Graphic Design Career

Do you dream of becoming a Graphic Designer? In the design field, graphic designers are anticipated to have a good number of new job opportunities through 2014. These designers however, will most likely face a lot of competition for positions in the graphic design industry. Graphic designers must have artistic ability and be creative thinkers to successfully design sharp and innovative graphics. The also need the patience to spend countless hours coming up with creative designs.

Graphic designers create visual solutions to communicate. They use a variety of print, electronic and film media to effectively get their message across to others. Graphic designers create the layout and production design of magazines, newspapers, and other publications. They also put together promotional displays, packaging, and marketing brochures for products and services, and design individual logos for products and businesses. Overall, these professionals need to be able to come up with strategies for layouts and artistic concepts, and they must be able to create visual images that engage, attract and sell their clients products. Most graphic designers today use computer software to generate innovative images. Graphic designers need to be familiar with desktop publishing tools such as Frame Maker, Acrobat Exchange, Photoshop or PageMaker. These designers must be able to work under extreme time pressures and very defined financial and design limits to produce quality material. Their work is generally done on a project basis.

Academic training leading to a bachelor’s degree in art or design has almost become a necessity. Although formal training is not strictly necessary, it is very difficult to become skilled enough to make a living without some training. Roughly 70% of graphic designers do go to college and typically major in art, or art history, or product design. Associate degrees and certificates in graphic design also are available from professional schools. These programs generally concentrate on the technical parts of graphic design. Graduates of 2-year programs in general are eligible as assistants to graphic designers or for jobs that entail technical skills only. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/) currently accredits about 250 post secondary institutions with programs in art and design.

Employment of graphic designers is anticipated to flourish as the need for these professionals continually increase from advertisers and computer design firms. Continuing development of the Internet will likely present numerous job opportunities, principally due to the demand for graphic designers to develop Web page design. As businesses maintain emphasis on visually attractive concepts for use in communications, publications, package design, advertising and marketing, and television and video production, the skill of a graphic designer will be needed. Graphic designers with web site design and animation experience in particular are in demand for design projects involving interactive media. Demand for graphic designers also will increase as advertising firms create print and web marketing, and other promotional materials for various other products and services.