CAREER PATHS

Graphic Design

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR EDUCATION?

When you have an eye for design, the possibilities are limitless. Our graduates find success in vastly different areas of the graphic design industry, from logo design and animation to freelance photography, art direction and more. 

And while some students may already know what they want to pursue, maybe you are just beginning to explore your options.

If you’re unsure about pursuing a creative career, worry not — you can determine your career-readiness level by taking our quick 5-question quiz. Then, you can better decide on your creative career path.

Start by taking the quiz, then explore the many potential career paths available to you on this page!

The Graphic Designer has an all-encompassing role responsible for combining visual design, color theory, and the fundamentals of composition. This person uses design software, usually the Adobe Creative Suite, to create digital or print designs. The Graphic Designer is hands-on, working closely with many other people including the client, Art Director, Design Assistant, Web Developers, and more! Their job usually means juggling many projects at once, so multitasking skills are a must.

 

Visual Designers are chiefly involved with creating the visually appealing aspects of graphic design and typically oversee the visual imagery of a campaign. They are skilled in making an Art Director’s ideas a visual reality and create images that connect with consumers. The Visual Designer crafts the “look” of a brand or product and uses the power of imagery to engage viewers.

 

The Layout Designer is an artist who assembles images and type to create a visual design. They “lay out” and create the format for the design using graphic design principles. Layout Designers may be responsible for all kinds of marketing material, including posters, presentations, emails, brochures, websites, etc. Adobe InDesign is the industry standard program for layout design.

You must be a team player to be a Design Assistant! This role is responsible for supporting the more advanced designers in all aspects of a project or campaign and is typically an entry-level position. The Design Assistant has a fantastic opportunity to learn hands-on from his or her boss by seeing exactly what the life of a senior designer is like!

 

This position uses computer programs to create visuals and effects for digital media outlets like movies, websites, video games and 3D animations. Digital Media Designers utilize computer-generated media to convey messages and information, just as a traditional Graphic Designer would use print media. Their creative designs can be distributed through many channels, including the Internet, film, television, and on mobile platforms. As the mobile technology field continues to grow, so does the demand for Digital Media Designers. It is common for people in this position to freelance, so if you’d like to be your own boss you may be interested in this field!

 

Art Directors can work in-house for a company, freelance, or work in a traditional agency setting. The Art Director usually brainstorms and establishes the concept for a project or campaign and provides direction for the rest of the designers on their team. They should be involved with and understand all aspects of the campaign, from overall branding to the fine details. This person is responsible for spearheading and overseeing creative projects and serving the role of the lead and mentor for the entire design team.

 

The Marketing Designer is primarily responsible for creating illustrations or images and developing presentations that will help businesses promote themselves. This person uses lettering (typography), color theory, and visual designs to create marketing and promotional materials that will engage the public with the business they are working for. These materials could include website ads, email promotions, event signage and brochures, landing pages, infographics, and marketing reports. The Marketing Designer combines a traditional business marketing approach with graphic design principles for a truly unique job!

 

This person uses their skill set to design text and numbers as they appear on a page. They attract a reader and catch their attention by choosing font settings that create appealing headlines and other blocks of text. The Print Designer may also be responsible for choosing appropriate line height, incorporating images and photographs, and laying out the page. This person usually works in the publishing industry organizing the pages for magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, and other print materials.

 

Advertising Designers take a concept for an ad and make it a visual reality using typography, photography, color, and/or illustration. Advertisers can work under the supervision of an Art Director, directly with clients, or as part of an advertising team. Usually, this person’s goal is to help build awareness and drive sales to the company or product through advertising. This means that people in this position have the ability to directly impact the success of their client or company!

 

Graphic designers who specialize in designing logos for companies are called logo designers. These individuals focus on creating specific and unique logos to symbolize a brand. Logo designers use the company’s vision to construct a distinctive design that will best represent them and convey their message. Target audience is also explored and utilized in the designing process. Logo designers must be creative and imaginative. They should be able to work independently and under pressure. Some may work as freelance designers, while others can be employed at a single company as the in-house logo designer.

 

Photo editors coordinate the positioning and editing of photos in magazines, websites, and newspapers. Sometimes, they might supervise a team of photographers. Photo editors are employed by newspapers or book publishers in a variety of industries. One of their duties is editing the photos to improve quality. Another is to maintain deadlines for publications and assignments. Many start their careers as photographers with an education in the graphic design field. In addition to technical training, photo editors must be organized and have excellent visual skills.

 

Combining the work of a graphic designer and video editor, an animation designer is responsible for creating graphics for television, media companies, and video games. Familiarity with common graphic design software like Photoshop and Illustrator is important for this role. Animation designers, often called animators, use 2-D or 3-D animations on their platforms. Drawing is a vital skill in this position, as well as training in graphic design. Although computer-generated imagery has taken over most animation, manual drawing skills are still valued in this career. Animators are usually employed in the entertainment industry, but some prefer to freelance. As an animation designer, you are likely to work with film studios, video game companies, and marketing corporations.

 

Interactive Graphic Designers focus on the overall look and feel of different communication products. Using text, data, graphics, sound, animation, and other digital and visual effects, you will work on interactive products such as video games, websites, television, and more.

