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graphic design artist
Significant
Points
Among
the five design occupations, graphic designers are expected to have the most
new jobs through 2014; however, job seekers are expected to face keen
competition for available positions.
Graphic
designers with Web site design and animation experience will have the best
opportunities.
A
bachelor’s degree is required for most entry-level positions; however, an
associate degree may be sufficient for technical positions.
About
3 out of 10 designers are self-employed; many do freelance work in addition to
holding a salaried job in design or in another occupation.
Nature of the Work
Graphic designers—or graphic
artists—plan, analyze, and create visual solutions to communications problems.
They decide the most effective way of getting a message across in print,
electronic, and film media using a variety of methods such as color, type,
illustration, photography, animation, and various print and layout techniques.
Graphic designers develop the overall layout and production design of
magazines, newspapers, journals, corporate reports, and other publications.
They also produce promotional displays, packaging, and marketing brochures for
products and services, design distinctive logos for products and businesses,
and develop signs and signage systems—called environmental graphics—for
business and government. An increasing number of graphic designers also are
developing material for Internet Web pages, interactive media, and multimedia
projects. Graphic designers also may produce the credits that appear before and
after television programs and movies.
The first step in developing a new
graphic design is to determine the needs of the client, the message the design
should portray, and its appeal to customers or users. Graphic designers
consider cognitive, cultural, physical, and social factors in planning and
executing designs for the target audience. Designers gather relevant
information by meeting with clients, creative or art directors, and by
performing their own research. Identifying the needs of consumers is becoming
increasingly important for graphic designers as the scope of their work
continues to focus on creating corporate communication strategies in addition
to technical design and layout work.
Graphic designers prepare sketches
or layouts—by hand or with the aid of a computer—to illustrate the vision for
the design. They select colors, sound, artwork, photography, animation, style
of type, and other visual elements for the design. Designers also select the
size and arrangement of the different elements on the page or screen. They also
may create graphs and charts from data for use in publications, and often
consult with copywriters on any text that may accompany the visual part of the
design. Designers then present the completed design to their clients or art or
creative director for approval. In printing and publishing firms, graphic
designers also may assist the printers by selecting the type of paper and ink
for the publication and reviewing the mock-up design for errors before final
publication.
Graphic designers use a variety of
graphics and layout computer software to assist in their designs. Designers
creating Web pages or other interactive media designs also will use computer
animation and programming packages. Computer software programs allow ease and
flexibility in exploring a greater number of design alternatives, thus reducing
design costs and cutting the time it takes to deliver a product to market.
Graphic designers sometimes
supervise assistants who carry out their creations. Designers who run their own
businesses also may devote a considerable amount of time to developing new
business contacts, examining equipment and space needs, and performing
administrative tasks, such as reviewing catalogues and ordering samples. The
need for up-to-date computer and communications equipment is an ongoing
consideration for graphic designers.
Working
Conditions
Working conditions and places of
employment vary. Graphic designers employed by large advertising, publishing,
or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable
settings. Designers in smaller design consulting firms, or those who freelance,
generally work on a contract, or job, basis. They frequently adjust their
workday to suit their clients’ schedules and deadlines. Consultants and
self-employed designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller, more
congested, environments.
Designers may transact business in
their own offices or studios or in clients’ offices. Designers who are paid by
the assignment are under pressure to please clients and to find new ones in
order to maintain a steady income. All designers sometimes face frustration
when their designs are rejected or when their work is not as creative as they
wish. Graphic designers may work evenings or weekends to meet production
schedules, especially in the printing and publishing industries where deadlines
are shorter and more frequent.
Training, Other
Qualifications, and Advancement
A bachelor’s degree is required for
most entry-level and advanced graphic design positions; although some
entry-level technical positions may only require an associate degree. In
addition to postsecondary training in graphic design, creativity, and
communication and problem-solving skills are crucial. Graphic designers also
need to be familiar with computer graphics and design software. A good
portfolio—a collection of examples of a person’s best work—often is the
deciding factor in getting a job.
Bachelor’s of fine arts degree
programs in graphic design are offered at many colleges, universities, and
private design schools. The curriculum includes studio art, principles of
design, computerized design, commercial graphics production, printing
techniques, and Web site design. In addition to design courses, a liberal arts
education or a program that includes courses in art history, writing,
psychology, sociology, foreign languages and cultural studies, marketing, and
business are useful in helping designers work effectively with the content of
their work. Graphic designers must effectively communicate complex subjects to
a variety of audiences. Increasingly, clients rely on graphic designers to
develop the content and the context of the message in addition to performing
technical layout work.
Associate degrees and certificates
in graphic design also are available from 2- and 3-year professional schools.
These programs usually focus on the technical aspects of graphic design and
include very few liberal arts courses. Graduates of 2-year programs normally
qualify as assistants to graphic designers or for positions requiring technical
skills only. Individuals who wish to pursue a career in graphic design—and who
already possess a bachelor’s degree in another field—can complete a 2-year or
3-year program in graphic design to learn the technical requirements.
