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MasileinDE
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Below are the last blogs of this player. You can also post comments or subscribe.
TitleCommentsDate
BOOKS • 2023 reads130-01-2023 13:56
DESIGNS • Uploading a design013-11-2022 11:13
DR • Using the same reference is not stealing201-05-2022 16:19
DESIGNS • Designing with references024-01-2022 12:17
DR • Using references doesn't mean you're lazy or uncreative009-12-2021 18:32
DR • Copyright and Crediting009-12-2021 18:32
DR • Talent VS Skill009-12-2021 18:30
DR • Design Requests1009-12-2021 18:24
VP • What is appropriate and what isn't?2811-03-2021 18:23
VP • Why I quit DT1811-12-2020 16:57
DESIGNS • changing a skin 422-07-2020 18:10
VP • Why being male is so unsexy2101-06-2020 14:04
VP • Why being a teamer on VP kinda sucks427-05-2020 11:50
VP • Is DM ever worth it?026-05-2020 17:56
VP • The secret of a VP designer1222-02-2020 22:17
DESIGNS • General hints and tutorials516-11-2018 21:48
DESIGNS • remakes1802-10-2018 09:42
DESIGNS • Step by Step1204-07-2018 12:25

 ReportDR • Talent VS Skill
This is from the blog series Designer Rant that I wrote on a site that shall not be named and has been re-edited to fit VP (because why not post it here as well, it's not like designing is something this universal).
Please keep in mind, that this is no invitation to talk about the primary source of this posts (I don't want the mods to delete this blog) and that while some of the topics or specific examples might not be completely true or fitting for VP, they certainly can be found on pixel based dress-up games and thus I think them important to get mentioned in the context of VP as well. So, basically, this is designer content but make it commentary from my angry and frustrated mind. (Also thinking about publishing my tutorials I made because some of them just look fucking amazing.)


Welcome to the second designer rant. On today's list: the everlasting discussion between skill and talent. And do you need talent to learn how to design?

Let's start on an academic level. Here are the definitions of the words skill and talent.



You see, this is where a lot of the confusion starts. Because for many people talent is like Apollo blessing you at your birth and now you're can art or not. Fact is, no one wakes up and is masterful or even remotely good at something without prior training. You might find some things come to you more easily, but you aren't born with the ability to for instance draw well.

And here is where we jump in the truly complicated things - complicated not really being complicated, just potentially frustrating. Some people do have certain abilities that make it easier for them to take up a skill. Let's take the example of designing. To make good designs, you need an understanding of anatomy, fabrics and the basics of light. You can learn all of these things by studying their theory and taking lessons and doing exercices. You can also try to learn it by just practicing, trying your best and using the advice of others to learn it. The latter being the way how most of us learn how to design and it's the one taking you the longest because we usually start with learning the mechanics all wrong. But that's a topic for another time.

Now there are people who are amazing observers. They can look at a picture and tell you where the light comes from, they can look at something and tell you how it moves. Those people don't know how to design, but they have a natural instinct to understanding and seeing those elements that are important for designing. They don't need as extensive lessons on how gravity affects fabrics differently and how weight and cut play a lot into how an item needs to be drawn. They look at something and they understand what they see in a near scientific way. They might be able to look at your design and while not knowing how to fix it are still able to see what the mistake is. That too is something you can learn, but you'll need to understand the theory behind it first. These people don't know the theory behind it but due to their observation skills and logical reasoning are able to figure it out on their own purely by looking at something. This is talent.

Does that mean they make better designers than others? Does that mean they will have it easier learning how to design?

Honestly, no. Everyone can learn how to design given the proper amount of time. Some people practice for about 2 years and are proficient, others try their best for 10 years and still don't see any progress. How quick you are able to learn the skill is also dependant on your talent in said skill category. For designing, it would be artistic talent. And no amount of talent will ever reflect on your quality and actual ability if you don't put in the work to make it look good.

So, bottom line: It doesn't matter if you are the next artistic genius or not, everyone can learn how to design. It's a skill like running, woodworking, sewing or baking. You can learn how to do it properly and how to do it well if given the time and proper guidance (guidance helps limiting the time needed), so don't let anyone tell you, you lack the talent to do something. If you are dedicated to learning a skill and have the physical and mental abilities to do so, you will reach your goal eventually if you stick to it and are working on improving.

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