Graphic Design: Becoming A Graphic Designer

Becoming A Graphic Designer

By Careers Editor

In graphic design, the designer must be able to use whatever materials that are prepared for them and stay within the budget given. This takes a person who can listen well, has a flair for color, a good eye for pleasing design and an understanding of what the client wants ...

To be a good designer in any field takes practice, skill and patience; however, a graphic designer must also be able to work under extreme deadlines and within a well-defined budget, as most of their work is done on a project-to-project basis. The designer must be able to gather feedback from many different sources and turn it into a unique finished product. In graphic design, the designer must be able to use whatever materials that are prepared for them and stay within the budget given. This takes a person who can listen well, has a flair for color, a good eye for pleasing design and an understanding of what the client wants. In short, graphic design is not one job, it is 20.

Graphic designers typically have a four-year degree, usually in art, product design or art history and are familiar with most computer graphics software programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator, etc. A good mixture of coursework usually involves drawing, computer art and design. It should also include any type of specific knowledge, such as anatomy for medical designers, which directly relates to a specific area. It is not a field for the faint of heart, as of the 25,000 people who try to enter the field each year, only about 60% last the first two years and about 30% remain in the field at five years.

Some artists are not cut out to be a graphic designer, as there is a lot of uncertainty and lean years as well. During those times, many choose to become in-house design consultants or magazine layout editors to help them through the less prosperous years.

There may be some, though certainly not many that make it in the industry on talent alone. However, most need some sort of a certificate or degree to land a job in graphic designs. Many employers will not even bother to look at you if you lack the piece of paper that shows you have been trained and seasoned by some sort of graphic design related program. Getting a degree or certificate does not reflect your talent, but it does show that you have a good firm base of knowledge and that you take the industry seriously.

So, you have made the decision to suck it up, get past the lean years and work hard to become a graphic artist; eager to use the cutting edge software programs to create some great new designs. It is a great career choice and if you specialize in technology or advertising, then your chances of becoming a good graphic designer increases. There is no better field to get into that will allow you to use your technical skills and creativity to its fullest extent.

Next article: Culinary Schools - Answers To Common Questions

Email this page to a friend

Featured Employment Product:

	The Ultimate Guide To Job Interview Answers
	This is the ultimate guide to Job Interview Answers! It includes over 99 intelligent and effective Job Interview Answers, 11 Closing Power Statements, 43 questions to help you uncover the interviewer's hidden needs, and much more ... Click here for more details ...

More Articles About Employment ...

What Is Travel Nursing And Is It Right For You
Travel nursing has become a fad these days especially with the growing need of nurses in many countries worldwide. Many registered nurses consider taking this kind of job opportunity because of the advantages...

Computer Animation Schools - A Career In Animation
You have probably played some type of video game on your computer, but have you ever considered a career in it? If you are interested in that type of employment or any type of animation, then consider...

Bartending School - A Step To A Bartending Career
The bartending icons that most people associate with barkeeps are usually portrayed as either exciting and romantic or boring and stupid; examples range from Tom Cruise in Cocktail to Moe in The Simpsons....

Recommended Career & Employment Resources

Get Instant Access to Hundreds of Work-at-Home Jobs

Want exclusive access to the hottest freelance jobs online today? Signing up for trial membership of Go Freelance gives you access to cool projects like these:

Fire your boss and set your work-at-home career off to a cracking start. Click here to get instant access for just $2.95.

For more information about Employment-related resources, see our Careers & Employment resources section, subscribe to our Careers & Employment Newsletter containing news, updates and insider tips, or go to more articles about Graphic Design.