NOTE: The following was written for a high school career fair.
What does a graphic designer do?
Along with writers, clients, and other creative people who decide on what the content or message should be, graphic designers make the content look appealing to the client’s audience. Graphic designers are the people who design the magazines, product labels, shopping bags, websites, cereal boxes, newspapers, logos, stationery, books, movie posters, billboards, and millions of other things that we see many times every day.
Is graphic design fun?
Absolutely. If you’re good at art, and like working with words, type, illustrations and images, you’ll probably enjoy graphic design.
Graphic design is work, so is it always fun? Not always. The work can be tedious (like when you have to create 45 charts in Adobe Illustrator). Plus, if you are getting paid, you are working for someone else and it’s your job to keep your boss or client happy. That means that most clients and bosses will want to have some say in what the project looks like. Here’s a great video showing a somewhat extreme example. Thanks to YouTube poster, TheMimeographer.
What qualifications do I need to be a graphic designer?
Most graphic designers have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design (BFA/GD). This is a four-year program available at many colleges and universities. There are two-year and certificate programs, but most employers will expect a BFA/GD.
You should enjoy creating things. You should be good in Art and “have a good eye.”
You should be able to pay attention to detail and being good in grammar and spelling is a huge asset.
What software do graphic designers use?
Being a good software user is important, but it’s not as important as being a creative thinker. That said, the most common software used in the graphic design industry is listed below. There are applications other than the ones below, but these are the industry standards.
Page Layout – For creating brochures, flyers, books, reports, etc. These two applications are in direct competition with each other. Quark came first but the industry favorite has become InDesign. InDesign is my strong preference.
Illustration – For creating logos, charts, icons, or almost any kind of vector-based illustration.
Photos and Images – For working with any kind of pixel-based image like photos or scanned hand-drawn artwork.
Website Design - For creating and working with websites.
Mac or PC?
Simple answer, Mac.
Who does a graphic designer work for?
Graphic designers usually work one of three ways:
- Graphic designers can work for themselves and find their own clients. This is a freelance graphic designer. Freelance graphic designers may rent office space, or most often, work from a room in their home. Many freelance designers specialize in one area such as real estate or health care. Others are generalists and have many different types of clients.
- Some graphic designers work for a company that has quite a bit of graphic design needs, but not so much that they would need an army of designers. This is an in-house graphic designer. An in-house designer might work for a company that makes lighting fixtures. So the designer spends all of his or her time designing projects about the company’s lighting fixtures.
- Other graphic designers work for a graphic design firm. A graphic design firm may employ just a few designers or many designers. This kind of job is a good place to start out because the environment is usually creative and stimulating, you don’t have to worry about getting your own clients, and you can learn a lot.
Associations and Resources
There are many local, regional and national organizations for graphic designers. Many have a level especially for students. Below are three large national associations.
American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) - A wonderful organization with tons of resources ranging from technical to inspirational, student to business owner. The AIGA has 66 chapters and more than 20,000 members. The AIGA holds annual conferences and competitions around the country. There is an especially useful section for students on their website.
Art Directors Club (ADC) - The ADC is the premier organization for integrated media and the first international creative collective of its kind. Founded in New York in 1920, the ADC is a self-funding, not-for-profit membership organization that celebrates and inspires creative excellence, connecting creative visual communications professionals from around the world.
Graphic Artists Guild - The Graphic Artists Guild is a national union of illustrators, designers, web creators, production artists, surface designers and other creatives who have come together to pursue common goals, share their experience, raise industry standards, and improve the ability of visual creators to achieve satisfying and rewarding careers.
Hi! I’m currently in grad school studying psychology, but I’m thinking of pursuing graphic design instead. I’m not sure about the level of degree I should pursue. Do employers expect at the very least a BAF in graphic design, or would an associate’s degree in graphic design be adequate?
I’ve been reading mix opinions online. Some people claim that it really all boils down to the portfolio and the level of degree does not matter as much, though I do understand that learning more in school would bolster one’s portfolio as well.
It’d be helpful if you could give me your perspective on this matter. Thank you!
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this particular one, “So You Want to be a Graphic
Designer | Graphic Design. Website Design | River Graphics” the very best.
Regards -Tommie
That is so Not true, I work as graphic designer whole my life for 20 years, most of people leaving the field. Work long hours and deadline is true, But money and freedom is Not true. Too many people want to be art directors and boss, and just using their mouths. and not many actual draw and using skill to create. and need to please everybody and way way way too much changes. there is no your creation anymore. So most of people end up leaving the field.
Will completing a Diploma of Graphic Design in Tafe get you anywhere? Im looking to hopefully branch in to Web Design and maybe work with some magazines in the future.
I am a senior in high school and I am going to be a graphic designer, but I don’t think that I am good at art. I wonder if art skill is a necessary skill of graphic designers. please, give me an advice.
Graphic Design is basically CREATING artwork. I’m thinking that you have to be good at art.
Cindy,
I am currently in G.D. school. Most artists are humble or modest about what they create and most of us NEVER think our work is any good. Remember art is a skill not a talent. You have to practice at what you do in order to be good. Also, not all artists have the same style. some of us paint, draw, sculpt, etc… G.D. is mostly about adobe software, photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, Indesign, etc… making logos, websites, different design things. to answer your question, art skill is NECESSARY. if you want to have a list of the kinds of courses I take you can email me at clinthefner2@gmail.com and I will give you a list of classes I take. you can do the research on the classes to have an idea of what to expect
Hi Cindy,
I’m currently a Junior Graphic Designer at KIPP Foundation. I always considered myself an artist which is a big reason why I went into design but art is a skill, which has already been said, you will strengthen it with time. It’s much more important to be creative and objective in order to be successful.
