Red Flags in Beginner Designers on LinkedIn

(from someone who has to make the files actually work in the real world)

LinkedIn has turned everyone with Canva and a Behance account into a “brand designer.”

That’s not necessarily bad.

What’s bad is when work that isn’t ready for professional use gets advertised as if it is.

In the world of logos, signage, and print—bad design isn’t just ugly.

It becomes:

• unreadable storefront signs

• blurry banners

• expensive reprints

• frustrated clients

• wasted budgets

Here are the clearest warning signs I see from beginner designers online.

1. A Portfolio That Only Exists in Mockups

If every project is shown as:

• a glowing MacBook screen

• a perfectly lit billboard

• a coffee cup floating in space

…but there isn’t a single photo of something actually produced…

That’s a problem.

Mockups prove you can use Photoshop.

They do NOT prove you understand:

• materials

• scale

• print production

• installation

• real-world legibility

In my world, design isn’t real until it’s built.

2. No Mention of Process – Only “Aesthetics”

Beginner posts usually sound like this:

“I created a clean modern luxury logo with bold colors.”

Cool.

But:

• Who was it for?

• What problem did it solve?

• What constraints existed?

• How will it be used?

If a designer can’t explain the reasoning behind the work, they designed for Dribbble—not for a business.

3. Zero Understanding of Print and Production

This one separates hobbyists from professionals instantly.

If you never see them talk about:

• CMYK vs RGB

• vector files

• Pantone colors

• bleed and trim

• resolution

• material limitations

…you’re looking at someone who has never prepared a file for real manufacturing.

That becomes your headache later.

Especially with:

• vehicle graphics

• interior signs

• dimensional letters

• large-format prints

4. Trendy Designs That Would Fail in Real Life

I constantly see logos that:

• only work in giant sizes

• rely on ultra-thin fonts

• use unreadable gradients

• fall apart in black and white

• look great on Instagram but terrible on a sign

If a logo can’t survive:

• embroidery

• small print

• a storefront sign

• a single-color application

…it isn’t finished.

5. “Concept Brands” Passed Off as Experience

Nothing wrong with practice projects.

Huge problem when they’re marketed like client work.

If a portfolio is full of:

• fake coffee shops

• imaginary tech startups

• fantasy rebrands of Nike and Apple

Ask yourself:

“Have they ever worked with a real client, budget, or deadline?”

6. No Talk About Real Constraints

Professional design lives inside limits:

• budgets

• building codes

• material availability

• ADA requirements

• installation methods

• maintenance

If a designer never mentions constraints, it usually means they’ve never had any.

7. Overpromising Every Service on Earth

Be cautious of profiles claiming:

“Logo design • UX/UI • Web dev • animation • social media • SEO • packaging • illustration • 3D modeling”

That’s not a design studio.

That’s a beginner afraid to choose a lane.

Real professionals specialize—or at least clearly define what they actually do well.

8. No Questions – Just “Ta-Da!”

The biggest tell of all:

Beginner designers jump straight to visuals.

Professional designers start with questions.

If you never see them discuss:

• discovery

• client goals

• revisions

• feedback

• problem-solving

…you’re looking at decoration, not design.

To Beginner Designers Reading This

This isn’t meant to gatekeep you.

It’s meant to level you up.

If you want to be taken seriously:

• show real projects

• learn print production

• talk about constraints

• be honest about your experience

• stop hiding behind mockups

The goal isn’t to look like a designer.

It’s to actually become one.

To Business Owners Hiring Designers

Before you hire someone from LinkedIn, ask these simple questions:

• “Can I see examples of produced work?”

• “What files will I receive at the end?”

• “How do you prepare designs for print and signage?”

• “What happens if revisions are needed after production?”

The answers will tell you everything.

Final Thought

Good design isn’t proven by likes, gradients, or slick mockups.

It’s proven when:

• the sign goes up

• the print looks perfect

• the brand works in the real world

• and the client doesn’t have to pay twice

That’s the difference between a LinkedIn designer and a professional designer.

Photo by Eftakher Alam