In the world of graphic design, goals are often thrown around.

But amidst the shower of uninspired ambitions, there's a quiet rebellion brewing among designers who are fucking tired of settling for the ordinary.

Here’s the average graphic designer’s daily goals:

Write my goals down in Notion
Number one priority goes last on list
Meditate
Cold shower
Positive affirmations in the mirror
Then start working on pointless tasks
Too tired to do the last priority, save it for tomorrow.
*Makes $0.00 - hopes for an improvement*

This new approach to goal setting has become a breeding ground for mediocrity, where designers chase achievements that fail to capture the essence of true creative growth.

It's time to break free from the shackles of average goals and embrace a more rebellious approach to self-improvement.

Here's a manifesto for the designer's rebellion, a guide to setting goals that ignite your creativity and propel you towards becoming the designer you've always dreamed of being:

1. Unleash the Power of Curiosity

Don't let your goals be dictated by trends or industry expectations.

Instead, embark on a journey of exploration, driven by your curiosity. Delve into uncharted territories of design, experiment with other techniques, and allow your imagination to run wild.

Design trends are boring as fuck, avoid them like the plague.

2. Embrace the Challenge of Innovation

Don't settle for replicating existing designs.

Instead, challenge yourself to push the boundaries of innovation.

Question the status quo, break the rules, and create designs that leave a lasting impact on the world.

Design actually impacts the world - ignore any dork who tries to tell you otherwise.

They’ll be in the latest queue from the latest iPhone 17 because the Apple logo is on the back of the phone.

Their opinions are invalid.

3. Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Don't chase perfection. It's a mirage in the desert of creativity.

Instead, embrace the imperfections and challenges that come with growth.

View every step, every stumble, as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and elevate your skills.

But don’t jump to the other extreme and start telling yourself lies like:

“I’ve got time to make mistake after mistake so it doesn’t matter.”

It does matter.

Don’t fear making mistakes, but don’t go out of your way to actively make them because “it’s part of the creative process”.

4. Seek Inspiration from the Unexpected

Don't limit your inspiration to design websites.

Seek inspiration in the most unlikely places – nature, literature, philosophy, even the mundane objects that surround you.

There’s much more to inspiration than Pinterest and Dribbble (a recipe to make all your design work look the same as everybody else’s).

5. Collaborate with a Spirit of Openness

Collaboration isn't about competition.

It's about sharing ideas, learning from each other, and creating something extraordinary together.

Embrace the power of collaboration and let your creative energies intertwine with others.

If you see everybody as competition, you need to seriously re-evaluate.

6. Challenge Your Own Assumptions

Don't be afraid to question your own creative process and assumptions.

Challenge your comfort zone, experiment with new approaches, and let your creativity flow freely.

Ask why you are choosing that Serif typeface.

Because you like it?

Is that really a good enough reason?

Challenge your assumptions.

7. Embrace the Journey, Not Just the Destination

Don't get so caught up in achieving your goals that you forget to enjoy the journey.

Enjoy the process of creation, the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the moments of inspiration.

Remember:

You are comparing you vs you.

Everybody online is making $10k/month on Twitter (X) if you look hard enough to find it. (They’re not actually)

Enjoy your personal journey and don’t compare yourself to anybody else.

8. Never Stop Rebelling

Never let the flames of your creativity be extinguished by the norms and expectations of the industry.

Continue to rebel against mediocrity, to push boundaries, and to create designs that leave a mark on the world.

“B…b…but Joseph I can’t rebel. I’ll get some haters on my Twitter account!”

Good. Let them become jealous while you sell digital products and make money online while you sleep.

I have a 45 minute crash course on how to get started on Gumroad and do what other designers aren’t doing - making digital products online that actually sell.

The thing is, I would never release a product unless I knew those who take action on it would achieve results.

That authenticity I have on JaffaBranding means a lot to me and your personal brand’s honesty should mean a lot to you too.

Never release a digital product that is half assed that doesn’t help anybody.

If you want to learn how to rebel against the graphic design norm and make digital products, just get a copy of Gumroad Sales Masterclass and take action.

Until next time, take care my friend.

Joseph.

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