Graphic designers create visual concepts to inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for advertisements, websites, magazines, and other print and online material. These designers use both text and images to communicate ideas. They design the lettering and color of text as well as arranging images and copy on a print or webpage. When using copy in layouts, graphic designers collaborate closely with writers. Many use their creativity to transform statistical data into visuals to make complex ideas more accessible. Graphic designers generally work in studios with drafting tables, computers, and design software. Although many graphic designers work independently, those who work for specialized graphic design firms often work on teams. Work schedules typically revolve around deadlines whether to deliver a finished product to clients, printing companies, or to publish on the Internet. Self-employed designers tailor their workday around meetings with clients, including evenings and weekends. They often spend time looking for new projects and must compete with other designers for contracts. At firms, graphic designers are likely to work more standard hours. Most positions require a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field. A professional portfolio of their work is a must for graphic designers to show potential employers their skill, creativity, and originality.
What they do:
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.
On the job, you would:
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
Engineering and Technology
design
computers and electronics
Communications
multimedia
Arts and Humanities
English language
music, dance, visual arts, drama, or sculpture
Business
customer service
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
create new and original ideas
come up with lots of ideas
People interested in this work like activities that include creating, designing, and making your own rules.
They do well at jobs that need:
Attention to Detail
Innovation
Dependability
Initiative
Achievement/Effort
Adaptability/Flexibility
You might use software like this on the job:
Web platform development software
AJAX
Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
Video creation and editing software
Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
YouTube
Computer aided design CAD software
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
Autodesk Revit
bachelor's degree or associate's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.