Are there many graphic design jobs

Graphic designers generally work in studios, where they have access to drafting tables, computers, and the software necessary to create their designs. Although many graphic designers work independently, those who work for specialized graphic design firms often work as part of a design team. Many graphic designers collaborate with colleagues or work with clients on projects.

Those who are self-employed may need to adjust their workday to meet with clients in the evenings or on weekends. In addition, they may spend some of their time looking for new projects or competing with other designers for contracts.

Get the education you need: Find schools for Graphic Designers near you! Graphic designers usually need a bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field. Candidates for graphic design positions should demonstrate their creativity and originality through a professional portfolio that features their best designs.

A bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field is usually required. However, individuals with a bachelor's degree in another field may pursue technical training in graphic design to meet most hiring qualifications. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits about postsecondary colleges, universities, and independent institutes with programs in art and design. Most programs include courses in studio art, principles of design, computerized design, commercial graphics production, printing techniques, and website design.

In addition, students should consider courses in writing, marketing, and business, all of which are useful in helping designers work effectively on project teams.

High school students interested in graphic design should take basic art and design courses in high school, if the courses are available. Many bachelor's degree programs require students to complete a year of basic art and design courses before being admitted to a formal degree program. Some schools require applicants to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability. Many programs provide students with the opportunity to build a professional portfolio of their designs.

For many artists, including graphic designers, developing a portfolio—a collection of completed works that demonstrates their styles and abilities—is essential because employers rely heavily on a designer's portfolio in deciding whether to hire the individual. Graphic designers must keep up with new and updated computer graphics and design software, either on their own or through formal software training programs. Professional associations that specialize in graphic design, such as AIGA, offer courses intended to keep the skills of their members up to date.

Graphic designers often gain their initial experience through internships. Internships provide aspiring graphic designers an opportunity to work with designers and to experience the design process from concept to completion, in some cases while completing a design program.

Certification programs are generally available through software product vendors. Certification in graphic design software can demonstrate a level of competence and may provide a jobseeker with a competitive advantage.

Experienced graphic designers may advance to chief designer, art director , or other supervisory positions. Analytical skills. Graphic designers must be able to look at their work from the point of view of their consumers and examine how the designs they develop will be perceived by consumers to ensure they convey the client's desired message.

Artistic ability. Graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers. They produce rough illustrations of design ideas, either by hand sketching or by using computer programs. Communication skills.

Graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately reflect the desired message and effectively express information. Computer skills. Most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs. Graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers. They develop unique designs that convey a certain message on behalf of their clients.

Time-management skills. Graphic designers often work on multiple projects at the same time, each with a different deadline. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The median annual wages for graphic designers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:. The job involves managing skills, leadership and often budgeting and time management abilities as well as creative vision.

When Ruane worked as an associate creative director at a digital ad agency, his work involved concepting with a copywriter partner, pitching and presenting ideas and leading a team of designers and art directors while still taking part in the visual design. UX designers work to make products, processes and services seamless, enjoyable and intuitive for users. They think about how the product feels, how users will use it. They ensure the product flows from one step to the next.

UX designers might run user tests, refining any bumps or confusions in the process. This career involves tons of out-of-the-box thinking, creative intuition and a natural appreciation for smooth design. This design discipline is often found in web design, where organizations are placing an increased emphasis on ensuring their website designs are both visually appealing and simple to use.

While user experience design has been around for much longer, Ruane notes that the role of UX designer really started to grow in popularity around ten years ago. When that happened, many of his fellow graphic design classmates transitioned into UX careers. This is an excellent role for technology-savvy designers as it often requires a blend of design and web technology skills.

UI design is often considered a subset of UX design and has similar overall goals. User interface designers focus on how the product is laid out. They design each screen and each page, ensuring that the layout visually works with the overall path a UX designer has charted. UI designers design each screen or page a user interacts with, ensuring that the UI visually communicates the path a UX designer charts. They might decide where content should go on an analytics dashboard or what tools make the most sense for the user navigating a page.

They also pay close attention to style coherence and ensure the product remains consistent. They upload and ensure the accuracy of design files throughout the last stages of development. The job is equal parts design and computer applications skill. Production artists might suggest improvements to the work they are finishing as well as making final touches like scaling, cropping, retouching and repositioning.

He emphasizes that positions like this can really help you get exposure to the variety of jobs out there. You might find that you really enjoy a particular part of the process. Product developers ideate, lead and manage the creation of products.

They can work on so many different things that their job duties will vary widely, but general tasks include performing industry research, creating illustrations, presenting the product to employers or stakeholders and contributing to the development process. This role might go hand in hand with graphic design.

Damien Cunningham is a senior graphic designer and product developer at Find Me a Gift. Art directors take charge of the visual style and content in magazines, newspapers, product packaging and movie and television productions. They create design and direct other artists to develop each contributing piece. They work closely with their employers or clients to cast an artistic vision that meets objectives, the available budget and desired impact.

Ruane worked as an art director at a few digital advertising agencies doing visual design for websites and online advertising campaigns. This role was a highlight in his career path.

Marketing specialists collect and analyze data on target customers, initiate marketing campaigns, measure effectiveness of marketing attempts and create strategies to promote their company and its goods or services.

Cunningham says more graphic designers should consider job titles in the marketing category with the unique expertise they offer. This keeps things exciting and also offers many options for future careers. Multimedia artists and animators design complex graphics and animation using computer animation or modeling programs.

Designers who have some experience on their resume, a stunning portfolio of work or expertise in niche areas of design, marketing and graphics could build a career finding freelance projects. Industrial designers combine art, business, and engineering to develop the concepts for manufactured products.

Special effects artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment. Technical writers prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. Web developers create and maintain websites. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability.

Graphic Artists Guild. Society for Experiential Graphic Design. National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Careers for people who are creative. Experiential designer. Putting your liberal arts degree to work.

Graphic Designers. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. Last Modified Date: Wednesday, September 8, The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised.

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What Graphic Designers Do About this section Graphic designers create designs either by hand or using computer software packages. Work Environment About this section Graphic designers generally work in a studio where they have access to drafting tables and computers.

How to Become a Graphic Designer About this section Graphic designers should demonstrate their creativity and originality through a professional portfolio. Job Outlook About this section Graphic Designers Percent change in employment, projected Total, all occupations. CareerOneStop CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area.

Similar Occupations About this section This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of graphic designers. Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. What They Do The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. Work Environment The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked.

Pay The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Job Outlook The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.