Channel Your Creative Strengths for a Great Career

Are you a creative sort? Have you always enjoyed art, for example, or music? These are talents that not everybody has, and that those who are lucky enough to can share with others. The arrival of the ‘digital age’ has opened many doors for people who want to work in the creative arts, with much of the work of a graphic designer – a role we want to talk about in more detail – able to be carried out on computerized devices.

What is a graphic designer, and is it a potential future career for you? In fact, graphic designer is a term that covers a variety of roles, so let’s have a closer look.

What Does a Graphic Designer Do?

A graphic designer can work in many areas. They work both in the physical world and the digital. The graphic designer can be involved in branding and marketing. They may work in the advertising sphere, either in print or online. Graphic designers may also be involved in website design, or in social media optimization.

A graphic designer is someone with an eye for color and impact, a person who can analyze a product or business and provide them with the results they need. They are able to work closely with others, and may be required to produce many different forms of images. It’s a versatile role and one that requires not only the ability but the right qualifications.

How Do I Become a Graphic Designer?

Are you thinking that graphic design may be the career for you? If so, there is a lot to consider. For example, the person who becomes a graphic designer will naturally be skilled in the arts. You don’t have to be a classical artist, as most such jobs will involve mainly online work.

Experience in creative design at high school level is highly desirable, and most potential graphic designers will have built a viable portfolio of their work by the time they graduate. This is important, and we advise you to ensure it is a mixed-media portfolio to demonstrate versatility.

Next, you need to further your studies. You have two main options: an associate's degree – a two-year study course – or a bachelor's degree, which is a full four-year program. What we will say right now is that it is becoming more common for graphic design jobs to require a bachelor's degree.

That does not mean an associate's degree is out of the question. These can be studied at a junior or community college. You can then take two further years at university to convert with additional credits into a bachelor's degree. This is a more affordable option for many students.

Another possibility is that of an online degree. This form of study is becoming popular thanks to the convenience and the fact that financial aid is now available for online degrees. A bachelor's degree gained via online study is as valuable as one from a campus based course.

We hope we’ve helped you understand more about the various roles of the graphic designer, so research possible courses now.