Do graphic designers need to have the ability to draw?
It depends on the graphic design specialization you want to pursue. Some branches of design require very little to no drawing, while others benefit a lot from having drawing skills.
I’m a logo & brand identity designer, and I rely on my traditional drawing skills all the time. I draw all logo symbols and hand-lettered wordmarks in pencil and ink first, and then vectorize them in Adobe Illustrator. I draw custom icons and illustrations for my clients’ websites and brochures. This makes my work more original, and my clients appreciate having completely unique brand assets.
If you don’t enjoy drawing, I’d suggest that you specialize in the type of design work that relies on ready-made stock assets such as photography, icon sets, and fonts. Most website designers or book cover designers I know don’t draw at all. They still do great work.
Most logo designers and festival poster designers I know draw really well – not necessarily realistic, but they have a style that works for their clients.
I personally chose design as my profession because I love drawing.