1. Job Description A graphic designer is someone who assembles together images, typography, or motion graphics to create a design or message. They create designs primarily for publication, printing, electronic media, and advertising. Their job requires them to present information to the audience in an appropriate manner in a way that is memorable.
2. Skills Most graphic design jobs demand the knowledge of graphic design software programs -- the most used one would be the Adobe Creative Suite. This "suite" includes: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. A web designer should understand XML and HTML, and basic web programming scripts. A print designer should understand the steps involved in printing. They should be able to solve problems and obstacles. They need to be able to understand their audience and have a creative and open mind.
3. Education Requirements A bachelor's degree in graphic design is usually required for most entry-level and advanced graphic design positions. In addition to design courses, a liberal arts education that includes courses in art history, writing, psychology, sociology, foreign languages and cultural studies, marketing, and business are useful in helping designers work effectively.
4. Opportunity for Growth Graphic designers usually need 1 to 3 years of working experience before they can advance to higher positions. Experienced graphic designers in large firms may advance to chief designer, art or creative director, or other supervisory positions. Some designers leave the occupation to become teachers in design schools or in colleges and universities.
5. Employment Graphic designers work in specialized design services, advertising and related services, printing activities, newspapers, periodical, books, and directory publishers. A small number of designers produce computer graphics for computer systems design firms. Some designers do freelance work in addition to a salaried job in design.
6. Salary Median annual wages are around $42,400. The lowest 10% earn less than $26,100 and the highest 10% earn more than $74,660.
7. Jobs in High School/College In high school you could take graphic design classes if your school offers it, take workshops, internships, and competitions for graphic design. In college you could also take visual arts classes, basic graphic design classes, and art history classes to learn about where it came from. You could also apply for internships and attend workshops. You could also work on your own for fun!
Production Artist
1. Job Description Make things appealing. Create labels for products.
2. Education Associates degree or certificate program.
3. Work With graphic designer.
4. Salary $50,000
Art Director
1. Job Description visual concepts, design it, presentation approach
2. What they do billboard advertisements, magazine layouts, video, websites, newspapers
3. Degree 4 year bachelor degree and experience
4. Salary 35,000 - 120,000
Illustrator
1. Job Description to help the designer
2. Skills or Education degree in illustration or related field. Social skills
3. Salary 30,000 - 50,000; possibly up to 80,000
Web Design
1. Education 4 year bachelor degree in the graphic field. Have a graphic design background and know the computer systems.
2. Job Description creating the look for a website for the client
3. Salary 45,000 - 81,000
Package Designer
1. Job Description designs packages and containers for products
2. Salary 33,000 - 75,000
3. Education bachelors degree
Comic Book Artist
1. Description someone involved in any steps of creating a comic strip or book
2. Education do not need a degree in any kind, just skilled drawing
3. Salary larger companies will give you more money; around 50,000. The starting is around 12,000.
Animator
1. Job Description use computer graphics to create images. draw storyboards and create models of environments for movies, games, or commercials.
2. Salary 32,000 - 99,000
3. Education bachelor degree (animation) and experience.
Publication Design
1. Job Description specialize in the layout and content of published materials.
2. Education bachelor degree in any kind of design. Education in typography, color principles, layout design, and graphic design programs.
3. Salary 23,000 - 89,000
Freelance Designer
1. Description an artist that works without dedication to a certain employer.
2. Degree highschool or college education
3. Salary average - 57,000 a year. a lot will work per hour
Storyboard Artist
1. Description make sketches for movies and production agencies. help bring ideas together into one picture.
2. Skills have to be able to listen to what one wants.
3. Education have a bachelors degree and should take background classes in drawing and know about film.
4. Salary starting: 25,000 and earn up to 80,000
Creative Director
1. Description next level up. "the manager" of a department. No longer going to design. meet with clients, do the design pitches; they will help you with critiqueing. More administrative.
2. Education same as graphic design, but they want to see experience. Around 7-10 years of experience.
3. Salary $150,000
AIGA
1. Description American Institute of Graphic Arts. Represent designers and other people in the graphic design industry. You have to pay dues. Help students publish their portfolios and you can find jobs and internships.
PIAG
1. Description Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia. Printing resource for educational purposes. Push a lot for our curriculum.
2. Requirements in the graphic design field.
SPD
1. Description Society of Publication Designers. Represent graphic proffesionalists. Concentrate on graphic concerns on print and online graphics. help you with portfolios.
Copywriter
1. Description work as a team with art directors and sometimes work directly with clients.
2. Salary around 37,000 to 45,000 CAP 70,000
3. Education liberal arts or anything in the media studies field.
Portrait Photographer
1. Description take pictures of individuals or groups at a studio or on location.
2. Education degree in photography, however all you need is basic knowledge.
3. Salary 26,000 and can be up to 63,000
Documentary Photography
1. Description take pictures of important events
2. Education bachelors degree
3. Salary 28,000 to 75,000
Advertising Photography
1. Description take photos of subjects that can end up on billboards.
2. Salary 47,000 and can make up into the 200,000
Editorial Photography
1. Description convey the story that is being told. mostly for newspapers and magazines.
2. Salary 25,000 -55,000
3. Education do not have to have a degree but have to be able to take good pictures.
Fashion Photography
1. Description show the work of the designer to the public.
2. Education good eye in artisitic ability, know photoediting software.
3. Salary 50,000 to 100,000 +
Photo Journalists
1. Description provides pictures for news articles
2. Salary 15,000 - 50,000
3. Education bachelors degree in photography
APA
1. Description American Photographic Artists. mutual cooperation. support each other and offers good benefits. can give you insurance and you can get discounts. easier for you to succeed in photography.
Sports Photography
1. Description travel to sporting events and take pictures in action of the event. work in studios.
2. Skills/Education bachelors degree in photography. proper to assist journalists, etc.
3. Salary 24,000 and work your way up.
PPA
1. Description Professional Photographers of American. helps members advance their careers. opens photographers up to things they would not normally have access to. provides education and equipment.
NAPP
1. Description National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Organization that helps you with magazines and other publications, shows tricks, tutorials and how to articles in photoshop
NPPA
1. Description national press photographers association. organization for visual journalists trying to advance their career. publish in News Photographer magazine. support photographers or people in multimedia or video.
