What is a graphic designer?

Graphic designers are communicators who send messages through visual concepts. They inspire, inform and captivate their audience by using images, words and graphics. The art of graphic designing is very important to sharing messages from companies to their customers. Graphic designers also bring a sense of beauty to the world through colors, typography, imagery, and pattern on almost every man-made thing we see. Some of the things a graphic designer may do are: Develop ideas and create designs for a wide variety of companies and needs Create images to identify a product or tell a story Develop graphics for products, logos, apps and websites Incorporate colors, images, text and layout for magazines, brochures and books Create signs and wayfinding systems for parks, malls, theme parks and communities

What can you do with a Bachelor’s in Advertising and Graphic Design?

There are so many different things you can do with a graphic design degree. Students will find jobs within company marketing and advertising departments, at advertising agencies, digital marketing firms, creative boutiques, media outlets, non-profits, and more as all organizations need to advertise. The work includes designing advertisements, packages, posters, presentations, branding and logos, social media campaigns, textile patterns, t-shirts and apparel designs, and more. Here are some jobs that a one may get with the degree after graduating: Graphic Designer: Graphic designers are in charge of developing graphics and layouts for product packaging, company logos, advertising campaigns, websites and more. They also review final layouts and suggest edits if needed and maintain an archive of images and photos. Art Directors: An art director sets the creative tone for the campaign, oversees vendors including photographers, illustrators and videographers, and mentors the designers on their team. They will work with the leads of departments to discuss requirements and concepts for presentations. On top of it, they also work with creative directors to maintain consistency in the brand language for the client. Multimedia Artists: They design a variety of presentation and motion graphics for use in broadcast. The graphics used on the newscast or during a major sporting event are created by graphic designers.

Qualities of a Graphic Designer

Communication: Having good communication skills are important when it comes to creating a client’s story, brand and ideas. Technology savvy: Creative for these industries almost always touches a computer. Feeling confident working with digital technologies is critical for a student’s success. Creativity: Our industry depends on your ability to generate a lot of ideas that are informed with strong research. Knowing the world around you and crafting a creative and intelligent response for your clients is key to your success. Passion: You have to love what you do to be able to do it well and graphic design is no exception. The passion you hold will get you through any tough seasons and long hours you stumble across. Having that drive from the start can project you far and will be with you when you most need it. Patience: While design work is fun, it is a talent that develops over time. Working hard to hone your knowledge and skills shows a commitment to being the best. It’s important to have patience while developing your ideas and know that you won’t always get it right on your first try.

Is Graphic Design a Good Career To Pursue?

October 03, 2024 in [ Performing Arts & Digital Arts ]

Girl opening the door of her creative mind.

If you enjoy being creative and working with computers, then graphic design might be the right career choice for you. Graphic design is both a creative and technical endeavor that requires a balanced mix of inspiration and analytical thinking skills.¹

Is being a graphic designer hard? Like any career field, there are aspects of graphic design that can prove challenging. However, if you love what you do, you can prepare to take on the challenges of this career field with a graphic design degree.

In This Article:

Should You Pursue a Degree in Graphic Design?
How To Gain Practical Experience While Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Graphic Design Salary Expectations
Career Opportunities
Working With Clients After Earning a Graphic Design Degree
Maintaining Your Creativity and Staying Inspired
Is Graphic Design a Good Career For You?
Earn Your Design Degree at GCU

Should You Pursue a Degree in Graphic Design?

A graphic design bachelor’s degree is designed to provide a gradual introduction to the subject. As you work through the curriculum, you will have opportunities to build upon your knowledge and skills, becoming more familiar with graphic design principles and practices. The curriculum is sequential, so you will not have to worry about suddenly working on assignments that are completely out of your depth.

However, you’ll need to invest plenty of time and effort into your bachelor’s degree in graphic design program. You will examine theories and fundamentals of design, including visual skills such as the use of color, layout, composition and proportion.

How To Gain Practical Experience While Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design

Plan to spend extra time practicing your skills to excel in your studies. You may want to seek out additional learning opportunities in your field. For example, look for the online portfolios of professional graphic designers and take notes about what works and what doesn’t work. You may also want to listen to podcasts for graphic designers to develop a better understanding of best practices and industry expectations.

Of course, you’ll also want to spend time building your own professional portfolio, as you’ll be able to show this to potential employers when it’s time to look for a job. You can include completed class assignments in your portfolio and you should do some extra work on your own using the same software you use in class (for example, Adobe Creative Cloud). Try to include technically difficult pieces in your portfolio and be sure to include a mix of different types of projects.

