Designer Mindset in Visual Communication: Creativity, Innovation, and Problem-Solving as Integrated Competencies in Contemporary Design Practice
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/mjst.v3i5.229Keywords:
Designer Mindset, Visual Creativity, Design Innovation, Problem-Solving, Design Thinking, Creative Thinking, Visual Communication Design, User Experience, Creative Industry, Qualitative Literature ReviewAbstract
The mindset of a visual designer is a cognitive and affective construct that combines creativity, innovation, and problem-solving ability as the core competencies of the contemporary design profession. This article aims to conceptually examine the interrelation among these three dimensions in shaping an adaptive and highly competitive designer mindset in the era of digital transformation. Using the Qualitative Literature Review (QLR) method, this study synthesizes various reputable literature sources, primarily published between 2020 and 2026. The study's findings reveal that creativity functions as the cognitive foundation of the design process, which develops through idea exploration, utilization of imagination, and adaptation to changing trends. Innovation acts as a strategic foundation that directs creative energy into market-valued visual solutions, with the integration of digital technology and user experience-based approaches as its main catalysts. Problem-solving occupies a position as an integrative competency that connects creativity and innovation with the real needs of users through a cycle of problem identification, needs analysis, creative decision-making, and iterative evaluation. These three dimensions work synergistically and reinforce each other within an ecosystem of superior designer thinking. The implications of these findings include the need for educational curriculum reform in design that explicitly integrates critical and creative thinking training, as well as the development of an empathy-based innovation culture in creative industry practice
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