Four Steps to Becoming an Entry-Level Graphic Designer

Whether you’re a recent high school graduate or a seasoned professional yearning for a more rewarding career, getting an associate’s degree is a great place to begin the journey to your first or second (or tenth) career. If you are passionate about art, a natural visual communicator and want a career where you can exercise your creativity, an associate’s degree in graphic design may be your best option.

How do you go about becoming an entry-level graphic designer? Just follow these four steps!

1. Assess Your Artistic and Creative Skills

If you can’t draw to save your life, the field of graphic design is probably not for you. The ability to draw, or at least sketch, is generally a reliable indicator of raw artistic talent. If you always lose at Pictionary you’ve either had bad luck in partners or you should choose a less artistic field than graphic design. On the other hand, if you’ve carted a sketchbook around for most of your life, spend significant amounts of free time creating “art” and are a Pictionary champ, you should proceed to step two.

2. Enroll in Graphic Design School

An online associates degree graphic design can be obtained at many colleges, universities and private art schools as well as 2-year and 3-year professional schools. While an associate’s degree in graphic design can be a practical educational choice for a recent high school grad who wants to begin his or her career without spending years in college, it can also be a practical choice for someone who has already obtained a bachelors degree in a related (or unrelated) field.

3. Complete the Required Coursework

According to AIGA, the professional association for design, most graphic design programs consist of educational seminars and projects. Graphic design students learn to analyze problems and come up with solutions using composition, space, typography and images. Some hand work is still done, but much of modern graphic design is completed on computers. There is a great deal of emphasis placed on learning to use the latest design software programs including Quark, Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop. Design students learn by doing, and often get quite a bit of one-on-one interaction with their instructors.

4. Prepare Your Portfolio and Interview for Jobs

You will complete many design projects as you earn your associates degree in graphic design. As you complete your education, you will assemble the best of your designs into a portfolio. Your portfolio can be used as a tool to prove to potential employers that you have the skills and creativity required to benefit their company. Bring your portfolio with you to every job interview. It can also be a good idea to create an online portfolio (as part of your professional website) and include the html address on every cover letter and/or resume you send out to potential employers.

What Kind of Job will an Associate’s Degree in Computer Graphic Design get me?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graduates with an associate’s degree in computer graphic design are often employed as assistants to senior graphic designers or in positions where technical design skills are the main requirement. Graphic designers are employed within many industries; basically anywhere visual communication is needed. Industries that employ graphic designers include printing, publishing, software, marketing, advertising, public relations, financing, banking, insurance, healthcare, retail and more.

Meet the Growing Need for Graphic Designers with a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design

Are you artistic and creative? Do you want a career where you can earn a good salary while doing what you’re passionate about? If so, you should consider getting your bachelor degree in graphic design.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of graphic design positions in the U.S. is expected to increase at least 13 percent by 2018. Graphic designers are in demand in industries such as marketing, advertising, public relations, packaging, publishing, financing, software, broadcasting, movies and any other industry where visual methods of communication are used.

While you can obtain employment in the exciting field of graphic design with a graphic design certificate or diploma, a bachelor of graphic design degree will open doors to more responsible positions and greater pay. An individual with a certificate or diploma in graphic design will likely need to begin their career as an assistant or entry-level designer. An individual with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design may be able to enter the field higher up on the employment ladder.

An online bachelors in graphic design can facilitate a career in freelance or contract graphic design. While advanced degrees may not directly correlate to advanced talent, a number of companies and individuals may be more comfortable outsourcing their design work to a graphic designer with a bachelors degree in graphic design than to a designer with a only certificate or diploma.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that graphic designers with education and experience in website design and animation will have the greatest number of employment opportunities. The demand for these skill sets is expected to increase dramatically as the demand for interactive media increases. The demand for graphic designers is also expected to increase with the growing need for online and print advertising of products and services.

While the demand for graphic designers is expected to increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there will be keen competition among designers for the best positions. Graphic design is a popular career choice for artistic, creative individuals. If you want to place yourself among the cream of the crop, you may greatly benefit from a bachelor degree in graphic design.

The average bachelor degree program for graphic design will take four years for completion. When you consider the leg up a bachelor of graphic design will give you in your career, it is obviously time well spent.

Advancing with a Masters Degree Graphic Design

While the field of graphic design is a creative one, it also offers advancement potential for those who wish to increase their level of responsibility and salary. Further education in graphic design, such as a masters degree in graphic design, can be helpful to those designers who desire to advance to the highest paying positions in the field.

How Much can I Earn with a Masters Degree in Graphic Design?

A graphic designer employed as an art director or creative director (two of the highest positions for graphic designers), can expect to earn a median salary of $95,000 according to the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Masters in graphic design are often required for these high-level positions. These positions are also most common at larger graphic design firms and companies employing teams of designers.

Can I Enroll in Graphic Design Masters Programs?

The answer would be “yes,” if you have completed your bachelors degree studies. Some masters programs may require you to have completed previous coursework in graphic design and/or to have real world work experience in the field. Others may offer additional coursework to make up for a lack of experience. The most obvious choice of bachelors degree for someone eventually planning to enter graphic design grad school would be one in graphic design. However, bachelor’s degrees in journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations and art can also be good stepping stones to a masters degree in graphic design.

What can I Expect to Learn in the Masters Program?

When studying for your masters degree in graphic design, you can expect to take advanced coursework in design principles, color theory, typography, printing styles, and the philosophy and science of communication as well as learn the latest graphic design software programs. There may also be coursework in the management or direction of graphic design teams.

