How to Become a Graphic Designer: Graphic Design Schools & Careers

Become Team

Become Team

Nov 9, 2021

Graphic designers create visual communications seen every solar day, every minute, across the earth. Designers develop amusement, advertising, news and features in all forms, including print publications (magazines, newspapers and brochures) and digital and broadcast media such as game machines, television, web browsers, social platforms and portable devices. As applied science continually develops in complexity, and so too grow the duties and skills of graphic designers. This comprehensive career and caste guide examines the role of graphic designers, the well-nigh-common routes into the profession, as well as bachelor programs and schools. It's rounded out by a review of job growth estimates in the field and salaries, by country, for graphic pattern professionals.

What Does A Graphic Designer Exercise?

Graphic Design Career Basics

Graphic designers convey inspiring and informative ideas in advertisements, brochures and other marketing communications materials. Some graphic designers work for specialized design firms as function of a collaborative team, while others are cocky-employed and work independently. Print and digital designers utilise complex graphics tools to manipulate text, images, animations and color. About graphic designers work full-fourth dimension to meet deadlines. Self-employed graphic designers must be flexible, as clients sometimes need to meet during evening and weekend hours. As with so many industries, customer service and client satisfaction are keys to success. Additionally, succeeding equally a graphic designer includes learning how to bid on contracts, market services and develop an ongoing customer base.

Graphic Design Salaries and Job Outlook

Graphic Blueprint Salaries

Salaries for graphic designers are variable across the state, based on factors including experience, education, type of employer and geographical location. According to the BLS, the median national annual wage for graphic designers in 2014 was $45,900, while the tiptop 10 per centum of graphic designers earned over $77,490. Graphic designers with the highest salaries are generally those with advanced grooming and who work for specialized design firms. Payscale.com reports that the cities of San Francisco, Washington D.C. and New York pay the highest salaries, with San Francisco graphic artists earning a median wage of $54,711. Self-employed designers earn up to $twenty,000 more per yr than those working in other settings, according to Payscale.

The BLS reports the pinnacle paying states and 2014 mean annual salaries of graphic designers every bit:

State salaries
District of Columbia $72,820
New York $60,560
Connecticut $58,940
California $58,940
Maryland $58,440

Use the map beneath to compare graphic design salary estimates past state:

Graphic Blueprint: Job Growth, Prospects and Outlook

Job rates for graphic designers are expected to abound by 7 percent during the 2012-2022 decade, according to the BLS. This growth charge per unit is smaller than the national average for all jobs during the projection period, for a number of reasons. Due to the rapid evolution and deployment of digital media, the market for graphic designers in impress media has severely slowed, making designers that can piece of work both in digital and print more bonny. The BLS says jobs with "paper, periodical, book and directory publishers" will pass up past sixteen percent during the decade. On the flip side, jobs for graphics professionals in figurer systems design and related services will find a strong 35 percent increase in chore openings, especially in fields of spider web-based graphics production, portable devices and video entertainment. Competition for new jobs, the BLS predicts, will be stiff. In all, 17,400 new openings in the profession are anticipated over the projection decade.

The greatest number of regional hires are anticipated (in order) in the Northeast, Sunbelt, W Coast and Midwest. The BLS sites the post-obit states with the largest growth potential and electric current greatest number of professionals in the graphic design field:

  • California
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Florida
  • Illinois

Peak cities for employing graphic designers, co-ordinate to The Atlantic Magazine'south Urban center Lab, are:

  • San Francisco
  • New York
  • Los Angeles
  • Minneapolis
  • Seattle
  • Denver
  • Portland
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Salt Lake City
  • Boston

Select a land below for more information about employment and job growth for graphic designers.

Steps to Condign a Graphic Designer

Stride one

Get-go Building Your Skills in High Schoolhouse

Information technology never hurts to offset early in any field, just information technology is particularly important when information technology comes to graphic pattern. While in high school, students should take classes in art history, drawing, graphic arts and website blueprint. They can put their emerging skills to apply designing and producing the school newspaper or yearbook. Graphic design requires a good eye and a creative mind, but besides tantamount are the development of solid practical skills and software fluency. The sooner the student begins preparations, the amend.

