Graphic Design Jobs

There are many jobs within the realm of graphic design. Graphic designers work at newspapers, ad agencies, television studios and large corporations. Creating a pleasant, appealing products, ads, logos and symbols are some of the goals met by graphic designers. While some companies can offer on-the-job training, those with the best advantages hold two or four-year degrees from art institutions or other colleges. While a degree is no guarantee of attaining a job, someone with specific education or training in a certain field will often have an advantage over less qualified applicants. Still, many graphic designers are self taught and run a personal practice or small graphic design business or studio.

For those in graphic design, there are a number of specific ways to focus talent. Common jobs include, creative art director; layout artist; brand identity, logo, multimedia or web design; photo-editing and photoshop; many others. Those with graphic design businesses of their own may focus in one or many of these areas. When working for a website or magazine, one may required to use several of these skills; a graphic designer working for a magazine may be asked to edit photos, build a unique font, and then design a pleasant ad to fit the photos and text in.

Because the field of graphic design is so varied, it is important for someone going into the field to know what he or she would like the focus to be. Graphic design schools and universities offering programs often offer them with a specific slant towards technology relevant to a specific area; a multimedia program, for instance, might focus on television, while web design will certainly focus on computers and internet technology. The best programs will provide skills in the latest graphic design technology, introduce students to various techniques and aspects of the field, and produce diversely educated, well-prepared students for a career in the graphic design world.

Degrees can be certificates, associates degrees, all the way up to a bachelors or masters of fine arts. A graphic design student could do well and get ahead by completing a two-year program and then finding work in the graphic design field while continuing a four year degree. This would give the advantage of earning an income immediately, as well as racking up experience in the work force. A bachelors degree holder with two or more years experience might make a far more appealing applicant to companies, and might increase pay and advancement opportunities.

Anyone completing a program in graphic design will soon discover that they have many options for how to put those skills to work. Graphic design artists are needed in virtually all aspects of media and marketing. A well-educated and experienced graphic designer has the best chance of landing high paying corporate jobs, while some graphic designers who are self-taught or receive on-the-job training can go on to start their own businesses, or work well-paying jobs within a company. As of 2010, the median wage for a graphic designer is $46,000 per year.