Graphic designer
A graphic designer is responsible for creating design solutions which have a high visual impact. The role involves listening to clients and understanding their needs before making design decisions.
Their designs 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, creative director 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 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 the agency director and/or prospective clients.
Salary figures are intended as a guide only.
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 essential. Internship or placement experience is extremely useful, especially if you have a reference who can provide evidence of what you have done and recommend you. 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. Your portfolio needs to be prepared with the design agency to which you are applying in mind. You need to research them and select appropriate pieces, ensuring that they are relevant and recent. This helps to make a clear match between your design aesthetics and that of the agency. You also need to produce an effective website, business card and CV.
It is important that you pay attention to typographic detail on your CV and ensure that it has a clear layout with no spelling mistakes or incorrect spacing. Something more creative that demonstrates your creative flair can be effective but this can be a more risky approach.
In the interview it is important that you can talk confidently about your work. Having your portfolio assessed whilst at college/university may give you an advantage, along with practicing your presentation skills. Interviews are usually informal but don’t be surprised if you are interviewed by more than one person including the studio manager and creative director. Think about leaving behind a piece of your work or object you have designed (poster, vinyl sticker, A5 booklet) that may help them to remember you in the future.
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. Don’t underestimate the importance of an enthusiastic and positive attitude. It is also a good idea to make the most of any opportunities available to you on your degree.
Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) and the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) offer student assessment schemes.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
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 QuarkXPress, FreeHand, Illustrator, Photoshop, 3ds 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) and the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) offer professional membership levels according to your qualifications and experience.
The CSD offers a structured programme of continuing 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 two to three 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 three to five 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, with the aim of opening their own studio.
Graphic designers work in many sectors, but most are based in agencies specialising in advertising design, including identity and event branding or corporate communication. Other employers include publishers, design groups, magazines, multimedia companies, local government, computer games companies, educational establishments, television and the packaging industry.
The industry revolves around internships and these can provide an excellent opportunity to gain commercial experience, develop your portfolio and gain invaluable recommendations. Internships are sometimes advertised on agency websites, although not all opportunities are advertised so it is a good idea to make speculative approaches. The design world is small and design agencies will recommend interns who have impressed them, or contact them if there are suitable opportunities in the future.
When making speculative approaches you can try sending a short email (highlighting why you would be a good fit) along with samples of your work. Ensure that the images are clear, not pixelated and that that the PDF is no bigger than 8-10MB. Also make sure you address your email to a named person.
As a graduate you can also apply for junior design roles. These are very competitive so it is a good idea to have gained some industry experience whilst at university.
Useful directories include:
As well as looking on agency websites it can also be beneficial to register with a specialist design recruitment agency, such as Gabriele Skelton . See the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) 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) . It can also be worth tapping into your local creative network to find out about opportunities.
Represent has compiled The Ideal Candidate where some of the leading studios share what they are looking for in a prospective junior designer and what you can do to make sure you stand out in your application and interview.
All Graphic Design will also provide you with some useful information if you are thinking of starting your career as a freelance designer.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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