Graphic Design

Graphic Design Overview

Graphic designers (also called graphic artists) plan, create, and assemble illustrations, content, and multimedia art in order to convey a message. They work with almost all visual media, from two-dimensional print brochures to television and interactive Web material. Typography, lithography, illustration, and color theory (or chromatics) are all elements of graphic design.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for graphic designers will grow about 10% through 2016, which is roughly the average growth across all occupations. Despite this growth, the field will remain competitive due to the specialized knowledge prized by employers (including familiarity with the various software involved in graphic design). Employment in simple design work is likely to suffer as these lower-end jobs are outsourced to other countries, though client-oriented design jobs will probably remain centralized in the United States.

Graphic Design Career Training & Education

The majority of entry-level graphic design jobs require at least an associate's degree, if not a bachelor's. As with many art-related positions, applicants will likely also require a portfolio. Design courses depend on the specific program in which you are involved. For instance, a Rhode Island School of Design major studies both theory and application, ranging from design history and communication theory through courses specifically dedicated to Web, magazine, and poster design. On the other hand, a design major from New York University may have a completely different curriculum. Further, a bachelor's or master's degree is more likely to delve into the theoretical elements of design, while a 2-year associate degree might concentrate solely on technical work.

Graphic design has grown increasingly computer-dependent. The University of South Florida both requires and teaches the use of specific software (on specific computers) in its design courses for the interest of teaching students the breadth of the industry-standard applications. Furthermore, graphic designers are often obligated to work with the newest versions of graphic programs and to maintain a selection of updated computer tools, an expensive proposition in an industry when a single font can cost upwards of $300.

Graphic Design Career & Salary Outlook

In 2006, median annual earnings for graphic designers were $39,900, though roughly a quarter of graphic designers worked part-time or freelanced on the side, and salaries varied dramatically among designers working in different industries. Designers working in specialized design services earned a median $43,410, slightly ahead of designers in advertising ($41,600) and substantially ahead of other graphic designers (design professionals in periodical publishing made $34,290, and in general printing, $33,930). The 2008 general median across all graphic designers was $42,400.

Growth in the video entertainment market, as well as emerging technologies with a need for graphic designers (such as mobile devices), should offset the outsourcing of graphic design jobs and allow the industry to grow at the average national 10% rate. One of the most prominent growing applications of graphic design—computer systems—returns one of the highest annual mean wages among graphic designers ($53,390), but is also one of the most competitive due to its technical and educational requirements.

Characteristics of Successful Graphic Designers

Creativity and technical ability are important to a graphic designer's trade skills, as is the ability to compile an effective portfolio, though the planning and development of a design project are most dependent on the ability to communicate with visuals. Designers need attentiveness to detail and an ability to express broad, complex ideas and emotions with commonly understood symbols, colors, themes, and characters. An understanding of cultures and an interest in sociology or psychology can also help inform a designer's sense of his or her work.

In addition to these artistic skills, graphic designers—particularly those who are self-employed or who run a design business on the side—must be able to manage employees and to develop and communicate with business contacts. Even those designers who work in a company setting must often correspond extensively with clients through the duration of a project. Graphic designers in any setting must be prepared for a demanding work schedule with irregular hours, and especially for the occasional requirement to be creative on the timetable of a client's deadline.

Article Resources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Graphic Designers Overview
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Wages
Bureau of Labor Statistics - CAD and Related Services
Rhode Island School of Design – Graphic Design Program Description
Auburn University