Pace 2

Earn a Degree in Graphic Design

There was a time when a graphic designer could get hired strictly on their artistic portfolio. Today, however, near employers are looking for designers with a more complete and well-rounded didactics – the kind only a college caste can provide. A document in the field, or an associate'southward degree, may be sufficient in some cases, simply the U.S. Section of Labor reports that fledgling designers are much more likely to state a quality job only after earning a bachelor's degree.

In that location are currently approximately 300 postal service-secondary institutions in the U.Southward. that offer degree programs accredited by the National Clan of Schools of Art and Design. School options run the gamut from large public universities, to modest individual colleges, to prestigious fine art institutes. There are as well a growing number of online programs bachelor. Coursework covers a wide range of subjects, such as studio fine art, principles of design, commercial graphics, spider web design, advertising and graphics-related estimator applied science. Classes in marketing and business organization may be part of the curriculum as well, since designers must be able to compile and submit professional job proposals, and effectively sell themselves to potential clients.

Regardless of the specific degree they choose, graphic design students should look for an accredited program from a reputable school.

Stride 3

Complete Internships

Not all college programs in graphic blueprint crave internships, merely those that do offering students an exceptional opportunity to gain applied experience, to grade professional relationships in the design community, and complete work suitable for presentation in their portfolio or pattern "book".

Step 4

Create a Compelling Portfolio

While a solid resume is an of import aspect of any task search, the biggest asset to someone looking for a job in graphic pattern is an impressive portfolio. Though graphic designers will need a resume, the simply way for a prospective employer to understand an applicant's abilities is through a portfolio demonstrating a range of work and growth as a designer.

At that place was a time when a graphic blueprint portfolio was a simple collection of a designer's best paper and magazine advertisements. Professional person portfolios today are much more than sophisticated, consisting not only of print ads, just also including online advertisements, website graphics, and even a telly commercial reel and animation demo. Information technology is not uncommon for chore seekers today to deport fully digital versions of their portfolio on CD or DVD with them to interviews – forth with the more traditional paper version – and many designers also maintain their ain upwardly-to-date design portfolio websites.

For students simply starting out, presenting a large and varied portfolio is difficult given the limited amount of completed work they'll have done. In that example, they should focus on quality instead of quantity, presenting only their best design samples, and a portfolio arranged to meet a prospective employer's specific needs.

Graphic design is a constantly changing and developing field. Designers must keep up with the commercial and creative trends in the industry – or they may notice themselves speedily left backside. They must likewise remain current on new and updated computer graphics and design software programs, which are in a near constant state of evolution. This is specially true for designers working as freelancers, and for those interested in advancing to higher positions within their companies. Organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts or the Graphic Artists Guild provide members with educational updates on new engineering science, software or methodology. Completing certification programs in vendor-specific design software can also help build credentials.

Graphic designers may choose to accelerate their skills, inventiveness and deep knowledge of the field by adding a graduate caste or post-secondary certificate. There are principal's caste programs created specifically for designers wishing to advance in theoretical studies (MA) or concentrate their work on a studio caste (MFA).

Graphic Design Degree Options

Exploring Bookish Paths

Before enrolling in any postsecondary education program, students should have a strong sense of their long- and brusque-term goals including why they're pursuing this instruction; the level of schooling they're prepared to undertake; and what they expect from the plan. For some students, a degree is a means to an end: a new career, a better job, the advancement of skills. Degree programs are sequential in nature, and beginning students will focus on edifice a foundational skills and mastering key theories in visual communications at schools offer undergraduate certificates or associate degrees. Others may be fix to have on the total immersion of piece of work required of a 4-year baccalaureate degree. Professionals often return to schoolhouse to master advanced techniques, explore a new specialty, or refine their crafts.

