Graphic Designer

Graphic Designers fuse creativity with technology to create visually engaging graphics that communicate a message.

If you’re creative, have a good eye for color & composition, and a love of technology, then graphic designer may be the career path for you. Graphic designers’ duties vary widely and may include creating advertisements, designing web pages, laying out catalogs & newsletters, designing logos & marketing collateral, and creating a range of other web, print and interactive materials your company or clients require.

The demand for well designed graphics - and graphic designers - is at an all time high. From web design and multimedia advertising to print publishing and 3D package design, clients expect their branding initiatives to increase sales and elevate their status. Self-employment opportunities are abundant for skilled designers with an entrepreneurial spirit. Contributing to the positive outlook for graphic designers is the omnipresent need for web and multimedia design projects, now that almost every business and individual has a website or social media presence requiring eye-catching graphics.

While being a graphic designer can be a fun job, a career in graphic design should not be taken lightly. To be a successful graphic designer it’s important to carefully construct your learning plan, continually advance your skills and education to keep pace with the latest digital design technologies and build on your portfolio of work. Word of mouth and feedback from past employers typically plays into the decision to hire graphic designers, so reputation & quality of service are essential to success.

Graphic design schools can help you unlock your natural talent and prepare you for a job you'll love. There are numerous graphic design training programs and specialized college degrees featuring coursework in the latest digital and print design techniques. Compare the top-rated graphic design courses & degrees in the U.S. and online.

a.k.a. Graphic Artist | Digital Media Designer | Web Designer | Adobe Graphic Designer | Interactive Media Designer

Graphic Design Training

Graphic Designer Skills & Responsibilities

Typical day-to-day duties and in-demand skill sets for graphic designers include:

• Graphic Designers design websites, email templates, and social media hub pages.
• Graphic Designers create layouts for magazines, brochures, and other print pieces.
• Graphic Designers design corporate logos, business cards, and company letterhead.
• Graphic Designers make promotional displays, teasers, and signs for public exhibitions.
• Graphic Designers create banner ads and rich media marketing campaigns for web pages.
• Graphic Designers work closely with Copywriters, Creative Directors, and Marketing Managers.
• Graphic Designers are proficient in the digital media and design products in the Adobe Creative
  Suite, e.g., Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash, InDesign, Illustrator, Encore & Acrobat.

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Graphic Designer Salary

• Graphic Designer average annual salary: $57,000

Average yearly salaries for graphic designers and related positions:

• Packaging Designer salary: $57,000
• Graphic Designer salary: $57,000
• Copy Writer salary: $59,000
• Multimedia Designer salary: $64,000
• Web Graphics Designer salary: $65,000
• Interactive Graphics Designer salary: $67,000
• Catalog Designer salary: $77,000
• Graphic User Interface Designer salary: $83,000
• Senior Art Director salary: $98,000

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Graphic Designer Education Requirements

An undergrad or graduate degree in graphic design, fine arts, multimedia production, or a similar field of study in the creative arts is required education for most graphic design positions. Hands-on graphic design experience is just as important - or more important depending on who you ask - so regardless of how you learn or where you train, be sure to keep a comprehensive portfolio of your best design projects, as this is how professional graphic designers showcase their work to prospective clients and employers. Because your design portfolio is a critical factor in getting hired, all of our featured graphic design degrees include dedicated courses and/or assistance in graphic designer portfolio & resume compilation.

As the demand for web and multimedia graphic designers continues to increase, art and computer schools are bolstering their degree and certificate programs with coursework in modern digital design topics, such as computer animation, interactive media, 3D modeling, web application design, and digital photo manipulation. Skills and expertise in the latest graphic design software is also vital, especially the Adobe Creative Suite, the most respected and widely used collection of design programs. Prospective print graphic designers should learn Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop & Acrobat Pro, while web graphic designers should focus on Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash & Fireworks.

Research and compare the top-voted graphic design training programs in the U.S. and online.

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Graphic Designer Training, Degrees & Certificates

Browse the top-rated accredited undergrad & graduate degrees, professional certificates, online training programs and self-paced courses matching the Graphic Designer education requirements and career path.

