Art & Graphic Design Careers
A career in art or graphic design may be right for someone with a creative mind and a keen eye for detail. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, predicts the number of people seeking careers in art and graphic design will increase at a faster pace than available job opportunities. When choosing any career path, consider the full range of job duties, employment opportunities and earning potential.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
Artists and graphic designers use their talents to create works of art that communicate a particular thought, concept or idea. Artists may work a number of mediums, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, restoration, animation, illustration or craft art. Graphic designers may specialize in photography, animation, digital media or production design of journals, magazines, advertising campaigns, technical reports or signage.
Education and Training
-
A career in art or graphic design typically begins with an associate's or bachelor's degree. Some people also choose to pursue advanced studies in a master's degree program. Artists and graphic designers must be familiar with different artistic media and techniques. Graphic designers, in particular, must have a thorough understanding of digital media and computer design software.
-
Employment
-
Artists may work in fine or craft arts and as cartoonists, illustrators, art directors or multimedia artists. Graphic designers may land jobs in web design, environmental graphics or multimedia design projects. Both may work in the advertising industry, for print or digital media outlets, in design firms or in the motion picture and video industries. About 60 percent of artists are self-employed, the BLS reports.
Income
-
The BLS reports the median income for art directors was $76,980, as of May 2008. For craft and fine artists, the median incomes were $29,080 and $42,650, respectively. Multimedia artists earned a median income of $56,330 while graphic designers earned $42,400 annually. The median income for self-employed artists and graphic designers varies based on services offered, experience, skill and industry reputation.
Future Outlook
-
Artists and graphic designers can expect job opportunities to grow at an average rate, compared with other career fields. The BLS projects an employment increase of 12 percent from 2008 to 2018 for professional artists and related workers. Employment for graphic designers should increase 13 percent. Artists and graphic designers knowledgeable in web design and digital media can expect more job growth, the BLS reports.
-
References
- Photo Credit art image by Clark Duffy from Fotolia.com
