Tyler
What type of jobs are available in the field of Graphic design?
Knowing some of the job options would go a long way in helping me know what I would like to do with my life. #graphics
2 answers
Aaron Johnson
Aaron’s Answer
In marketing, we always have a need for someone to make advertisements, direct mail pieces, website assets, and the like. It's a huuuuge field and you'll have every opportunity to be your own boss. Learn how to use illustrator, sketch, indesign, or photoshop, and you'll be VERY well covered.
For example, let's say I realize my customers really like to see pictures of themselves with dogs, but none of my ads have dogs, I'd turn to a graphic designer and say "hey, can you make a pile of ads that have pictures of people (25-35) with dogs. They'd then go grab some stock photos that fit that need, and make them look great, add my logo, export them in all the right formats, and send me back that whole project.
Nick Arcidy
Nick’s Answer
There are lots of career options for graphic designers. You could go a more illustrative route as a graphics artist for apparel designing patterns and prints, or for a record label designing album art and promotional material. These gigs are, more often than not, freelance. You could join an agency, where you'll likely work at a fast pace and have a lot of creative diversity in the projects you work on. One day, you could be working on a logo, and the next, you could be designing a marketing campaign. Or, you could work for a publication, either in print or online. There, you'll focus predominantly on typography and laying out the contents of a page. Nowadays, one of the most viable options for graphic designers is in tech. You can work as a visual, brand, or UX designer on software, or the marketing material that represents that software.
If you're interested in graphic design, try out each of these subcategories on your own. Pretend you work at Vogue. Design a page that would fit in their magazine. Try designing a new logo for one of your favorite companies. Try sketching out some wireframes and designing an app. Try designing an album cover. A skateboard graphic. A pattern for a dress. These are all options I've explored in my professional career, and have had a blast with each chapter. Try each of these options out on your own and build a portfolio. The more you create on your own, the more you'll begin to hone in on a specific niche that's right for you.