Design School	Graphic Design Program	Course Highlights & Certifications
Request More Info	Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Also available in Winter Park, FL	Flash Animation & Interactive Media Motion Graphics and Special Effects Advanced Adobe CS Software Training Design and Publish Captivating Videos Web Page & Application Design Training Create Engaging Interactive Web Content Coursework in Digital & Print Typography Corp. Branding and Logo Design Training Graphic Designer Portfolio and Resume Desktop Publishing and 3D Package Design Option to Attend Individual Online Courses
Request More Info	Computer Animation Bachelor's Degree Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Also available in Winter Park, FL	Develop Engaging 3D Computer Graphics for Video Games, TV, Feature Films & Websites Fine Arts Foundation with Character Motion, Color Theory, Layouts and Life-Drawing Integrate 2D and 3D Animation Techniques to Create Fluid, Professional-Quality Animations Create Complex Animations using Autodesk's Entertainment Suite: Maya, 3ds Max, Mudbox, Softimage, Motionbuilder & Sketchbook Pro Hands-On Lessons in 3D Production, Surface Flow & Anatomical Modeling Seamlessly Combine Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) with Video & Film Elements Showcase your Skills with a Portfolio & Demo Reel Ideal for Job Interviews and Promotion Award-Winning Online Education Platform Option to Attend Individual Online Courses
Request More Info	Master's Degree in Media Design Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Master Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree	Attend 12 Hands-On Courses Learning New Skills to be Applied in an Intensive Multimedia Campaign Final Project Determine & Meet Clients' Design Needs SWOT Analysis and Brand Development Write Effective, Unique & Engaging Copy Visual Solutions for Business Problems Design Firms Organizational Structures How to Measure Design Project Success Design Ethics & Intellectual Property Law Option to Attend Individual Online Classes
Request More Info	Associate Degree in Graphic Design Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Associate Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Click here for AI Campus Division	Adobe CS Training in Acrobat, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Illustrator and Photoshop Design Fundamentals and Color Concept Digital Image Manipulation in Photoshop Web Design and Development Training Brand Identity, Marketing & Logo Design Perspective, 2D & 3D Drawing Methods Graphic Designer Portfolio Packaging Art Institute Job Placement Assistance Option to Attend Individual Online Courses
Request More Info	Game Art & Design Bachelor's Degree Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Click here for AI Campus Division	Advanced Life Drawing and Gesture Video Game Development Training Art, Drawing, Lines & Color Theory Digital Image Editing in Photoshop 2D Animation for Game Art & Design Learn Advanced Digital Storytelling 3D Modeling and Animation Training 3D Camera and Lighting Techniques Game Design Project Management Design Game Worlds and Levels Advanced UI Design & Usability Testing Team Project: Produce a Video Game Portfolio Assembly for Game Artist Jobs Option to Attend Individual Online Courses
Request More Info	Digital Design & Animation Bachelor's Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited School: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Digital Design and Animation Training 3D Modeling and Animation Techniques Advanced HTML Coding with CSS & XML Use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash & Dreamweaver to Design Websites, Render Motion Graphics & Create Interactive Media Students get new Adobe Master Collection, Autodesk 3Ds Max & High-End VisTablet 3 Hands-On Final Projects: Web Strategy & Design | Digital Audio/Video | 3D Animation Lifetime Career Placement Assistance Digital Designs and Animations Portfolio Option to Attend Individual Online Courses
Request More Info	Bachelor's in Multimedia Design Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Learn how to Design and Develop Websites with Interactive Multimedia Elements Manipulate Images using Adobe Photoshop HTML, XML & Java Programming Training Digital Publishing Tools and Techniques Rich Media Web Content Development Learn Technical Writing Techniques IT Fundamentals including Computer Networking, Databases & Operating Systems Live Online Classes Starting All Year Long Option to Attend Individual 6-Week Courses
Request More Info	Desktop Publishing and Design Method: Online Training Degree Level: Certificate Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Graphic Design Principles & Processes Learn Effective Copy-Writing Skills Build a Hardware & Software Toolbox Fonts, Faces, Characters & Typography Edit Digital Images for use in Publications How to Start a Home Design Business Business Plan Development Training Free Software inc. Microsoft Publisher Create a Desktop Publishing Business
Request More Info	Web Design & Development Certificate Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Certificate Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Choose Web Design or Development Track Graphic Design for the World Wide Web Intro to Python, Perl & PHP Programming Create Engaging Interactions w/ Adobe Flash Java, HTML, CSS & JavaScript Programming Effective Interface and Navigation Authoring Website Database Implementation Training Develop Web Sites in Adobe Dreamweaver E-Commerce Development and Management Online, On-Campus or Blended Learning Option to Attend Individual Online Courses

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Graphic Designer Certifications

• ACA: Adobe Certified Associate
• ACE: Adobe Certified Expert

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Graphic Designer Jobs

Your specialized digital media and graphic design training qualifies you for a variety of exciting job roles including:

• Graphic Designer: Browse and apply to Graphic Designer Jobs
• Photoshop Designer: Browse and apply to Photoshop Designer Jobs
• Web Designer: Browse and apply to Web Designer Jobs
• Flash Designer Browse and apply to Flash Designer Jobs
• Digital Media Specialist: Browse and apply to Digital Media Specialist Jobs
• Interactive Media Developer: Browse and apply to Interactive Media Jobs
• Technical Illustrator: Browse and apply to Technical Illustrator Jobs
• Marketing Coordinator: Browse and apply to Marketing Coordinator Jobs
• Desktop Publisher: Browse and apply to Desktop Publisher Jobs
• Hiring Managers: Post design jobs and hire graphic designers at a discount

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Graphic Designer Job Outlook

Employment of graphic designers is expected to grow 13 percent from 2008 to 2018, as demand for creative professionals with digital media skills and training continues to increase. Graphic designers with web design and animation experience will be especially sought after as demand increases for design projects that utilize interactive media for websites, mobile applications, social networking hubs and other emerging technologies. Growth in Internet advertising, in particular, is expected to increase the number of job opportunities for graphic designers.

An Ad Agency hiring manager we consulted for this article confirms the Dept. of Labor’s findings, advising new graphic designers to concentrate their learning plan on digital media skills, “especially courses in web design, rich media, and flash animation,” as opposed to print. Print designers and illustrators will still be needed for projects like catalogs, direct mail campaigns, and promotional items, but the majority of job opportunities for new graphic designers resides in digital design mediums, and will remain so for years to come.

Source: United States Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Graphic Designer Related Careers

• Web Developer
• AutoCAD Drafter
• Video Game Designer
• Mobile Application Developer

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