For each piece you include, write a brief case study of the project. Explain what the objectives were, what steps you took and what you feel the results demonstrate.

For the best practical experience look for an internship after your second year of classes. Companies of all sizes need your skills. Set up alerts for “graphic design internship” on the major job search websites so new job postings come directly to your inbox. And share your skills through your personal extended family and friends relationships. Many jobs are filled with friends of friends, so be brave and share what you know with them.

Graphic Design Salary Expectations

Is graphic design a good career to consider pursuing? Only you can answer this question, but before you do, you may wish to consider the typical salary expectations of a graphic designer.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay for graphic designers as of May 2023 was $58,910.² Note that salary can vary depending on employer, geographic location, qualifications, years of experience and other factors.

Career Opportunities

As you work through your degree program and approach graduation, you’ll want to start thinking about your employment prospects. If you completed an internship, then you may wish to look for open positions at that company, for example.

Graphic designers are found in a variety of work environments, including:³

Advertising and public relations agencies
Specialized design services companies
Printing companies
In-house design departments for companies

In addition, many experienced graphic designers are self-employed freelancers.³ Freelancing can be exciting, as you’ll have the opportunity to be your own boss. However, you’ll also be responsible for finding your own clients, dealing with contracts and managing other aspects of your business, so carefully consider your options before proceeding.

Throughout your career, it’s important to seek out professional development opportunities. Look for chances to train on new graphic design software and experiment with different types of projects.

You’ll also want to work on refining the following important skills:¹

Creativity and artistry
Analytical thinking
Communication and collaboration
Technical skills
Time management
Social media content creation
AI and new technology skills

Working With Clients After Earning a Graphic Design Degree

All graphic design projects start with a meeting between you and your client to outline the business goals and strategy. As a designer, it is your job to research these business goals and the competitive environment, then develop a proposal which is reviewed by the client and then adjusted as needed before moving into the production of the project. Clients are your partner and professional communication, timeliness and efficiency are all expected in this partnership.

In the graphic design field, professionals may encounter the following challenges:

Clients who prefer designs that go against the established graphic design principles
Clients who provide unclear, vague instructions
Clients who change their mind about their preferences after the project is already completed
Clients who want big things on a small budget

These issues are certainly frustrating. However, there are effective solutions for all of them. It’s important to ask plenty of questions upfront so you can fully understand what the client wants. When a client requests designs that violate established graphic design principles and theories, you may need to remind yourself that the client is always right. Consider providing mockups of a design that meets the client’s specifications as well as one that follows conventional standards. Regarding the last challenge, if you’re a freelance graphic designer, you can include fees for project revisions in your standard pricing structure.

Maintaining Your Creativity and Staying Inspired

Most individuals who pursue a graphic design degree do so because they enjoy expressing their creativity. New challenges and inspiration can be found by staying plugged in to your creative community. Becoming a member of a professional organization, participating in the events they provide and networking with people who share your same interests can give you the support system you need. Building and sustaining a personal network of creative individuals needs to be a priority for every graphic designer.

Is Graphic Design a Good Career For You?

If you enjoy being creative, it certainly can be a great choice if you have a knack for design creativity and technical skills, and if you’re passionate about the process of graphic design.

Graphic designers make content that lands as pixels on your television, computer and phone screens, and lands as ink on paper in your mailbox, the stores you shop in, and the billboards and signs you see around your community. Imagine a world where the items on the grocery store shelves had no colorful packaging or information, no displays, no advertisements, no social media feeds. The world would be a very generic experience. Graphic designers bring the visual interest and excitement to all the places of your life, and is a career that can carry you through your life.

Earn Your Design Degree at GCU

Blend your passion with purpose and prepare for a career with a graphic design degree from Grand Canyon University. The Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Graphic Design is a degree program that teaches you graphic design skills as well as copywriting skills, with the goal of helping you to become a competitive, well-rounded job applicant.

Ready To Start Your Creative Career?

Pursue your graphic design degree at GCU.

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¹U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How to Become a Draphic Designer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved May 15, 2024.

²The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Graphic Designers as of May 2023, retrieved on May 15, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates a graphic designers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.

³U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). Graphic Designers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved May 15, 2024.

⁴Huecker, M. R., Shreffler, J., McKeny, P. T., & Davis, D. (2023, July 31). Imposter Phenomenon. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved May 15, 2024.

‌⁵ LinkedIn. (n.d.). How Can You Overcome Common Graphic Design Client Challenges? Retrieved May 15, 2024.

Approved and verified accurate by the director of digital design of the College of Arts and Media on Sept. 20, 2024.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.