Graphic design is a visual art form commonly used in advertising and can be seen everywhere from product labels and apparel to equipment and books. Brands use graphic design to create a lasting impression on customers and stand out from their competitors. Since graphic design is in high demand, the number of jobs that use graphic design is likely to remain stable.
Whether you work as an art director or marketing manager, a background in graphic design gives you access to several career paths. This article will delve into the wide array of jobs that use graphic design and touch on how to get a job in this field. Keep reading to understand why it is an exceptional career path.
What Is Graphic Design?
Graphic design is the practice of using visual elements to convey a strong and clear message to the viewer. These direct messages help brands more easily sell and promote their products and establish brand identity. Graphic designers might design user interfaces for apps, advertisements for publications, or logos for publications.
Is Graphic Design in High Demand?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graphic designers will experience a three percent job growth rate between 2020 and 2030, which is lower than the national average. However, there is demand for graphic designers as companies expand their digital presence and social media takes over the business world.
Despite the modest employment growth rate, BLS still projects that 23,900 graphic design jobs will become available every year between 2020 and 2030. In addition, the increased use of technology by businesses will mean more work for digital designers and UX designers in the coming years.
Types of Graphic Design Jobs
Before you focus on becoming a graphic designer, you must understand the different types of jobs that exist in the industry. That way, you can acquire the right skills, education, and experience to set you on the right path. Below, we explore three different types of jobs.
Brand Identity Design
Brand identity focuses on the image of a brand, which is created by using certain color palettes, artistic styles, and images. In general, brand identity is informed by the overall message a company is attempting to send. Brand identity also influences the design of products.
Graphic Illustration
Graphic illustration deals with artwork and images created using digital or analog tools. Graphic illustrations can be seen on fabrics, posters, magazines, and packages. Illustrators draw and create designs and logos for agencies or individuals seeking to improve their brand awareness.
Marketing and Advertising Design
Marketing and advertising accommodate several graphic design careers. Designers who work in marketing aim to attract consumers with striking images to generate more sales. Graphic designers must have a strong understanding of a company’s brand, its products, its target audiences, and the purchasing behavior of its customers.
How to Establish a Career in Graphic Design
Part of learning how to launch your designing career is understanding the ins and outs of the industry. There isn’t one right way to launch a career, but below we’ve listed some popular steps that can help get you started.
- Pursue an education. Although formal education isn’t mandatory for graphic design professionals, a graphic design degree is the most reliable path into the industry. Employers prioritize a bachelor’s degree for most careers in this field. However, a graphic or visual design bootcamp can also teach you practical skills and get you hired.
- Pick an area of expertise. As noted above, there are different types of graphic design careers. Do the research to find a path that aligns with your career goals and hone your skills in that area. Take advantage of online learning resources to boost your chances of success.
- Build a professional portfolio. Portfolios are a great way to sell yourself professionally. Think about including print ads, digital graphics, commercials, and any other projects you’ve completed. If you’re a beginner, you can start working on beginner-friendly graphic design projects to gain more experience.
- Improve your skills. You can improve your graphic design skills through graphic design courses. Technical skills like drawing, using software to design images, and creating animations will come in handy. Communication and critical thinking skills will also help you land jobs.
- Find an internship. Internships allow you to get a taste of what it’s like working in graphic design. Moreover, pursuing an internship helps you discover which area works for you and where you thrive. Apply for intern-level graphic design positions at graphic design agencies and organizations.
The 15 Best Jobs That Use Graphic Design
There are a number of jobs that use graphic design skills. The following table shows the best jobs for graphic designers, organized from highest to lowest average salary. The information in the table comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and PayScale.
| Job Title | Average Salary | Job Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising Manager | $141,490 | 10% |
| Art Director | $97,270 | 11% |
| Animator | $77,700 | 16% |
| Web Developer | $77,200 | 13% |
| Fashion Designer | $75,810 | 0% |
| UX Designer | $75,351 | 13%* |
| Industrial Designer | $71,640 | 6% |
| Creative Services Manager | $69,874 | 10%** |
| UI Designer | $65,713 | 13%* |
| Broadcast Designer | $62,249 | 4% |
| Multimedia Artist | $57,476 | 4%*** |
| Photo Editor | $57,336 | 5% |
| Package Designer | $55,404 | 4%*** |
| Graphic Designer | $53,380 | 3% |
| Production Artist | $50,811 | 4%*** |
*Job outlook information has been sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report on web developers and digital designers.
**Job outlook information has been sourced from the BLS report on advertising, promotions, and marketing managers.
***Job outlook has been sourced from the BLS report on arts and design occupations.
What Careers Use Graphic Design? An In-Depth List
Advertising Manager
Advertising managers oversee a company’s marketing strategy. They manage ad campaigns, work with the design team to develop creative ideas, and create budgets. As an advertising manager, it helps to have in-depth knowledge of graphic design, strong analytical skills, and a high level of creativity.