Career Goal and/or educational needs Associate
AA/AS		 Bachelor'southward
BA/BFA		 Master's
MA		 Master's
MFA		 Online
I am interested in learning near graphic pattern and working with bones tools/programs for making digital logos, websites, and print graphics
I've already taught myself basic graphics and want to explore a four-yr degree to learn key skills in print and digital arts
I want to learn advanced graphics and project management skills
I desire to devote my time to graduate studio work and build an advanced portfolio

Did Y'all Know?

Co-ordinate to Education News, the number of postsecondary graphic pattern graduates in the U.S. increased by 57% between 2006 and 2010.

Overview of Available Degrees

The complexity of didactics and skills evolution in graphic design grows with each successive level. A two-yr degree program may be the best place to start for first-time students. These degrees typically offer the lowest tuition rates and, for some students, are a financially prudent way to gain skills for entry-level roles in the graphic design field. Available'south caste programs are the minimum educational attainment for many design professions. At the master's degree level, students focus on studio skills and the development of expert technique, projection management, and advanced blueprint theory and applications.

Associate Degrees

The Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences degrees in graphic arts combine arts studies with the full general education coursework. Students must consummate 65 credits to graduate, which takes approximately ii years. The degree offers introductory graphic design courses and a well-rounded liberal arts and sciences curriculum, which may be transferrable to a four-year program. Start semester curriculum may be based on introductory courses in design theory and technology, typography, colour theory, computer graphics, electronic imaging, and print/digital production.

At the associate level, students may encounter courses such as:

Design Fundamentals

Introductory course in the elements of design as an effective communication tool. Studies include concepts and applications of design elements and relationships.

Skills & Knowledge Gained

    Understanding of design applications for lines, colors, textures, shapes, values, and white space principles applicable to virtually graphic design projects

Intro to Typography

Students are introduced to typography every bit it applies in pattern and how it affects meaning, brand, or personality.

Skills & Knowledge Gained

    Baseline skills in blazon styles and fonts used in text and logos Basic understanding of how visual details may be perceived by an audience

Color Theory

Students are immersed in the study of colour, how it impacts cultural or psychological levels, and the furnishings of color interactions.

Skills & Knowledge Gained

    Agreement of color design in print, web, multimedia, and hand-held devices

Web Design

Introduction to graphic design applications in online and multimedia publishing. Course focuses on technical environments and elements of navigation, usability, and web best practices.

Skills & Knowledge Gained

    Tiptop-downwardly understanding of graphic design methods for digital projects Focus is on technique and theory, not on specific code or interface design software

Available's Degrees

Bachelor degree programs in graphic arts typically take four years to complete and are comprised of 120–180 credit hours of classes, which are divided into full general education, core studies in graphic blueprint, and electives. Students tin choose from the following degree options:

Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Scientific discipline (BS)

The BA or BS caste in graphic arts is designed to be a well-rounded general degree, providing graduates with key artistic and production skills, and a foundation in graphic design theory.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Arts

Considered a professional person caste, the BFA curriculum is based on studio practice and concentrates on development of skills and knowledge in interactive design, typography, and motion graphics.

The following upper division courses from bachelor's degree programs showcase the progression and sophistication in learning that'south provided across the ii-year degree level:

Product for Digital and Print Environments

This course focuses on delivering production-gear up graphics equally well as files for impress and mobile devices.

Skills & Cognition Gained

    Hands-on feel creating design concepts and delivering files using industry-standard projection management protocols and design software

Media Management in Digital Design

This avant-garde form integrates impress and digital techniques for creating and managing visual communications across a range of channels with distinct timelines.

Skills & Knowledge Gained

    Power to coordinate staff or oversee serial of processes Students are introduced to project management software and design evolution tools

Graphic Designer equally Entrepreneur

Design students study the history, change, and contemporary impacts on communication tools and how to build a successful enterprise.

