About Graphic Design Careers

A career in graphic design can be lucrative and rewarding. Those with both a creative spirit and a technologically inclined mentality will find a graphic design career to be challenging, as well as rewarding. A graphic arts career is best for those who have an artistic leaning and a desire to work in a fast-paced field with continual learning opportunities. Graphic artists enjoy the benefit of an ever-changing field that is booming as technology advances.

Benefits

A career in graphic design has many benefits, include commonly flexible schedules. Often, employers will allow for a flexible schedule, as long as work is completed within the specified deadline. Work-from-home options are common for designers. Designers may enjoy low-stress atmospheres, as many design firms encourage creative and friendly collaboration between staff and among designers.

Potential

The future potential for a career in graphic design, particularly web design, is growing. As the Internet becomes more widely used, there is a demand for designer-created websites, logos and animation. Additionally, a graphic designer has the potential for promotion. Most designers begin as junior designers. With time, however, promotions can lead to a career as a senior designer, art director or production manager.

History

Graphic design has a long and varied history. The earliest graphic design can be seen as stone carving and paintings created by primitive humans. With time, designers included monks, who created illuminated bibles, which had elaborate drawings, usually in the form of the beginning letters of books or chapters. The golden era of design came in the early 20th century as graphic designers were considered high-end artists. Magazines such as The New Yorker sought the best and brightest in the design field, and graphic designers became famous for their art.

Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions about the field of graphic design. Many people assume that all graphic designers also do web design, when, in fact, there are different types of designers. Some designers specialize in print design, some in web design, some in illustration and still others in animation design. While each of these roles has its own title, each occupation is still considered to be in the field of graphic design.

Education and Training

There are many roads to a fulfilling career in graphic design. Some designers choose the formal education route for a four-year college degree, the most typical of which is a bachelor of fine arts in graphic design. There are also certificate programs, which can last from one month to two years. Some designers are self-taught, while others work as apprentices under a knowledgeable designer.