Your Career in Graphic Design – Where to Start?

Your Career in Graphic Design - Where to Start?

If you find yourself constantly sketching out ideas for your next big project or love drawing and creative design, then a career as a graphic designer may be perfect for you.

Designers are responsible for creating the visuals accompanying many of our favorite products and brands. They come up with logos and slogans, they create packaging designs, they produce advertisements, they work on websites—the list goes on.

This article will describe some of the best ways to get started as a graphic designer.

Because of the high volume of people pursuing graphic design careers, you need to make things as easy as possible for potential employers.

What Can Graphic Designers Do?

A graphic designer is responsible for the visual elements of just about anything. That’s why there are so many types of designers out there—it takes a lot of different skills to fill all the possible roles.

For instance, if you want to design logos and brand identities, you might learn everything you can about color theory and symbolism. If you’re going to work in advertising or marketing, it would be helpful to understand consumer behavior. And if web design sounds interesting, you need a fair bit of knowledge on how users interact with websites.

Careers in Graphic Design

Getting a degree in graphic design is probably the best way to start if you want to work as a designer. Not only will you learn all the necessary skills, but you’ll do it from an accredited institution and have proof of your education when applying for jobs related to graphic design.

In addition, several online degree programs offer excellent educational opportunities without leaving your current job or taking time off from school, which can help you prepare for a graphic designer career.

Types of Graphic Design Careers

Here are some jobs for graphic design majors that you should consider. These are some of the best jobs in graphic design.

Creative Director

This person is in charge of every facet of the creative process. It’s not enough to have a fantastic idea, a great way with color and design, and solid drawing skills—a creative director must lead teams of people, see projects through from start to finish, and possess strong management skills. Plus, they need to constantly oversee work that may be outsourced or created across time zones.

Graphic Designer

Some graphic designers work on one specific project—logos, for instance—while others are generalists who might create billboards and cereal boxes. Graphic designers are typically self-employed and work as independent contractors, but they can also find jobs within advertising agencies and media companies.

Web Designer

As more and more businesses look to the Internet to advertise their products, services, and ideas, the demand for web designers increases dramatically. These designers need some knowledge of HTML and other programming languages and a strong understanding of how websites function and interact with visitors.

If you enjoy designing layouts and coming up with creative ways to display information (and who doesn’t?), then this might be the career path for you.

Is a Graphic Design Degree Worth It?

For some careers, like creative director, it’s helpful to have a degree in graphic design. But for many other positions in the industry, you can get by without one. You may find that your dream graphic art jobs are only available to those who have at least a bachelor’s degree in graphic design—but if your goal is to work as an independent contractor or in less formalized settings, then you may not need one.

The truth is that when it comes down to what makes someone qualified for a specific position, it often has much more to do with their portfolio than anything else. So focus on putting together projects that demonstrate your skills and abilities. If you want to be taken seriously, make sure they are of professional quality.

How to Start Graphic Design Career

Now that you have the basics of graphic design positions, it’s time to get started.

If you know exactly what type of job you want or who you want to work for, then apply as soon as possible. Many of these positions are highly competitive and may require a portfolio review of your previous graphic design work before being considered.

Even if you don’t immediately have a graphic design jobs list, it’s still a good idea to start building a solid portfolio. It doesn’t necessarily need to be full of finished projects. One great way to stand out from other candidates is by showing the process of how the final product was made—but it should show some examples of your best abilities and skill sets.

Once your portfolio is ready, it’s time to start applying. Because of the high volume of people pursuing graphic design careers, you need to make things as easy as possible for potential employers.

Instead of sending out a general resume and hoping it lands in the right hands, create a targeted resume that addresses your qualifications and how you can help them with their specific project(s). Also, be sure to include any relevant experience and education—links to past projects may even be helpful.

When applying online or through an online form, customize each application with relevant information—and don’t submit the same application more than once! Check back on job boards daily because companies are constantly looking for new talent. And finally, prepare some common interview questions and questions you may be asked if being interviewed in person.

If you’re lucky, a company will take a chance on you and offer an internship. This is a great way to get started because it allows you to have hands-on experience under the supervision of experienced professionals within your chosen field. In addition, these graphic design job opportunities can sometimes lead to full-time job offers in related graphic design careers

Conclusion

Whatever type of jobs in graphics designing you’re looking for or whatever kind of designer careers company you want to work for, start applying to your designer jobs list as soon as possible. Suppose you have a strong portfolio and show dedication and motivation in your application process. In that case, you’ll have many graphic design career opportunities, but remember that it only takes one company to take a chance on you.