Honestly, most of my design tasks are not the most creative projects, its about giving the client what they want while trying to guide them creatively as much as they will allow.
If your into graphic design — go for it, I love my job!
The first thing you need to do before anything else is to get yourself a domain name. A domain name is the name you want to give to your website. For example, the domain name of the website you’re reading is “thesitewizard.com”. To get a domain name, you have to pay an annual fee to a registrar for the right to use that name. Getting a name does not get you a website or anything like that. It’s just a name. It’s sort of like registering a business name in the brick-and-mortar world; having that business name does not mean that you also have the shop premises to go with the name.”
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Hello, I am wanting to attend a college my selected university has a graphic design degree but I want to learn HTML and website design to to further my opertunitys what I’m asking is will I learn these skills if not how would I go about learning them? Thank you!
I am not a graduate in the field of graphic design, but i’m intrested to be a graphic designer due to person study on graphic, and i need a certificate on it
I’m an engineering student.is there any way i can do a course in gd masters?
You should check with the universities you are interested in attending. My guess is you would need a BFA in graphic design.
can i ask? … i am a graduate of 2yrs course in Computer Science …. currently working as a Part time Graphic/Layout Designer in a Publishing Company in the Philippines… im planning to work somewhere out of my country hoping to find a higher paying job that has a relation to my skills in a Graphic designing? although i have a portfolio to show up.. does it really require to have a degree in Fine Arts major in GD? (sorry for bad english) hope to hear you soon!
Can age be a factor for Graphic Designers to get hired? I am 31 years old looking into a change in career, and am considering to pursue Graphic Design. However, I am worried that by the time I finish the course I might be too old to get hired. Do you have any recommendations for a path to take?
I think prospective employers care mostly about the quality of your work, as long as your salary requirements aren’t more than they are willing or able to pay.
I live in New Zealand, and one of the credited universities, Auckland Univeristy does not offer a Graphics Design course. However, it does offer a Fine Arts course. Will graphic design employers prefer people that have done a Graphics Design course rather than a Fine Arts course?
Hi Ivana
I don’t know about what NZ graphic design firms are looking for. We look for a solid portfolio, proof of technical and communications skills and usually, but not always, graphic design university courses.
i am from Ghana and have always love to be a great graphic designer i have all the qualities but no help from nowhere that is i have come to this far to get help from somewhere …
Hi, I’m from Australia NSW, i am currently in year 10 wanting to be a Graphic Designer. The uni i want to get into is (UOW) University Of Wollongong. I found a Course thats for the Bachelor of Creative Arts – Bachelor of Arts. Link: http://coursefinder.uow.edu.au/coursefinder/4YTPTP7
I have wanted to be a Graphic Designer since year 9, i have looked at this website a few times and also at the course in UOW website. The high school i go to has many electives i am doing Visual Design and Food Technology, but what i was really wondering is that would Visual Design Help me along the line into doing Design and Technology or Visual Arts in year 11 and 12? Because the domestic entry requirements for UOW are:
Assumed Knowledge: Any 2 units of English.
Recommended Studie: English Advanced, and Design and Technology, or Visual Arts, or Drama.
And a ATAR of 75 is required also. Could you help me figure this out?
Kind Regards,
Greg.
I didnt take Art GCSE and I’m “quite” good at art and I want to do Graphic Design. Do you think this will have an affect for me on this Job? Do I need to be really artistic to be a Graphic Designer?
In this country you pretty much need college degree to get a job as a graphic designer. I don’t know if that’s true in the UK or not. Some printers and digital output firms hire people who are good at graphic design software and have a good eye to do production jobs.
Hi i was wondering what you might need (requirements) before starting a bachelor of fine arts?
Please check with the colleges/universities you might be interested in. I’m sure they’ll have the info you’re looking for.
I am an artist that likes to draw by hand , is there any design colleges for art that isn’t all done on the computer ? Because I hate using the computer because you don’t physically make the art . The computer does it
Fine Art programs in areas like painting and drawing might be right up your alley. Most colleges and universities have programs for the visual arts, including painting and drawing. The graphic design world, though, lives on computers.
thanks
I am considering being a Graphic Designer and I was wondering if you can get into a Graphic Design Master’s program if your Bachelor’s degree is not in the same field. For example, I’ll be graduating in 2014 with a degree in Psychology with minors in Criminal Justice and Art. So would I be able to get into a Master’s program with that type of Bachelor’s?
Ann, I really don’t know. My guess is you’d need a Bachelor of Fine Arts or similar to qualify for a Master’s program. I’m sure the programs you’re interested in would have that info.
Ann,
It depends on the school and the quality of your previous work.
if you have an impressive collection of designs and illustrations or have been working as a designer for years, they may accept you. The university may also accept you on the condition that you take a prescribed number of undergraduate courses dealing with design before being formally accepted into the Masters Program.
Plus, don’t underestimate your other degree. Psychology is a big part of design research. We deal a lot with “target audiences”, their perceptions of designs, their buying motivations, and others.
I would also ask that you self-explore your change in majors. Its only 2013, and you’re already thinking of changing your career. Why the change? and why are you now choosing graphic design? the field is crowded with artists and designers, so the competition can be steep. graphic designers do it for the love of art – not for the money.
This website really helps me alot. I plan on being a graphic designer and this information is a big help to me. Thanks.
Um, being a graphic designer, myself, I couldn’t help but notice in your third sentence of “What qualifications do I need to be a graphic designer?” section, there’s a typo. Haha. Pretty funny that it happened right where “attention to detail” and “grammar” are being considered as a huge asset.
Aliceson, thanks for bringing that to my attention. Looks like I was writing too fast and didn’t proof it well enough. Oh well, nobody’s perfect.
Although nature, aptitude, and skills are required for designing, designing with the blend of required qualifications adds more to your creativity and design development.