How to Start a Career in Graphic Designing

By eHow Careers & Work Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

Graphic designers create and generate images for consumer products, advertising, video games and just about everything else in our society. If you enjoy working on computers and have a good eye for composition and color, this might be a good career choice for you. The following steps will help you get your foot in the door of this career.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Decide what type of graphic design you prefer. Design packaging for products, advertising pieces or websites? O, would you like to design video games? Narrowing down your interests will allow you to choose a school that will prepare you for one of these areas.

Step2

Apply to an art school or a college with a good graphic design program. The Art Institutes website is a good place to start. Some graphic artists complete a program at an art school and some get a college diploma and major in art. There are pros and cons to both approaches; you will need a degree, but graphic design talent and skill will get you further than the degree itself.

Step3

Intern at a studio, agency or company. The school you attend can probably set you up in an internship, or you can find one on your own by contacting places where you might want to work.

Step4

Begin building your portfolio. You can include pieces that you've designed as a student as well as those you have developed at your internship. A portfolio of your work will be important as you interview for full-time jobs.

Step5

Apply for a job. Look for graphic design studios, advertising agencies or anywhere else that you might want to work. Companies that are strong in graphic design usually have excellent websites, so go online and find out about each company's mission, their clients and any available positions. When you are ready, send a resume, interview and enter the world of graphic design.

Tips & Warnings

Learn as many desktop publishing programs as you can including QuarkExpress, Acrobat Exchange, Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop. Employers prefer to work with graphic designers who know these and similar programs and can hit the ground running when they begin work.