Fresh Profile: Graphic Design Jobs

Published on 2008-04-23

Graphic designers are visual communicators. They take any "message," be it a product, company logo, business sign, publication cover, film or website, and create images that epitomize and/or complement it. Graphic designers can work in a broad range of media, including paper and ink, photography, animation, film and video, and computer-assisted design. It's a vocation that offers an unusual amount of creative freedom, though more often than not, graphic design jobs require the submission of your artistic vision to the specifications of a client or creative director. Patience and good communication skills are essential.

The educational requirements and working conditions for graphic designers are a little more fluid than for most professions. Many designers enter the industry with only a two-year associate's degree, though this path will usually initially confine you to assistant or entry-level graphic designer jobs. A bachelor's degree in fine arts or graphic design that includes training in design software and computer graphics will provide a good foundation for securing different types of creative jobs within the design field.

About 25% of all graphic designers are self-employed, subsisting on freelance and contract work from agencies or their own painstakingly developed client base. Rapid growth in the online and interactive media sector has led many graphic designers to specialize in Web design jobs, combining their design expertise with training in Internet programming. Others specialize in advertising or film and television work. Graphic designers are employed by advertising firms, publishing companies, computer design firms, movie studios and video game companies.

Art director and creative director jobs might be the pinnacle of your career path as a graphic designer. In general, art directors are senior design figures who oversee the development of projects or the visual element of advertising or marketing campaigns. Creative directors are a step above on the career hierarchy; they focus more on marketing, branding and client interaction.

Graphic designers are relatively well-paid. The American Institute of Graphic Arts reports that median annual compensation for entry-level positions is around $35,000. Newspaper and print-based design jobs are on the lower end of the pay scale, while graphic designers who work in advertising or a specialized design field are at the high end. Salaries range from the mid-$20Ks to $70K+ per year.

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