Graphic designers produce design solutions to communicate client messages with high visual impact. Graphic design solutions are required for a huge variety of products and activities, such as websites, advertising, books, magazines, posters, computer games, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity (e.g. giving organisations a visual 'brand').
A graphic designer works to a brief agreed with the client or account manager. They develop creative ideas and concepts choosing the appropriate media and style to meet the client's objectives.
The work demands creative flair, up-to-date knowledge of industry software and a professional approach to time, costs and deadlines.
A graphic designer's job may involve managing more than one design brief at a time and allocating the relevant amount of time according to the value of the job. Typical work activities include:
Whether they are self-employed, working freelance or employed within a business, graphic designers often have to be proactive in presenting or 'pitching' their ideas and designs to prospective customers.
Relevant subjects include those that involve visual arts. In particular, a degree/HND in the following subjects may increase your chances:
Entry to HND or degree-level study is rare without first completing a foundation degree or BTEC national course in art and design. Any design-based course will give you a good grounding and knowledge of design/art history, printing techniques, etc.
Entry without a degree or HND is sometimes possible, as job offers are based on the standard of portfolio work and not on educational qualifications. However, progress without formal training is extremely difficult, and the vast majority of graphic designers have higher qualifications.
A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed, but pre-entry experience is desirable. Work or placement experience is extremely useful, especially if you have a reference to provide evidence of what you have done. The most valuable work experience comes from involvement in a live project, along with building a portfolio of your work.
Apart from technical and drawing skills, candidates need to show evidence of the following:
You need to have a clear strategy and a highly professional approach in your job search. You should have a business card, a CV detailing your skills, experience and interests, and a structured portfolio of work relevant to the job/employer which takes into account their products. It is important that your CV demonstrates your artistic flair. It may be beneficial to develop a website where you display your CV and portfolio. It is advisable to leave your best work at the back of the portfolio, as it is invariably these pages that are left open during an interview. Excellent networking skills are needed in this competitive area.
The deciding factor in getting a job, apart from the quality of your portfolio, may be your previous employment experience - particularly if it is in a related field, e.g. advertising, marketing or printing.
Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) (http://www.csd.org.uk) and the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) (http://www.istd.org.uk) offer student assessment schemes. Having your design work/portfolio assessed whilst at college/university may give you a competitive advantage if you refer to it in your CV.
For more information, see work experience (www.prospects.ac.uk/workexperience) and find courses and research (www.prospects.ac.uk/pg).
Most learning is on the job, except for formal training in industry-specific software. As a graphic designer, you will need to be skilled in using a variety of packages such as Quark Xpress, FreeHand, Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D Studio Max, Acrobat, Director, Dreamweaver and Flash. Designers involved in media design may be required to learn about TV special effects systems. Some employers will fund participation on training courses, but it is common for freelance and self-employed designers to self-fund.
There may be part-time study opportunities in software, but most graphic designers learn new skills in-house to meet the demands of a particular project. Learning will continue throughout your career in order to keep up to date with new advancements in graphic technology.
Membership of professional bodies can enhance professional knowledge by providing access to useful resources, advice and training. Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) (http://www.csd.org.uk) and the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) (http://www.istd.org.uk) offer professional membership levels according to your qualifications and experience.
The CSD offers a structured programme of continuous professional development (CPD) through attendance at seminars and other professional development activities such as acting as a mentor. Each seminar or activity carries a CPD value, which will be entered on a member's personal CPD record within the CSD's database. Members achieving 100 CPD points in any one year will be awarded a Professional Practice Certificate.
Progression from junior graphic designer is possible within one to two years with the first few jobs acting as stepping stones. At this stage, developing a reputation, networking and making contacts are important. Some junior designers report that their first year is tedious at times, as the work is at a more basic level than their degree work and does not fully utilise all their skills. Others - mostly those working in small, fast-growing companies - report that they have been involved in interesting and challenging projects from day one.
Successful designers may be in a position to apply for a senior designer post after five to six years. In large design partnerships, it may be possible to achieve promotion from designer to management positions, such as studio manager or creative director.
In general, career development depends on frequent job movement to widen your experience and develop your portfolio. Successful designers have to think strategically about career moves and consider the development opportunities within each role.
In smaller companies, it is rare to have any kind of career structure and ambitious designers may decide that the only way to advance is to strike out alone or form a partnership.
Many designers become self-employed within five to ten years of their first job.
Graphic designers work in many sectors, but most are based in agencies specialising in advertising design or corporate communication. Other employers include publishers, design groups, magazines, multimedia companies, local government, computer games companies, educational establishments, television and the packaging industry.
If you are a graduate seeking your first job, smaller companies can provide the opportunity to build your portfolio and to gain an insight into the industry. Many large companies have their own in-house design teams.
This is a very competitive profession, partly because the supply of designers outstrips demand. The industry is slowly expanding, as demands for high-quality work are increasing. The development and wide availability of computer software enabling companies to produce their own stationery, for example, has removed the lower end of the market for graphic design work. However, there is still a demand for graphic designers, and those with experience and advanced skills are most likely to find employment.
Increasingly, work in web design or in multimedia is an alternative possibility.
Search graduate jobs (www.prospects.ac.uk/links/jobvacs).
Useful directories include:
Recruitment agencies commonly handle vacancies. See the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) (http://www.rec.uk.com) for the names of relevant agencies. Recruitment agencies also advertise in the trade press, or you can get a list from Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) (http://www.csd.org.uk) .
All Graphic Design (http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/) will provide you with lots of useful information if you are thinking of starting your career as a freelance designer.
Mad (http://www.mad.co.uk) and Devonshire (http://www.devonshire.co.uk/) are also useful websites for vacancies.
See also job hunting tips (www.prospects.ac.uk/links/jobhunt) and applications, CVs and interviews (www.prospects.ac.uk/links/appsinterviews).
The following Case studies are also available on prospects.ac.uk:
© Content copyright of or licensed to AGCAS (www.agcas.org.uk)
Written by Myrto Kalle, AGCAS, January 2010.
The work of writers, editors and other contributors is gratefully acknowledged - full details on www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations. To view the terms and conditions for the material provided in this publication, please see www.prospects.ac.uk/links/disclaimer