Graphic designers utilize their imagination as well as technical expertise and understanding in design principles to convey messages and tell stories visually. They aid organizations in raising brand recognition by creating the layout and appearance of magazines, brochures as well as websites and products. Graphic design is a specialization that includes illustration design of packaging games, and animation.
Graphic designers are able to select the appropriate colours, fonts, and graphic elements to communicate their message to the people they are communicating with. They employ graphic design theory methods, practices, tools and techniques to create portfolios of work that they can present to prospective employers their skills. The majority of graphic designers have Bachelor’s Degrees in Graphic Design or related fields.
Find out more about what graphic artists do as well as the steps to become one in the following article.
What Is a Graphic Designer?
Graphic designers, often referred to as graphic artists or communication designers create stories and convey information visually by using their understanding of text, images layout, color and. They are skilled professionals who are hand-picked and employ different computer programs and equipment to design the design and layout of advertisements, reports and logos.
Role and Responsibilities
On a typical day at the job, a graphic designer might talk to clients about or present a plan or use software to design an outline, design original artwork, and pick particular fonts and colors to complete a project. Graphic designers require creativity and artistic talents along with communication, computer and time management abilities. They utilize tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign.
Work Environment
A lot of graphic designers work on their own as freelancers. Some are employed by agencies or in-house for the highly specialized design services such as public relations and advertising printing, publishing and printing industries. Graphic designers frequently collaborate on designs within larger design teams. They also collaborate with writers, art directors marketing professionals, and computer programmers.
Types of Graphic Designer
Graphic Design is an vast area with a myriad of specificizations and focus areas available according to your passions as well as your skills and knowledge. Find out about the most well-known graphic design specializations by clicking here.
- Designs for packaging: Professionals in the field create packaging design for all sorts of items including cereal boxes, shampoo bottles and even smartphone boxes.
- Design for Web: Graphic designers who specialize in web design employ their technical expertise and design expertise to create websites that are visually appealing with easy layouts.
- Animation It gives you the opportunity to create animations for visually-based media, bringing it to life.
- Game Design: Game designers use the skills of creativity and technical expertise to design games.
- Design for publication: Designers who are experts in design for publication are responsible for the design of printed visual media like magazines, books and newspapers. They are focused on typography and layout.
- UX (UX) also known as User interface (UI) design: Graphic designers who specialize in UX/UI design apply design principles to enhance customer (or the customer) experience.
- Illustration: Designers use drawing abilities to design illustrations for logos, advertisements books, book covers, and other products.
- Experiential: Experienced designers assist to create connections between people and their built environments through advertising campaigns or art installations.
Graphic Designer Salary and Job Outlook
The pay for graphic designer is based on factors such as job, employer, education and previous experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says graphic design professionals earn on average a wage of $57,990 a year.
Do all you can to be different in a highly competitive sector. The BLS predicts that graphic design jobs to grow at a slower rate than average between 2021-2031, and employment will only increase by three percent over that period.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Graphic Designer?
Most people find that it will take at least four years — the time required to earn a bachelor’s degree in order to start an graphic career in design. Find out how to go about completing the process to take to become a professional graphic designer by reading the following article.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree (or Complete Alternative Education)
Graphic designers typically earn an undergraduate education in graphic design or another related field. The typical course covers the background of graphic design as well as graphic design software visually storytelling, and typography.
A few of the top graphic design bachelor’s degrees are recognized with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Find out if your graphic design program is accredited by searching for it in NASAD’s directory of accredited institutions.
A typical bachelor’s degree in graphic design requires 4 years full time studies to finish. It is possible to obtain an graphic design online degree in just four years. Graphic design programs that are part-time typically require more than four years before they graduate.
A few people choose to take up a career in graphic design after having earned a bachelor’s in a non-related field. Graphic designers who are aspiring typically meet the hiring requirements with the completion of technical training in the postgraduate certificate in graphic design programme as well as a Graphic Design Bootcamp. The intensive courses take shorter time to complete than traditional bachelor’s degrees.
Create a Graphic Design Portfolio
Making a portfolio of graphic design that showcases your artistic abilities and vision might be the most crucial thing you do to become professional graphic designers. Employers want to know what you are capable of and a portfolio is the norm for professionals, offering a glimpse into your abilities and approach to storytelling through visuals.
Most bachelor’s degree programs in graphic design provide a portfolio course which assists students in compiling their most impressive work to prepare for interviews following graduation. Portfolios should contain visual illustrations of your top work.
Complete a Graphic Design Internship
A lot of graphic design programs provide internships as part of their program. A graphic design internship that involves completing projects for real businesses gives students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience which they can be considered for entry-level jobs. In certain cases an internship in graphic design could lead to an offer of employment after graduation, or even the letter of recommendation required for different roles.
Consider Professional Graphic Design Certifications
While the field of graphic design does not require any specific qualification, obtaining a pertinent qualification can prove to potential employers that they take your profession seriously. It can also aid in standing apart from other applicants by demonstrating your knowledge in a particular field of graphic design.
You can pick from a variety of qualifications in graphic design based on your level of education as well as your experience and area of expertise. For instance, you could obtain the Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) certification in fields such as Visual Design Using Photoshop, Graphic Design and Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator, and Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Using Adobe After Effects.
Pursue Continuing Education
The skills necessary to be successful in the graphic design field change constantly. If you’re looking to remain current in your industry, you must keep learning and staying current with the latest trends in the industry. This can be accomplished through continuing education courses or workshops, as well as training with professional associations for graphic designers. This is something we discuss in more depth below.
