Education Needed for Graphic Design

Graphic designers create artistic displays for products, companies, and web sites. They utilize creative skills in combination with computer savvy in order to produce works of digital art. If a graphic design career interests you, read on to find out how to begin in this competitive and creative field.

Preparation Before College

Get as much experience as you can. Familiarize yourself with design programs such as InDesign or Quark Xpress; work on digital photos with Photoshop or other photo editing software. If you are still in high school, try to join your school's yearbook or newspaper staff. You'll gain great experience in a variety of design programs and techniques.

Degree Options

Some schools exist for arts and design degrees only; these are certainly an option for you if you want to pursue a career in graphic design. Equally available are more traditional colleges and universities with major options in graphic design or visual design. Apply to both types of schools, and consider all your options for financial aid and other factors before you choose. Whichever path you choose, your degree in design will give you opportunities to learn about elements of design and the programs you will need in your career.

Skills Needed

Graphic designers need to have creativity and artistic sensibilities, but that is only the beginning. They also need the technical savvy to operate complicated computer-based design programs. Interpersonal communication skills are also key for working with co-designers and customers. Also, teamwork skills are important as most design jobs are the result of collaboration.

Specialty Areas

Graphic design is a competitive field, so choosing a specialty area can make one designer stand out over others. Desktop publishing is one such area, where the designer will work on print publications for businesses. Advertising design is another option, involving logos and corporate promotions. Other graphic designers may choose to pursue areas in illustration or art design instead. Choosing a specialty area helps to narrow down the job search and promote individual skills.

Portfolio Development

As with other artistic fields, graphic designers need to have a portfolio to showcase their best work. During the process of earning an education in graphic design, designers can build up their portfolios with examples of work they have done for classes. For designers who choose to pursue the career without formal education, each job they do can provide another piece to the portfolio. The more examples contained in a portfolio, the easier it will be to showcase design diversity and find new jobs in the field.