 

As an Illustrator, you’ll have the chance to create images that will inform, persuade, and entertain the target audiences of your clients! Using your imagination and artistic skills, you will transform client briefs into unique works of art – your work could easily appear in newspapers or magazines, as part of an advertising campaign, or even on a website. Illustration is a great way to express your unique vision and style, either as a freelance contractor or part of a team.

 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The Graphic Designer has an all-encompassing role responsible for combining visual design, color theory, and the fundamentals of composition. This person uses design software, usually the Adobe Creative Suite, to create digital or print designs. The Graphic Designer is hands-on, working closely with many other people including the client, Art Director, Design Assistant, Web Developers, and more! Their job usually means juggling many projects at once, so multitasking skills are a must.

VISUAL DESIGNER

Visual Designers are chiefly involved with creating the visually appealing aspects of graphic design and typically oversee the visual imagery of a campaign. They are skilled in making an Art Director’s ideas a visual reality and create images that connect with consumers. The Visual Designer crafts the “look” of a brand or product and uses the power of imagery to engage viewers.

LAYOUT DESIGNER

The Layout Designer is an artist who assembles images and type to create a visual design. They “lay out” and create the format for the design using graphic design principles. Layout Designers may be responsible for all kinds of marketing material, including posters, presentations, emails, brochures, websites, etc. Adobe InDesign is the industry standard program for layout design.

DESIGN ASSISTANT

You must be a team player to be a Design Assistant! This role is responsible for supporting the more advanced designers in all aspects of a project or campaign and is typically an entry-level position. The Design Assistant has a fantastic opportunity to learn hands-on from his or her boss by seeing exactly what the life of a senior designer is like!

DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGNER

This position uses computer programs to create visuals and effects for digital media outlets like movies, websites, video games and 3D animations. Digital Media Designers utilize computer-generated media to convey messages and information, just as a traditional Graphic Designer would use print media. Their creative designs can be distributed through many channels, including the Internet, film, television, and on mobile platforms. As the mobile technology field continues to grow, so does the demand for Digital Media Designers. It is common for people in this position to freelance, so if you’d like to be your own boss you may be interested in this field!

MARKETING DESIGNER

The Marketing Designer is primarily responsible for creating illustrations or images and developing presentations that will help businesses promote themselves. This person uses lettering (typography), color theory, and visual designs to create marketing and promotional materials that will engage the public with the business they are working for. These materials could include website ads, email promotions, event signage and brochures, landing pages, infographics, and marketing reports. The Marketing Designer combines a traditional business marketing approach with graphic design principles for a truly unique job!

PRINT DESIGNER

This person uses their skill set to design text and numbers as they appear on a page. They attract a reader and catch their attention by choosing font settings that create appealing headlines and other blocks of text. The Print Designer may also be responsible for choosing appropriate line height, incorporating images and photographs, and laying out the page. This person usually works in the publishing industry organizing the pages for magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, and other print materials.

ADVERTISING DESIGNER

Advertising Designers take a concept for an ad and make it a visual reality using typography, photography, color, and/or illustration. Advertisers can work under the supervision of an Art Director, directly with clients, or as part of an advertising team. Usually, this person’s goal is to help build awareness and drive sales to the company or product through advertising. This means that people in this position have the ability to directly impact the success of their client or company!

LOGO DESIGNER

Graphic designers who specialize in designing logos for companies are called logo designers. These individuals focus on creating specific and unique logos to symbolize a brand. Logo designers use the company’s vision to construct a distinctive design that will best represent them and convey their message. Target audience is also explored and utilized in the designing process. Logo designers must be creative and imaginative. They should be able to work independently and under pressure. Some may work as freelance designers, while others can be employed at a single company as the in-house logo designer.

PHOTO EDITOR

Photo editors coordinate the positioning and editing of photos in magazines, websites, and newspapers. Sometimes, they might supervise a team of photographers. Photo editors are employed by newspapers or book publishers in a variety of industries. One of their duties is editing the photos to improve quality. Another is to maintain deadlines for publications and assignments. Many start their careers as photographers with an education in the graphic design field. In addition to technical training, photo editors must be organized and have excellent visual skills.

ANIMATION DESIGNER

Combining the work of a graphic designer and video editor, an animation designer is responsible for creating graphics for television, media companies, and video games. Familiarity with common graphic design software like Photoshop and Illustrator is important for this role. Animation designers, often called animators, use 2-D or 3-D animations on their platforms. Drawing is a vital skill in this position, as well as training in graphic design. Although computer-generated imagery has taken over most animation, manual drawing skills are still valued in this career. Animators are usually employed in the entertainment industry, but some prefer to freelance. As an animation designer, you are likely to work with film studios, video game companies, and marketing corporations.

INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Interactive Graphic Designers focus on the overall look and feel of different communication products. Using text, data, graphics, sound, animation, and other digital and visual effects, you will work on interactive products such as video games, websites, television, and more.

ILLUSTRATOR

As an Illustrator, you’ll have the chance to create images that will inform, persuade, and entertain the target audiences of your clients! Using your imagination and artistic skills, you will transform client briefs into unique works of art – your work could easily appear in newspapers or magazines, as part of an advertising campaign, or even on a website. Illustration is a great way to express your unique vision and style, either as a freelance contractor or part of a team.