Graphic designer
Graphic designers create printed and digital materials for magazines, packaging, branding, websites and social media.
Also known as: Creative designer
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£40,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a graphic designer, you could:
- discuss your client's requirements and come up with creative ideas
- work out budgets, timescales and deadlines
- produce design drafts for images, wording, colours, style and layout
- prepare artwork and templates using design software
- present ideas to the design team and clients for approval
- update materials and online content to match changes to branding
- keep up to date with design trends and developments in software
Working environment
You could work in a creative studio, in an office, at a client's business or from home.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- design skills and knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of media production and communication
- knowledge of the fine arts
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- excellent verbal communication skills
- thinking and reasoning skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a graphic designer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
University
You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a design related subject, such as:
- graphic design
- art and design
- graphic communication
- illustration
Getting work experience during your course will give you an advantage when you start applying for jobs. Talk to your university careers service about work experience, internships and year placement opportunities, as well as any support to help you put together a portfolio.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- a foundation diploma in art and design
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could take a college course, which may help later when applying to join a company as a design assistant.
Courses include:
- graphic design
- art and design
- creative and digital media
- photography
As part of your course, you would build a portfolio to showcase your creative ideas and skills to employers.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- become a senior designer or creative director
- move into project or studio management
- go freelance or start your own design agency
- work in related professions like advertising, marketing, illustration or web design
- take up teaching or lecturing
Career tips
You will need a good working knowledge of desktop design, image editing and publishing software for all jobs.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Chartered Society of Designers and the International Society of Typographical Designers for professional development and to make industry contacts.
Guides for this industry
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