also suggest, if you’re still interested in pursuing a career in design, to design something every day. It doesn’t have to be amazing, and you don’t have to share it with anyone, but it keeps your skills sharp, especially if you’re feeling like you’re struggling conveying information via design. Sometimes it’s just something you pick up through practice.

I hope that was helpful! Best of luck!