“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
These words by Thomas Jefferson’s remind us that truth-telling is not just a moral compass but a practical tool. And though made in the 1800s their importance holds weight for designers even in the 21st century… it speaks to the importance of a level of self-awareness many of us jettison in a period of template behaviours.
For designers, who deal with enough uncertainty in briefs, projects, and shifting trends, this clarity is nothing short of powerful. It’s like clearing fog from a window—you suddenly see the landscape as it is. And when you see things clearly, you stop wasting energy on denial and start building energy around solutions.
Today’s brew is all about leaning into this honesty. Not the easy kind, but the brutal, sometimes uncomfortable honesty that forces you to reflect, reset, and realign.
But when we talk about being honest this doesn’t mean simply saying what is right or wrong—it’s about aligning with reality, no matter how uncomfortable it feels
Here are 4 areas designers can be brutally honest with themselves and how this helps.
1. Your Value To Clients
What it is: This refers to understanding why you design. while your passion is a great starting point it’s not enough to get you through the door. Being honest here means striking a core reason why you should be hired beyond just your passion. Honest designers seek to leverage real values such as client communication, understanding Briefs or tools for delivering client needs faster.
How it helps: Your goal of being honest means you realize that businesses require more than just passion but skills—and you seek to develop them. It means you transition from the designer raging about his likes to one who thinks deeper about what the world really needs. This eventually makes you the designer clients seek to work with.
2. Charging for Design Work
What it is: Money conversations can get awkward, but being honest with yourself about what your work is worth is vital. Too often, designers undercharge because they fear rejection or want to appear “affordable.” But honesty demands you ask: Does this fee reflect my effort, expertise, and the client’s potential return on investment?
How it helps: Honesty helps you stop treating your work like a favor and start valuing it as a business offering. When you’re upfront with yourself, you gain confidence to set fair rates and attract clients who respect your craft.
3. Growth Level
What it is: Every designer has blind spots, but not every designer admits it. Being honest about your skill level whether you’re just starting out or five years in removes the pressure of pretending.
It frees you to seek mentorship, take courses, or practice deliberately without the illusion of “already knowing it all.”
How it helps: Brutal honesty here means you embrace the learner’s mindset. You avoid stagnation because you’re always aware of your gaps and intentionally filling them. Over time, this builds mastery, not just competence.
4. Your Future Path (Where You Want to Be)
What it is: This is about confronting your long-term vision. Do you want to stay a freelancer, become a creative director, or transition into product design? Being honest here means clarifying whether your current actions are aligned with your future goals or if you’re just drifting.
How it helps: Honesty helps you cut through the noise of “what everyone else is doing” and define a path that’s yours. It forces you to make decisions today that serve tomorrow whether that means networking, upskilling, or shifting industries. With honesty, your career becomes intentional rather than accidental.
The Hard Truth that Builds
Early in her career Oprah Winfrey was told she wasn’t fit for television because of her emotional delivery. Instead of denying it, she acknowledged her struggle and pivoted into a style that played to her strengths: empathetic, human-centered storytelling. That honesty turned what was considered a weakness into the foundation of her success.
While design and broadcasting are worlds apart, the thread remains the same growth begins where honesty begins. Facing reality, however painful, is the only way to reshape it.
And here’s the reminder for this week: not all skills are software-related. Human skills—like honesty, humility, and self-awareness are the hidden levers that determine how far your design career can go. Being honest is not just noble; it’s strategic.