This is incorrect. The tools don't make the designer... When i started a decade ago, I thought a solid foundation in photoshop and good eye for detail was enough. Now after some education and a decade as a professional I get to conduct interviews with lots of people who understand the tools but have no design knowledge. They possess no concept of typography, document flow, conceptualizing or conveying a message without words. They usually rely heavily on design trends, even if they don't fit the project.

There's also a distinct lack of understanding for which tools to use. Many want to use photoshop for everything, not realizing that jobs destined for the printer will often require them to be laid out and typeset in a different program.

The only people designers need to worry about is other designers...
For example, because i'm currently employed as a graphic designer at a company, i often only do freelance jobs that interest me and will often do them for a little under market value when compared to a full-time freelancer who needs to make it worth their time.

But this is not limited to the design industry, its also part of Software Development, and many other industries. The key of course to know what your getting and find the right people to get it done. Just because someone is cheap doesn't make them good or bad. Just makes them cheap... I'd probably do (actually I have taken) certain jobs for the same price an amateur would charge, moslty because they seem fun and/or interesting... and what you get is a more finished project, from someone who is doing more then just 'knowing the tools'.

So the TL;DR version: Amateurs rarely scare professionals, because a knowledge of the tools is simply not enough. Designers undercutting Designers is probably a bigger issue, but tough to prevent.

How has anyone else not noticed the severe misuse of quotation marks here?! This is a pretty egregious mistake and needs to be fixed!

nou