Visual Advertising Design

Visual Ad Design Career Overview

Some people are born with a talent for turning concepts and ideas into visual symbols that are not only instantly recognizable but memorable as well. For most, training and a great deal of practice are necessary before even the simplest concepts can be translated onto paper. People with these gifts and talents may be interested in exploring a career in visual ad design. Visual ad designers work with companies or as freelancers to find the best way to express their clients’ ethos and mission. There are hundreds of different ways a visual ad designer can implement his skills, from traditional print media advertising pieces to complex internet advertisements. Whatever medium you choose, this fast paced, exciting career allows for a great deal of creativity and satisfaction.

Visual Ad Designer Training & Education

Many visual ad designers will hone their skills with an undergraduate program in fine art or applied work experience in art design. Most employers who are looking for a visual ad designer will want someone with at least a bachelor’s degree. Numerous fine arts bachelor’s and master’s degree programs include a liberal arts curriculum with a focus on studio art applications. Some specialized programs will offer courses like computer animation and graphics production technique. Picking a specialty early can help a visual ad designer maximize his earning potential.

Visual Ad Design Career & Salary Outlook

More than 60% of visual ad designers are self-employed. The other 38% are generally employed at a company or organization in a salaried position. Many visual ad designers can work with multiple clients at a time.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that visual ad designers can expect faster than average growth in their industry. Although the field will continue to be highly competitive, there will also be expanded opportunities for visual ad designers as advertising venues change to fit technological advances.

There is a wide range of salaries for artists, and the pay is generally commensurate with experience. Excluding the earnings of the self-employed (a significant portion of the field), visual ad designers earned a median annual salary of $42,000. The middle 50 percent of the industry earned between $36,980 and $62,050. The newest workers, generally in the lowest 10 percent of the industry’s earnings, earned a median salary of $30,390. The top ten percent of earners in the field made a median salary of $92,720. Visual ad designers who have a strong history of experience and a well maintained portfolio will typically make more than those just starting out in the industry.

There are many ways a visual ad designer can use his or her skills to make money, from a part-time side position with a Web company to a full-time consulting job with a Fortune 500 company. Most visual ad designers who are successful as freelancers will start off working for little money to earn credibility and experience while building a portfolio. Once a freelance visual ad designer has established his or her reputation, many more career opportunities will present themselves.

Article Resources:

College of Visual and Performing Arts
Cuyahoga Community College
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics