Getting Your Graphic Design Degree

It's a visual world, and the people in charge of creating those visuals are graphic designers. They're the professionals who design the ads you see, the catalogs you shop from, the motion graphics TV stations use, the websites you navigate, the logos that brand companies and the packaging that entices us to buy.

There are many skill sets a great graphic designer must master, from production techniques to software applications. He or she must also have a thorough working knowledge of layout composition, color theory and typography--in addition to having the capability to come up with great ideas, day after day.

It's a challenging and rewarding career for those who have the energy, the talent and the courage to grow. More and more, graphic designers are being required to not only create visual solutions, but also to lend their talents to overall branding and marketing challenges. This makes the role of graphic designer more important than ever to the communication industry.

A Look at the Work Environment

Graphic designers might work in print shops, ad agencies, packaging firms, design firms, publishing houses or as freelance artists. Some large corporations even have in-house graphics departments, so there are some graphic designers who find themselves with corporate staff jobs.

The work environment will be a product of the specific agency or company. For the most part, graphic artists work 9 to 5 weekdays, but in the instances of new business pitches or marquee projects, those hours can get turned upside-down and many artists may find themselves "living" at work for a brief time. It's this kind of exhilarating challenge that makes the profession so enjoyable for many graphic artists, however.

You will be expected to generate ideas on a regular basis, present your work to the client and collaborate with a team of other creative professionals, often under the direction of a department head or creative director.

Graphic artists benefit from a more relaxed work environment. Again, this depends on the culture of the specific company, but by and large graphic artists work in environments that are structured loosely, encourage collaboration and are designed to be informal and fun.

Career Opportunities in Graphic Design

With a degree in graphic design, you are equipped to work in a variety of fields. These include design studios, advertising agencies, publishing, corporate design, television stations, packaging firms, illustration and interactive media.

In most instances, you will be hired as a production artist (one who makes minor changes to approved designs and readies digital files for physical output) before moving up to designer or graphic artist.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an expected 9?17% growth in graphic design jobs by 2014. The demand for web-based technologies and video entertainment is partly responsible for this dramatic increase. Still, you should expect fierce competition for these jobs as the popularity of the field continues to grow. A digital portfolio of your creative work and a mastery of the most current professional software are essential to getting your foot in the door at any prospective place of employment.

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