Skills & Knowledge Gained

    Real world application of theories and best practices Knowledge of business, marketing, and promotion techniques specifically for blueprint entrepreneurs

Portfolio Development

Students compile previous design work into an effective portfolio. Typically a graduation requirement for seniors.

Skills & Knowledge Gained

    Design and develop a portfolio of projects that demonstrate growth of skills and creativity Ability to present portfolio and conspicuously discuss one's skills and abilities

Chief's Caste in Graphic Design

There are two graduate degrees for students of graphic blueprint: the Masters of Arts (MA) and Masters of Fine Arts (MFA). The MA is a theoretical and academically advanced degree, while the MFA is the pinnacle professional degree for graphic artists and related professionals. Another distinction is that the MA student focuses on a atypical academic specialization, sometimes in training for teaching, while the MFA student is free to explore a broad range of skill applications and elective fields. Degree requirements include completion of a research or theoretical study for the MA, and a creative dissertation or portfolio for MFA students. Both degrees take from two to iii years to consummate, depending on the programs and graphic design schools.

MFA graduates use their portfolios or graduations projects to accost real world communication challenges or to demonstrate newly integrated advanced skills. Here are six skill takeaways from an MFA caste program:

Visual Literacy

MFA graduates have built upon a foundational knowledge of design and graphics production. They demonstrate not bad knowledge on topics such as limerick, colour theory, and typography in order to create a persuasive final product.

Artistic Thinking

At the graduate level students learn to solve artistic or business problems holistically. MFA graduates also typically build upon practical experience in the field, demonstrating creative flexibility and proficiency in turning concepts into client deliverables.

Creative Originality

MFA students learn to develop their ain creative expressions. They are enlightened of the tools at their disposal, but are non bound by a single solution or style. They accept the knowledge to originate and develop a "signature style" and the skills to express their own aesthetics.

Collaboration

An MFA program is non completed in isolation – even online graduate students work in teams. Knowing how to interact with design and technology teams and to piece of work effectively with demanding clients tin spell the difference betwixt success and failure. Graduates have the communication and leadership skills that get the almost out of a creative squad.

Business Acumen

Whether they piece of work independently or with a creative firm, graphic designers are dependent upon skills in sales, marketing, and customer relations. MFA grads have experience in business, entrepreneurship, and marketing. They know how to sell designs to clients, pitch to their artistic managers, and how to successfully and effectively navigate professional person and business relationships.

Motion Graphics

Graduates demonstrate competence in the theory and application of motion graphics often used in the cosmos of entertainment, broadcast, spider web, and emerging media. Grads also have advanced knowledge of software and manufacture-standard tools. This tin can include programs such every bit CINEMA 4D, MoGraph, Adobe After Furnishings, 3D Studio Max, and Autodesk'southward Maya.

Online Graphic Design Schools

Graphic blueprint schools may offer degrees with the same classification (AA, BA, MFA), but at that place can be a world of difference in the curriculum and academic outcomes of each program, depending on focus and faculty expertise. There is as well a dramatic range in tuition, with public colleges coming in as well-nigh affordable and individual fine art schools ringing in at the elevation-tier of the cost range. While cost may be the guiding strength when researching online schools, students too need to exist sure that their programme choice will exist the all-time match for their career aspirations and design focus. Three key factors to consider when reviewing prospective online programs are:

Student Learning Outcomes

Graphic design departments throughout the nation are tasked with developing and publishing learning outcomes. In evaluating prospective graphic design schools, search departmental websites for the list of outcomes and expected skills for graduating students. Reviewing the full list of outcomes can reveal the bookish focus of each possible graphic design school, helping to bring a programme'due south goals into focus with personal career goals.

