To become a successful sound designer, it's important to have an open mind and the ability to take direction. You also need to be creative, versatile, driven, and organized since you're responsible for coming up with ideas for projects as well as managing each step of the process until they are completed. With computer programs becoming more advanced every year, learning how to use digital editing software is extremely beneficial in this profession. Knowledge of music theory is also helpful if you plan on creating your own sounds or composing melodies. Knowing how to play an instrument can be useful if you plan on doing field recordings yourself or are interested in designing sound effects for musical projects. Learning about acoustics is another plus since there are many factors that can affect sound quality.