Graphic Designing Career

Have you ever been seduced into buying something by a wildly creative ad - or at least been tempted to try it out? How many of the choices you make when shopping at the mall were influenced by an ad or a phrase or a picture, or all of the above? If you know how powerful imagery can be in influencing your habits, then you know that marketing and advertising are big business.

For an artist with an eye for people and their needs and desires, graphic design seems a logical choice - it allows you to utilize your talent in a productive and satisfying career. In the arts industries, the graphic design area is expected to continue to grow at an average pace, and to create more job availability than all the other creative arts industries combined.
Our fast-paced world of video entertainment and online design relies heavily on the talents of designers, which is also the case in other media-heavy realms of advertising, such as publishing and merchandising. Opportunities to specialize in various media forms and industries abound. A noticeable talent, a degree, people skills, and a reputable portfolio are the key elements for landing a top job in graphic design.

Education Required

Some graphic designers are self-taught. For the most part, though, you'll need a minimum of a bachelor's degree, and you'll obviously need to be familiar the software used to create and modify designs. Creativity and talent are a must, but to be competitive, a portfolio of accomplished work is essential to landing the best job; it may be the only difference between you and the next applicant.

A keen ability to analyze and understand what customers need and the ability to translate those needs visually is an inherent talent that you may need more than schooling to acquire. Without some basic instincts and skills, a degree may get you a job, but it won't make you marketable for the top jobs. However, a degree from a school that specializes in fine arts or graphic design may go a long way in developing not just your creative skills, but your analytical ones as well.