subject: Your Future And Graphic Design [print this page] By utilizing a wide array of layout and graphics software, graphic designers and artists scheme, analyze and make great designs to convey information from one individual to another one. Graphic designers communicate information about a product or service through a combination of color, type, animation, photography, layout or other visual art techniques that are agreed upon by a client. Graphic designers are responsible for the development of the full layout and production design of journals, corporate reports, newspapers, magazines, and various other publications.
In addition, graphic artists use their skills to create advertisements, package designs, and sales brochures for anything that is for sale. They also develop unique logos for companies or products, create posters, websites, interactive media, and multimedia schemes. With a particular design vision in mind, these graphic designers sketch or produce layouts to illustrate their ideas. They choose the colors, photos, sound, animation, artwork, font and other visual components of the design.
Additionally, they pick out the size and arrangement of various things on the screen or in print. They might make charts and graphs from information that's in articles and will talk with copywriters about content that might go along with the visual aspects of the project. A graphic designer can add style and polish to a project that can inspire the people involved to create a successful outcome.
While on the job training is an excellent tool for designers, a design degree and internships can prove much more useful at preparing graphic designers to achieve more in their profession. Many entry level positions and advanced positions require a bachelor's degree. However, there are some entry level technical positions that will accept an associates degree. Many colleges and universities offer programs for graphic design or fine arts as well as schools that specialize in art instruction.
Courses will vary but generally include instruction on printing techniques, commercial graphics, computer aided design, color concepts and design principles that when combined with liberal arts, writing and marketing will give the graphic designer a broad foundation on which to build a career. Two and three year professional and technical schools also offer associates degrees in this field. Such programs concentrate on technical facets of graphic design and involve only a couple of liberal arts classes.
Being successful in a job competition is often the result of having a good portfolio containing examples of the designer's best efforts. Graphic artists must be able to meet deadlines, effectively interpret the wishes of the clients, be able to work independently and under pressure and be able to solve problems. Designers will also be required to know a lot about a number of computer programs that deal with graphic design.
Graphic design jobs are thought to grow at about the same rate as other jobs for until 2014 since demand for people with graphic design skills continues to grow from computer design firms, publishers and advertisers. Open slots will offer intense competition, though, as there are numerous talented and capable people who are interested in graphic design careers. The best opportunities will go to those students who obtain a bachelor's degree and are well versed in computer aided design software, website design and animation. The growing demand for web based sites, online visual arts programs, video and internet content will provide many of the graphic design job opportunities of the near future.