The National Association of Schools
of Art and Design accredits about 250 postsecondary institutions with programs
in art and design. Most of these schools award a degree in graphic design. Many
schools do not allow formal entry into a bachelor’s degree program until a
student has successfully finished a year of basic art and design courses.
Applicants may be required to submit sketches and other examples of their
artistic ability.
Increasingly, employers expect new graphic
designers to be familiar with computer graphics and design software. Graphic
designers must continually keep up to date with the development of new and
updated software, usually either on their own or through software training
programs.
Graphic designers also must be
creative and able to communicate their ideas in writing, visually, and
verbally. Because consumer tastes can change quickly, designers need to be well
read, open to new ideas and influences, and quick to react to changing trends.
Problem-solving skills, paying attention to detail, and the ability to work
independently and under pressure also are important traits. People in this
field need self-discipline to start projects on their own, to budget their
time, and to meet deadlines and production schedules. Good business sense and
sales ability also are important, especially for those who freelance or run
their own business.
Beginning graphic designers usually
receive on-the-job training and normally need 1 to 3 years of training before
they can advance to higher level 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. Many faculty members
continue to consult privately or operate small design studios to complement
their classroom activities. Some experienced designers open their own firms or
choose to specialize in one area of graphic design.
Employment
Graphic designers held about 228,000
jobs in 2004. About 7 out of 10 were wage and salary designers. Most worked in
specialized design services; advertising and related services; printing and
related support activities; or newspaper, periodical, book, and directory
publishers. Other graphic designers produced computer graphics for computer
systems design firms or motion picture production firms. A small number of
designers also worked in engineering services or for management, scientific,
and technical consulting firms.
About 3 out of 10 designers were
self-employed. Many did freelance work—full time or part time—in addition to
holding a salaried job in design or in another occupation.
Job Outlook
Employment of graphic designers is
expected to grow about as fast
as average for
all occupations through the year 2014, as demand for graphic design continues
to increase from advertisers, publishers, and computer design firms. Among the
five different design occupations, graphic designers will have the most new
jobs. However, graphic designers are expected to face keen competition for
available positions. Many talented individuals are attracted to careers as
graphic designers. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree and knowledge of
computer design software, particularly those with Web site design and animation
experience, will have the best opportunities.
Demand for graphic designers should
increase because of the rapidly expanding market for Web-based information and
expansion of the video entertainment market, including television, movies,
video, and made-for-Internet outlets. Graphic designers with Web site design
and animation experience will especially be needed as demand for design
projects increase for interactive media—Web sites, video games, cellular
telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other technology. Demand
for graphic designers also will increase as advertising firms create print and
Web marketing and promotional materials for a growing number of products and
services.
In recent years, some computer,
printing, and publishing firms have outsourced basic layout and design work to
design firms overseas. This trend is expected to continue and may have a
negative impact on employment growth for lower level, technical graphic design
workers. However, most higher-level graphic design jobs will remain in the
Earnings
Median annual earnings for graphic
designers were $38,030 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between
$29,360 and $50,840. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,220, and the
highest 10 percent earned more than $65,940. Median annual earnings in the
industries employing the largest numbers of graphic designers were:
|
Architectural,
engineering, and related services |
$42,740 |
|
Specialized design services |
41,620 |
|
Advertising and related services |
40,010 |
|
Printing
and related support activities |
32,830 |
|
Newspaper,
periodical, book, and directory publishers |
32,390 |
The American Institute of Graphic
Arts reported 2005 median annual total cash compensation for graphic designers
according to level of responsibility. Entry-level designers earned a median
salary of $32,000 in 2005, while staff-level graphic designers earned $42,500.
Senior designers, who may supervise junior staff or have some decision-making
authority that reflects their knowledge of graphic design, earned $56,000. Solo
designers, who freelanced or worked under contract to another company, reported
median earnings of $60,000. Design directors, the creative heads of design
firms or in-house corporate design departments, earned $90,000. Graphic designers
with ownership or partnership interests in a firm or who were principals of the
firm in some other capacity earned $100,000.
Related Occupations
Workers in other occupations in the
art and design field include <artists and related
workers; commercial and industrial designers; fashion designers; floral designers; and interior designers. Other occupations that require
computer-aided design skills include computer software engineers, drafters, and desktop publishers. Other occupations involved in the
design, layout, and copy of publications include advertising, marketing, promotions, public
relations, and sales managers; photographers; writers and editors; and prepress technicians and workers.
Disclaimer:
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Links to non-BLS Internet sites
are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement. |
For general information about art
and design and a list of accredited college-level programs, contact:
National
Association of Schools of Art and Design,
For information about graphic,
communication, or interaction design careers, contact:
American
Institute of Graphic Arts,
For information on workshops,
scholarships, internships, and competitions for graphic design students
interested in advertising careers, contact:
Art
Directors Club, 106 West