REGARDING THE DEFINITION OF SOFT SKILLS AS A CONDITION FOR ENSURING THE QUALITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS IN GRAPHIC DESIGN

Abstract

The article addresses the pressing issue of developing “soft skills” in graphic design students, considering the growing demand for creative and communicatively adept professionals in this field. It emphasizes that cultivating such skills is a necessary component of their professional training. Drawing from the Icograda Design Education Manifesto, where design is characterized as an activity encompassing intellectual, creative, strategic, managerial, and technical aspects, the article underscores the importance of shaping personal skills. It delves into researchers’ perspectives on material and immaterial, cognitive and non-cognitive, as well as “hard skills” and “soft skills” in the context of graphic design. The article notes the absence of a unified approach to defining the personal qualities necessary for a graphic design professional. It provides an analysis of industry standards, manifestos, educational standards, and national and international educational programs in China and the United Kingdom for training graphic design professionals regarding the specified skill requirements outlined in these documents. The results show that the skill requirements and personality traits of professionals are outlined in education standards and training programs. The article identifies specific “soft skills,” such as communicativeness, creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, and time management, which contribute to successful work in the field of graphic design. It underscores the importance of cultivating these skills in the educational process. The specificity of the identified “soft skills” concerning graphic design is also examined. The article’s conclusion emphasizes the importance of “soft skills” in the professional training of future graphic designers and the need for further developments in this direction.