"Designers need to be able to think, reason, research and back up their designs. Critical thought is the backbone of design. Critical thinking is what separates designers from your clients cousins 10 year old kid with Photoshop that can ‘make a logo in 5 minutes’. Design without meaning or concept is merely decoration.
A broad knowledge of design and art history gives a designer a firm foundation from which to be inspired and to reference in new and innovative design solutions. Designing without the knowledge of what has been done before is naive.
Typography can make or break an idea, layout, or design. A good designer should have a firm grasp of typography and should be familiar the different classes of typefaces and how their aesthetic qualities communicate and reinforce messages.
Designers should be aware of different types of grid systems and how they can help bring organization and structure to design. Without grid systems designs often end up in chaos.
The design process should always start with sketching rough ideas or mind mapping. However drawing and doodling are often overlooked in the design process due to time and the use of the computer. There is an immediacy that is present when pencil or pen meets paper vs ’sketching’ on a computer. IMO good designers will ALWAYS start with sketching.
One of the things that was left out of my design education was dealing with people – more specifically clients. Designers need to be able to clearly communicate about design in ways that clients can understand without making them feel inferior.
Design is a process and does not happen in an instant. Creativity tends to happen when we least expect it which sometimes makes things difficult. Designers need to posses the work ethic and patience that is necessary to see a design from concept to revisions to completion.
Designers need to be willing to keep their skills sharp at all times as well as push themselves to learn new skills, software and techniques."

DesignReviver