Are you thinking about switching your career to graphic designing? Well you’re in luck – there has never been a better time than now! This article has everything you need to know about becoming a professional graphic designer.
Advertisement
What is a Graphic Designer?
A graphic designer creates visual concepts by hand or using software and communicates ideas that inspire their consumer. As a graphic designer, you may be able to perform multiple creative functions such as a problem solver, a creative thinker and a communicator. Getting a certificate in graphic designing can open endless career doors for you.
Recently, the demand for graphic designers has been increasing exponentially. If you are good in creative thinking and communication that captivates people, graphic designing is for you. You might have some questions and we’re here to help you answer those questions so you can determine if graphic design is a good career for you.
What do Graphic Designers do?
A graphic designer uses his artistic skills to develop captivating ideas and present it to consumers in an inspiring way. [1] They also develop the layout for advertisements, brochures, and magazines. Here are a few examples of graphic designer jobs:
- Visual designer
- Craft and fine artists
- Animator
- UX designer
- Industrial designer
- Digital designer
- Motion graphic designer
- Art director
- Web developers
- Video editor
Why Should You Get a Degree in Graphic Design?
There are many reasons why you should study graphic designing, but the most influential reason is finding a well-paid job. Here are some good reasons to choose graphic designing:
1) Get paid for being creative:
If you are an art-loving person you can make money while still enjoying what you do. You can express your creativity every day. It all depends on your thoughts and ideas. So, you have a chance to leave a mark in the world and bring your ideas to life.
2) Be your own boss:
Being a graphic designer you can have diverse choices for your career. Choosing to be a freelancer or setting up your own agency is a good career choice for a graphic designer. [2]
3) Work across a range of industries:
Graphic designers can work with different types of clients from different industries. It’s totally up to you if you want to work with multiple industries or specialise in a single field.
4) A graphic designer is a vital part of shaping a brand:
Choosing a brand identity is crucial and a graphic designer plays a vital role in creating it. This yields greater career pathways.
Salaries, growth and demand For Graphic Designers
So let’s talk about how much a graphic designer makes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, USA the median annual wage for graphic designers was $52,110 in 2019.[3] Although the salary may vary depending upon your job type and experience, it is still higher than the national average for all occupations.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also shows that the employment of graphic designers in computer system design is growing. Moreover, the advertising and public relations services offer a higher salary than newspaper and print publishers.
Where to study Graphic design
1) Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art is located in London. It is one of the top colleges in the world of graphic designing and offers postgraduate programmes. The RCA visual communication programme also includes graphic designing as a main focus. The course duration is two years.
Here students are involved in hands-on workshops, working with professional designers and making productive connections to boost their career.
2) University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London is one of the most popular art schools in the world. Over 18,000 students from 130 countries are currently enrolled here.
The university mainly focuses on the functional aspects of the art ensuring the employability of their graduates. This definitely is the best choice for your career option.
3) Parsons School of Design
Parson School of Design is one of the oldest art schools, located in New York city. The Parsons School of Design prides itself on being one of the first to apply practice-based collaborative learning. The school is best known for its Communication Design programme.
4) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Located in Cambridge, USA the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a well-known institute of art programmes. They offer BFA degree programs for art students and help them accomplish their life goals.
Advertisement
Conclusion
Earning a degree in graphic designing not only requires a good education, but also requires you to be more open-minded towards ideas, hard work, creativivity, and discipline. At the end of the day, all of your efforts will be worth it. Before subscribing to a new degree, be sure to do as much research as possible to find yourself the right fit!
REFERENCES
1) “CollegeGrad.” Jobs, Career, Salary and Education Information. https://collegegrad.com/careers/graphic-designers.
2) Mittal, Khushboo. “Why Should You Choose Graphic Design as a Career?” Medium. June 09, 2019. https://medium.com/@graphicdesigncourse.trulabz/why-should-you-choose-graphic-design-as-a-career-fb42ac4cda24.
3) “Graphic Designers : Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. September 01, 2020. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/graphic-designers.htm#tab-5.
4) “School of Design.” Royal College of Art. https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/schools/school-of-design/
5) Ual. “Postgraduate Study.” UAL. December 14, 2020. https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/postgraduate-study.
6) “MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Home Page.” MIT School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (SHASS). https://shass.mit.edu/.