Art Director
Also referred to as a creative director, an art director comes up with the artistic vision of a project. Art directors work with designers and other artists to conceptualize the visual aspects of an ad campaign from concept to completion.
They act as project managers who design concepts, plan project layouts, and determine creative ways to make each project visually appealing. To become a creative director, you must showcase outstanding design skills, leadership, and creativity.
Animator
Animators create the illusion of movement by designing multiple images and combining them in a sequence. A group of images, also called frames in this context, can be compiled into a storyboard to give a project more structure. Animators are in high demand in the advertising, media, and entertainment industries.
Web Developer
Web developers build websites using different programming languages. Full stack developers are usually often skilled in designing applications as well. As a web developer, you will design websites built around a client’s needs and perform maintenance on the site. A background in graphic design is crucial to ensuring you have the skills to carry out a client’s vision.
Fashion Designer
Fashion designers apply several graphic design principles in their work. These professionals study fashion trends, develop unique designs, and create a brand identity. Fashion designers will typically take on several roles including designing logos, managing social media campaigns, and designing packaging. Most successful fashion designers have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, and a degree in design can help you find work in this industry.
UX Designer
User experience (UX) design is an exciting field that utilizes graphic design to enhance user interactions. Often it’s pleasing visual designs and smooth user experiences that win customers over. Think of how smooth Apple iOS runs on iPhones. Graphic designers played a huge role in the success of iOS because they found a combination of styles, colors, and patterns that fit seamlessly together.
Industrial Designer
Industrial designers design product concepts for a wide range of industries. For example, they might develop conceptual designs for home appliances, vehicles, furniture, or medical products. To succeed as an industrial designer, you’ll need graphic design skills, but you’ll also need business savvy and enough engineering experience to create practical products.
Creative Services Manager
A creative services manager is similar to an advertising manager and oversees a creative project from concept to completion. Besides developing the overall vision of a project, you’ll have to manage a team of creatives and achieve business goals under deadlines. A college degree is usually required for this role, as well as management experience.
UI Designer
User Interface (UI) designers handle the visual design of websites, applications, and video games. A UI designer’s main task is to design the screens that a user scrolls through. A background in graphic design is immensely helpful to a UI designer, although to be successful at UI design, you’ll need to learn how to make your visuals interactive.
Broadcast Designer
Broadcast designers are responsible for the visual appearance of electronic media used by television stations or advertising agencies. You will use your graphic design skills to design and create text and visual special effects that appear on television. Broadcast designers typically have a bachelor’s degree and are highly skilled in using software applications to create visuals.
Multimedia Artist
Multimedia artists use graphic design to create content for advertising agencies, films, websites, games, or television shows. A multimedia designer uses their skills to design and develop visual effects and create digital illustrations or computer animations. To succeed in this role, you’ll need a broad skillset, creative mindset, and the ability to use design software.
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Photo Editor
Photo editors edit pictures for publication in newspapers, magazines, websites, or social media pages. Graphic design comes in handy when editing photos because you’ll often be applying special visual effects with different software. At the very least, you’ll need to become familiar with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
Package Designer
A package designer develops attention-grabbing packaging materials. To attract customers, you will need all the design tricks in your arsenal to create eye-catching packaging. Have you ever chosen a bottle of wine because the label was unique? That’s an example of a packaging designer excelling at their role. Besides having a creative eye, you’ll also need to take into consideration your budget constraints and safety guidelines.
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer designs visuals for a variety of uses across different media platforms. They might be responsible for designing visuals for web pages, company logos, book covers, or billboards. Earning a college degree in graphic design is a great starting point to learn the skills required for the position. Alternatively, you can find a bootcamp specializing in graphic design or teach yourself.
Production Artist
Production artists assist design teams in producing graphics for different advertising publications, usually with a focus on print. They collect and process files, review layouts, and ensure the final product meets company standards. Employers look for creative thinkers and production artists with experience in Adobe programs like Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
Should You Get a Job in Graphic Design?
Yes. Pursuing a graphic design career path is exciting because it can lead you to several different roles. You can dive into a wide range of careers and build up your skills with online bootcamps or on-the-job training. Demand for graphic design professionals remains stable, which translates to high salaries and diverse job opportunities.
Jobs That Use Graphic Design FAQ
Although a formal degree program offers job security and access to better opportunities, you don’t need a degree to find work in graphic design. A bootcamp education can help supplement your resume. Besides education, you will certainly need to be skilled in design fundamentals. You can start by learning the Adobe suite of editing programs.
Yes. Graphic design is a lucrative industry and your salary should increase quickly after you get your foot in the door. Your starting base salary will depend on your job title, your employer, and your experience in the field.
Yes. Graphic design is a lucrative industry and your salary should increase quickly after you get your foot in the door. Your starting base salary will depend on your job title, your employer, and your experience in the field.
No. You can find entry-level jobs easily and then work your way to the top. In the end, graphic design is a creative career path, and you can harness your creativity to move up the corporate ladder. If you find ways to hone your skills and apply for as many positions as possible, you can get one of the many jobs that use graphic design skills.
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