While there are a plethora of wonderful career paths an individual could opt to pursue, choosing to work within the graphic design sector can be particularly rewarding. This is the case for many reasons, including the fact that the need for innovative marketing solutions generates the need for employees who possess the creative mindset that attaining a graphic design degree promotes. If you are interested in working within the graphic design sector and have attained a degree to help you become a marketable job candidate, the following careers can be helpful for you:
1. Graphic Designer
Although the term “graphic designer” can be defined broadly, individuals who hold this title are basically responsible for creating visual concepts (through computer software or by hand) for the purpose of communicating ideas which captivate, inform, or inspire consumers. Graphic designers can employ several creative strategies to accomplish this objective, including the development of production designs for corporate reports, magazines, brochures, and/or advertisements. In many cases, graphic designers are employed within the public relations, advertising, and publishing sectors. In the year of 2012, around 24% of graphic designers were independent contractors. To maximize one’s marketability as a graphic designer, aspiring professionals should attain a professional portfolio featuring their most creative, eye-catching designs and logos. In outlining the different elements that contribute to the creation of great logos, Huffington Post’s Bianca Rothschild notes that paying attention to font, color, and style is very helpful. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual income for graphic designers is $44,150.
2. Professional Blogger
These days, blogging is a vocational option in addition to a pasttime that people engage in to have fun and socialize. Individuals who have degrees in graphic design can do especially well with careers in the blogging sector as a result of the fact that their educational background typically makes them very technologically proficient and internet-savvy. One of the wonderful things about pursuing a career as a professional blogger is the intellectual freedom associated with the occupation. Specifically, professional bloggers are self-employed, meaning that they determine when to put their blog posts together, what type of content they will cover, and which graphic design elements will give their blogs shape and substance. In many cases, individuals who have degrees in graphic design may find it profitable to manage a blog whose primary theme is graphic design. Both the knowledge gained through the degree in graphic design as well as the sense of authority that this type of educational background can create will greatly aid an individual in catching and keeping the attention of one’s target market.
3. Marketing Manager
Individuals who find the field of graphic design to be fascinating and obtain degrees as a vehicle through which to build viable careers should consider marketing management as a vocational option. While job duties will often differ, marketing managers are typically responsible for generating interest in a business’s goods and/or services. To accomplish this goal, they will generally work with sales agents, art directors, and financial staff. In the year 2012, 24% of marketing managers were employed by advertising agencies. Because effective marketing is almost always contingent upon the implementation of branding strategies that involve creating unique images and icons for a business’s goods, individuals who have degrees in graphic design can oftentimes do exceptionally well in this sector. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that marketing managers earn an average annual salary of $115,750.
Helpful Hints
Individuals who have chosen to pursue careers in the graphic design sector should note that there are a panoply of things that they can do to make themselves marketable job candidates. We talked with Nossi College of Art who says, “Oftentimes, the most effective strategy is the attainment of a relevant internship that provides one with knowledge and experience that prospective employers will deem valuable. Additionally, individuals interested in working within the field of graphic design should make a point to consistently advertise their skills in order to attain freelance projects.” To advertise one’s work, consider creating a high-quality, interactive website that is aesthetically appealing and intriguing enough to entail word-of-mouth advertising.
Conclusion
If you have attained a degree in graphic design and are ready to begin pursuing a career, you should note that there are a plethora of personally and professionally rewarding options available to you. By carefully reviewing the brief yet thorough outline offered above, you can begin deciding which vocation will help you accomplish all of your objectives. Good luck!