How Much Will an Advanced Graphics Degree Cost me?

According to the National Center for Education Services, tuition and fees for graphic design masters programs average about $7,000 per semester at public universities and about $18,000 per semester at private universities. Most masters programs in graphic design take two to three years for completion. You’ll also need to figure in the cost of books, software and supplies, which can vary from program to program depending on the coursework involved. On average, the cost of these items for a graphic design masters student is estimated at $2,400 per year.

Whether you have a bachelors degree in graphic design or are just entering college and thinking about future advanced degrees, consider the possibilities of a masters in graphic design. If you’re a creative individual with a passion for art, it could be an ideal educational path for you.

If you want to work as a graphic designer, you’ll probably first have to undergo education and training at a graphic design college. Almost every job in the field requires an associate’s degree at least, although many entry-level positions require a bachelor’s degree to be hired.

Some of the things that you’ll study in your graphic design degree are the fine arts, computer programs, and the importance of spatial design – all of which are important aspects of a career in graphic design.

Educational Options for Graphic Designers

If you’re trying to decide which school or program you should attend, or which of the online graphic design degrees you should get, look up the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. They list roughly two hundred and fifty graphic design colleges and schools from anywhere around the country that offer programs in graphic design. However, be sure to check into the school’s requirements, since many of the programs require prospective graphic design students to complete prerequisite courses and a year of basic art and design classes before they can enroll in the specialized graphic designer degree.

If you have past experience in these fields, look into programs or a graphic design online degree that allow you to place out of introductory courses.

Also, in the current competitive job market, it’s imperative that you be fluent in computer skills as well as design methods. You’ll probably learn how to use graphic design programs like Illustrator and Quark in your regular classes, but you may find it helpful to take additional classes in computer technology. Enhancing your resume with these classes makes you a much more appealing candidate to graphic design firms.
Most entry-level positions in the field of advanced graphic design require that employees have graphic design degrees (bachelor’s degrees) or a degree in a related program.

The education that’s involved in getting a graphic design degree generally includes art, the principles of design, designing with computers, commercial production, printing techniques and web site design. Many times the college or institute that you’re attending will also require general education courses that revolve around history, psychology, English, marketing, business, and sociology. It’s the combination of all of this useful information that will help you put the study of graphic design into actual real world practice.

If you plan to get an associate’s degree or certificate from a technical school instead of a bachelor’s, check into these programs to see exactly what you’ll be studying and what, if any, requirements the program has. Many times, postsecondary schools consider a degree in graphic design to be part of the school’s art program, so you may have to submit drawings, sculptures, or other examples of your art in order to be admitted into the program.

When you begin your entry-level position as a graphic designer, you’ll learn that one of the most important aspects of the career is being as detail oriented as possible. It’s important that you have an eye for details and that you use this talent for the benefit of your graphic design career. You’ll need to make sure that you’ve kept all of the best examples of your work in a portfolio so that you can easily demonstrate to potential employers the range of your work and what you are capable of.

Graphic Design Schools

Many colleges and universities offer degrees in graphic design, but which university you’ll want to attend really depends on what area of graphic design you want to get into.

If you’re looking to create graphics for advertisements or marketing publications, you may want to select a graphic design school or college with a good marketing program, as well as a good graphic design program. However, if your goal is to work in animation or film, you’ll want to look for colleges that have a strong program in those areas.

Choosing a Graphic Design School

However, no matter what you do, you’re going to need at least a bachelors degree for most entry level jobs – although some positions will only require an associate degree. You’ll probably want to get the four year degree, though, because you’ll be able to learn more about graphic design and command a higher salary when you do complete your all your graphic design courses.

A few decades ago, graphic designers did most of their work using pencil and paper, while today, nearly everything is done on computers. As such, one of the things you’ll want to look at in choosing a graphic design program is how many classes in computer design you’ll be taking.

To really get the most out of your degree, you’ll need to learn as many different graphic programs as you can. The programs you’ll want to learn may also depend on the career path you plan to pursue – check with a firm that specializes in your field to see what programs they use regularly.

However, that’s not to say that you’ll want to find graphic design courses that focus solely on computer graphics. You’ll most likely be required to take at least a few standard art classes during your first year in school. If you have a specific field you want to work in, it’s a good idea to find a few elective classes to supplement your program, or even consider minoring in that area. If you’re thinking about going into business for yourself or doing freelance graphic design work, a minor in business may be helpful.

As a graphic design student, you’ll take classes on principles of design, computer-aided design, commercial graphics, and possibly even web site design or a class specifically focused on creating graphics for websites. Since you’ll be working closely with your clients and colleagues, it’s not a bad idea to take a basic writing course – especially one that focuses on technical or business writing – to improve your communication skills.

Don’t expect to stop taking classes once you finish your degree. Graphic designers have to stay current with the newest graphic software, so you may need to do some continuing education classes during your career or take courses from an online graphic design school. Fortunately, most companies will pay for your training. However, if you’re a freelance graphic designer, you’ll either have to learn the new programs on your own or pay for the classes yourself.

With most colleges offering associates, bachelors, or even masters degrees in graphic design, chances are you’ll find a program that you enjoy and that suits your specific career goals. You may even be able to find online graphic design courses that meet your needs. Several online graphic design schools offer online degrees in graphic design and related fields that allow you to work full-time while pursuing your goal of building a career in graphic design.