Faculty with Graphic Design Expertise and Existent World Experience

Schools offering degree programs in graphic design generally post a listing of faculty members and their biographies on their college websites. In reviewing bios, look to see where the faculty fellow member earned his or her caste, the extent of their education, their publications, honors, awards, and inquiry milestones. At the same time, see if the faculty includes mentors and professors with practical experience in the field. Some schools invite adjunct or visiting professors who continue to work as artists, art directors, publishers, or animators. What is the plan'due south specialty and how does the faculty contribute toward this expertise? Call back, faculty with current or recent feel in the field or memberships in active design organizations tin can increase opportunities for internships and help to class networking connections.

Student Support

Online graphic design programs should support students with a wide range of materials and services for success. For case, is in that location 24/7 access and technical back up? Are classes and curriculum supported by current industry tools, software, and research facilities? Does the financial aid office provide acceptable data and assistance with loans, grants, or scholarships? A phone call or email to the admissions staff should clear up these questions and more. Be sure to also detect out about graduation rates, career counseling, and job or internship services too.

Graphic Designers Toolkit: Skills, Credentials, Tools and Technology

Skills

Graphic designers must combine sharp analytical skills with creative talent to produce disarming illustrations that clearly relate their clients' letters. Although they spend some fourth dimension developing ideas on paper, they too demand to exist able to utilize specialized graphic design software. A large corporeality of time is spent communicating with clients and coordinating work with members of a design team, and so strong interpersonal skills are also important. Graphic designers often have to complete multiple projects simultaneously, hence fourth dimension direction skills are essential.

Above all, graphic designers need to be visual thinkers. They know how best to apply digital tools to solve business challenges, and are experts in creatively using the space they have to brand the greatest impact.

Credentials

The almost effective credential for graphic designers are their "books," or professional portfolios, demonstrating their expertise and range of work. Earning a college degree in graphic arts is also a vital component to success: most employers prefer candidates holding a bachelor's caste, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Other credentials include completing vendor-specific certifications in the use of design engineering. These certifications benchmark professional competency in the utilise of a design product or methodology.

Tools and Technology

Successful graphic designers incorporate a fundamental formal cognition of artistic communications theory with a fluency in using gimmicky design tools. These tools are many and varied, and which the graphic designer uses will be dependent on their area of specialization within the field.

For the impress designer, central graphics programs include:

    QuarkXPress Adobe FrameMaker Adobe InDesign Adobe PageMaker

The digital designer uses software including:

    Adobe Illustrator CorelDraw Graphics Suite Adobe Fireworks Adobe FreeHand

Digital designers that work in the online surroundings tin do good by using:

    Adobe Wink Role player Adobe Dreamweaver Macromedia HomeSite

Among the primal software tools for motion graphics designers are:

    Autodesk Maya CINEMA 4D 3D Studio Max MoGraph Adobe After Effects

Of course, generalists may have a foundational skill set in a number of impress and digital environments, or they may choose to specialize merely in one or two key programs. Flexibility, as always, remains a key attribute of a successful pattern career.

Comparing Related Careers

Related Occupations: What You Need to Know

There are other career and educational options with an creative flair to explore outside the traditional roles a graphic designer may take. Here is a await at some, forth with earnings and job growth estimates:

four%

Salary

$59,610

Teaching and Training:

Bachelor'south caste in industrial design, architecture or engineering

 -three%

Salary

$62,860

Education and Training:

Available's degree in mode design or style merchandising; CAD design preparation

 3%

Bacon

$44,380

Pedagogy and Training:

No formal schooling required; many earn post-secondary fine arts degrees

 13%

Salary

$47,600

Instruction and Training:

Bachelor'southward degree; relevant state license

 6%

Bacon

$61,370

Education and Grooming:

Bachelor'due south degree; extensive software training

 2%

Bacon

$57,210

Education and Preparation:

Bachelor's degree; applied experience; software cognition

 -5%

Salary

$34,100

Didactics and Training:

Postal service-secondary training/associate degree

What Do Related Occupations Make?

Graduates of graphic design programs also pursue careers as art directors, multimedia artists, Spider web developers, industrial designers and drafters. Related occupations and 2014 salaries include:

Graphic Designer and Related Task Salaries

Related Careers at a Glance

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