subject: Graphic Design As A Career [print this page] Gone are the days when careers in the field of visual arts are considered to be unstable and financially unrewarding. Successful visual artists such as Pablo Picaso and Norman Rockwell were more like the exceptions to the general rule. Fame and fortune in the field of visual arts were only formerly achieved by those who have great talents and perhaps great luck. The chasm between success and failure was wide and only very few were able to cross it. A middle ground career opportunity that is sustainable was virtually absent.
Means to earn
Then along came modern mass media and the advertising industry. Visual artists found new avenues not only to express themselves but to have dependable and sustainable means to earn a living. Visual art-related skills such as in the field of graphic design became in-demand as indispensible components of various business sectors. From print media to television, from manufacturing to advertising, from web development to film-making, visual design career opportunities became available for a wider group of skilled and talented visual artists.
Graphic design careers are now among the high-paying careers, especially in the field of advertising. Many of them are graduates of fine art courses but some simply have the raw talent. Aside from regular employment with companies, some graphic artists also do part-time and freelance works for various clients. Consultancy and teaching opportunities are also open to talented graphic designers.
Blurring the distinctions
The distinctions between fine arts, advertising arts are now blurred. Many over-lapping of techniques and basic principles are also now common, making these various types of arts almost indistinguishable except for their intended purpose. A graphic artist can incorporate various art elements to have a meaningful and attractive piece of work.
Knowledge and skills in different computer graphic software applications such as PhotoShop and CorelDraw are now necessary when creating graphic art designs. A graphic designer must also be knowledgeable in other fields such as photography and web-based programming and coding.
In most cases, a graphic artist simply has to work on pre-existing images or photos in implementing specific designs. Even the texts of a design may be provided by clients. The main task of a graphic artist is to integrate these various elements into certain layout and combination that will best suit the intended purpose. It could be for advertising billboards, book cover, or newspaper front page.
The various aspects of graphic design make it necessary for graphic artists to learn different but complimentary skills.
