The production of design graphics is a common part of design practice. The author’s practice experience suggests a link between graphic production and the development of technical design skills in students and early-career professionals. This study uses a design studio focusing on technical grading at an LAAB-accredited university in the United States as a case study to observe the relationship between graphic products and production techniques in terms of developing technical design skill. Findings suggest the creation of graphic products may be carried out to the detriment of the development of technical grading skills. Potential avenues to improve the relationship between graphic production and technical design skills are offered and future research pathways to better understand the phenomenon are discussed.