Are you constantly torn between
the desire to create and your interest in new technologies? Are you more of the
type to take on several projects at once to stay motivated? The profession of
designer could well be for you!
First, here's a general
description of the profession: A graphic designer uses their creativity,
artistry, and technology knowledge to create text and images for a variety of
clients, whether it's a simple logo or full brand identity.
In this article, we explain what
the profession of graphic designer consists of, how one manages to train, as
well as the working conditions and the responsibilities associated with it.
The tasks incumbent on the graphic
designer
What exactly does the job of a
graphic designer consist of? The daily tasks of a graphic designer can vary
significantly from one designer to another, as most of them have quite a bit of
control over the type of project they choose to do (one of the advantages of
the profession!), and therefore the number of hours, the workload, and the
responsibilities of each one varies enormously from one graphic designer to
another.
Of course, some aspects of the
profession are still common to everyone. Graphic designers create the visual
identity of a brand, a message or any other communication. They help people and
businesses get their message across in a memorable, effective and aesthetically
pleasing way. They do this by working with their clients to help them translate
their goals into graphic concepts, and turn those ideas into designs.
Despite all the differences that
exist between graphic designers, certain things are found in each of them:
·
Meet and work with customers to understand their
project needs and help them translate those ideas into concepts.
· Create advertising designs, annual reports,
books and their covers, brochures, logos, magazine covers, signs, stickers,
T-shirts, websites and any other marketing and communication medium;
·
Review the client's specifications so that they
are in line with their budget and objectives;
· Create designs, illustrations or paintings by
hand, or with the help of a computer, so as to obtain a similar rendering;
·
Sell an idea to update the client's project;
·
Review the design or the deliverables of the
project to be in accordance with the specifications;
·
Learn to use new programs and software;
· Work as part of a team to create a large-scale
design campaign, or to complete a small part of a large project, creating
custom typography, for example.
·
Find other creative, such as photographers,
writers, or illustrators to complete a given project.
There are many more examples, but
we hope this list already gives you a good idea of what the everyday life of
a graphic designer looks like.
Work environment and salary
According to the United States
Department of Labor, as of May 2016, 210,710 Americans were employed as graphic
designers. This represented an increase of 0.9%. The hourly wages for these
designers averaged about $ 25.14. Ten percent of the lowest-paid graphic
designers earned $ 13.44 an hour, compared to $ 39.43 an hour for the top 10%.
The average annual salary for a graphic designer was $ 52,290, with the lowest
paid at $ 27,950 per year and the highest paid at $ 82,020 per year.
Looking at the distribution of
graphic designers by sector, we can see something interesting: in 2016, 21.16%
of graphic designers worked in specialized services, including design
companies. Over 4% worked in each of the following sectors: advertising and
public relations, prints and other related media, newspapers, magazines and
publishing. Almost 3% work in other sectors, such as in a company's packaging
departments, for example. About 0.5% worked in the computer, technology, and
related services industry. Finally, less than 0.1% worked in sectors such as
legal and other services.
All these figures added together
make only 38%. But where are the others? Most of the other designers are
self-employed. More and more industries are developing online and using
freelancers for their graphic needs, and therefore more and more designers are
working freelance. They find their clients themselves, organize their schedules
and workload as they see fit. They sometimes work on several projects at the
same time, or on the contrary, experience low periods.
Training and education
Most graphic designers are
trained in specialized schools. They are doing a Bachelor of Arts with a
specialization in design and graphics. There are a number of such schools, both
public and private.
That said, if you already have a
license in another field that has nothing to do with graphic design, you may
not need to start from scratch to retrain. There are many courses you can take
to acquire the skills necessary for the job. You can also look for training
specific to the profession of graphic designer or do internships. Finally, you
can also embark on freelance projects that you find and train yourself over
time.
Some designers have learned
everything on their own and never went through the “school” box. On the other
hand, these rare designers are generally good at understanding specialized
software and / or initially have a great creativity that is reflected in their
work. They are also good at getting noticed with employers - something every
designer should know how to do.
La National Association of
Schools of Art and Designing the United States recognizes 300 institutions
offering art and design courses, including several universities and private
schools. Most of these programs teach the basics of design and commercial
graphic production, mastery of specialized software, website design and various
printing techniques. Although not compulsory, it is a good idea to take courses
in marketing, writing, and business in general as well. If you take you a step
further and reread a graphic designer's daily task list, you will find that you
also need to know how to sell your own ideas, create quality marketing
messages, communicate effectively, and if you are a freelance, simply run a
business on your own.
One of the biggest advantages of
these courses is that they give you a great opportunity to build a good
portfolio. Just put together all the best work you did during your studies and
during your internships. Remember that it is better to put less, but of good
quality, than too much of poor quality. The portfolio of a graphic designer is
often the determining element on which clients base themselves before hiring
them, or not.
If you want to get started in
design studies, take a look at the courses you can take in high school, to have
some basics before entering a school. You will sometimes be asked to complete a
year of upgrading or to present work already done as part of your application
for a particular course.
Once you've finished your
studies, though, don't think you're done! "Done" is not usually a
word that we associate with graphic design ... Simply because graphic designers
must constantly be aware of what is happening in their field, both from the
point of view of trends and that of technological advances, whether through
training or by themselves. There are also certifications you can pass to prove
your skill level on a particular software. This will give you a little edge in
the job market. You can also join an association or network of graphic design
professionals, such as Graphic Artists Guild or AIGA.
The essential skills of the graphic
designer
What to do after you've done all
of this?
The typical skills of a graphic
designer vary quite a bit depending on their area of specialization. But all
designers have strong skills in the following areas:
·
La 3D
·
History of art
·
Color theory
·
Visual communication
·
Design theory
·
Film / television
·
Fine arts
·
Graphic design
·
Photography
·
Printing techniques
·
Visual arts
Some positions are more focused
on one area or another, but remember that the vast majority of designers have
an overwhelming number of skills that go beyond these basic areas.
The rest of the story: behavioral and
soft skills, and graphic design
Even the most talented, creative,
and well-trained graphic designer isn't the most helpful when it comes to
working on a really big project, if he doesn't have strong interpersonal
skills, that is. - say the ability to work with other professionals. That's why
employers first look closely at candidates' portfolios, training and
experience, and then take the time to assess their relationship skills.
These types of skills are hard to
measure, but they are very important. They show that you are able to interact
with your work environment in a productive way. Indeed, most experts agree that
industries that emphasize these skills will continue to employ people, where
others will prefer artificial intelligence. Not bad is not it?
Good graphic designers have many if not all of these soft skills:
·
Excellent communication skills to interpret
specifications, negotiate with clients and work as part of a team;
·
Creativity and artistic sense;
·
Analytical mind ;
·
Good time management;
·
Team player, ability to collaborate with others,
and flexibility;
·
Passion and enthusiasm for design;
·
Self-confidence and good presentation, with the
ability to defend one's ideas in front of colleagues and clients;
·
Willingness to do many things simultaneously;
·
Attention to detail and precision;
·
Open-mindedness and willingness to accept
feedback in order to improve;
List all the
soft skills you have, along with ways you could “prove” each one. Don't make
the mistake of not preparing for your interviews!
Conclusion
Are you ready to embark on a
career that combines creativity and new technologies to create stunning designs
every day of the year? It might sound like a bit of a stretch, but it really
isn't! We hope this article has given you a better understanding of the work of
a graphic designer and motivated you to pursue this path, because there are
never enough good designs in this world!
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