6 answers
Dalesha
Student
1
Question
Updated
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How can I integrate a career in graphic design with communications, marketing, and/or writing?
I'm a senior in high school, planning on going to a community college to major in Graphic Design and then possibly transfer to a university
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6 answers
Kelvin Choo
Marketing
3
Answers
Singapore
Updated
Kelvin’s Answer
Yes, you can. Graphic design is a broad skill. But what is your specialty? Is it writing or illustration? If you're good at writing, your graphic design will look different from purely illustrative designs. Think carefully about what you want to achieve.
Andrew Dixon
Graphic Designer
8
Answers
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Hi Dalesha,
First congrats!!! You know what you want to do and are making steps toward it. When it comes to Graphic Design, our space is ever changing. Take time to truly learn the Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and AI tools to become well-versed from a foundational standpoint. Once you have a grasp of those particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweave, Premiere Pro, and After Effects you can translate what you learned into the marketing field or communications. If journalism is your thing, look into PR classes (Public Relations). However, please hear this, if you can get good grades cool but make sure above that, you get an understanding of the software, tools, and history of Graphic Design. Knowing what your doing means more than a grade. Focus on the knowledge, if you can do both... great!
Well wishes,
Drew
First congrats!!! You know what you want to do and are making steps toward it. When it comes to Graphic Design, our space is ever changing. Take time to truly learn the Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and AI tools to become well-versed from a foundational standpoint. Once you have a grasp of those particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweave, Premiere Pro, and After Effects you can translate what you learned into the marketing field or communications. If journalism is your thing, look into PR classes (Public Relations). However, please hear this, if you can get good grades cool but make sure above that, you get an understanding of the software, tools, and history of Graphic Design. Knowing what your doing means more than a grade. Focus on the knowledge, if you can do both... great!
Well wishes,
Drew
Jessica Lanchang
Paid Social Media Manager
5
Answers
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
Hi Dalesha! Combining graphic design with another area of focus is a great idea and can help open up career opportunities. I majored in graphic design myself with a minor in marketing. After graduation I worked for a small company's marketing team as the graphic designer and gradually grew my career in social media as the need for content and expansion of social efforts grew. Though I currently focus on social media marketing now for the company I work for, I have also freelanced on the side. With graphic design you can work directly for a company, an agency, freelance, or utilize your skills for other opportunities, and combining that major with something else like marketing will be a great step to making yourself more marketable for your job hunt. Hope this helps!
Tim Hiscock
Editor
15
Answers
Exton, Pennsylvania
Updated
Tim’s Answer
Dear Dalesha,
You're on a path to great things. I have an AA in graphic design and a BA in journalism, and for 38 years, I've worked in medical publishing. For 25 of those years, I was an acquisition editor, finding new books for my publisher, negotiating deals, overseeing the publishing process, and helping with marketing. I worked with doctors on books for doctors in fields like pediatrics, radiology, and neurosurgery. My degrees didn't directly apply to my job, but they taught me valuable skills. Graphic design taught me to set goals and think big, while journalism taught me how to write and tell stories. These skills opened up many career opportunities for me.
My advice is to find something you're passionate about, whether it's dogs, space travel, or anything else. Enjoying your work makes the days fly by. Look for ways to write or design around your interests. If you love food, maybe write restaurant reviews for a local Facebook page. Reach out to others in the field for informational interviews; most people are happy to chat. Be open to change and don't worry if your interests shift over time. Follow your passion, and I believe in ten years, you'll be somewhere amazing you never imagined.
You're on a path to great things. I have an AA in graphic design and a BA in journalism, and for 38 years, I've worked in medical publishing. For 25 of those years, I was an acquisition editor, finding new books for my publisher, negotiating deals, overseeing the publishing process, and helping with marketing. I worked with doctors on books for doctors in fields like pediatrics, radiology, and neurosurgery. My degrees didn't directly apply to my job, but they taught me valuable skills. Graphic design taught me to set goals and think big, while journalism taught me how to write and tell stories. These skills opened up many career opportunities for me.
My advice is to find something you're passionate about, whether it's dogs, space travel, or anything else. Enjoying your work makes the days fly by. Look for ways to write or design around your interests. If you love food, maybe write restaurant reviews for a local Facebook page. Reach out to others in the field for informational interviews; most people are happy to chat. Be open to change and don't worry if your interests shift over time. Follow your passion, and I believe in ten years, you'll be somewhere amazing you never imagined.
Kim Matthews
Graphic Production Designer and Sculptor
136
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Hi Dalesha,
Of the three possibilities you mention, communications and marketing seem to make the most sense for a graphic designer. I see a fair number of marketing job posts that look for people with graphic design skills. You might also consider publications design--annual reports, books, brochures, and so on. With the advent of AI and inexpensive software, I see increasingly broader job posts that treat graphic design as an add-on rather than a specialized role, so I think you're on the right track to consider those possibilities.
I don't know what journalism is going to look like in the future but you might think about being an infographic designer if you like data. Newspapers and other publications often use charts and graphs to simplify complex information; they're also used in marketing documents such as proposals (RFPs).
I suggest looking on Indeed, LinkedIN, and other job boards for communications, marketing, journalism, and publications jobs just to get a sense of what's out there now and what the job descriptions look like in terms of responsibilities, qualifications, and pay. Try to stay flexible and open to all sorts of possibilities.
Hope this helps!
Of the three possibilities you mention, communications and marketing seem to make the most sense for a graphic designer. I see a fair number of marketing job posts that look for people with graphic design skills. You might also consider publications design--annual reports, books, brochures, and so on. With the advent of AI and inexpensive software, I see increasingly broader job posts that treat graphic design as an add-on rather than a specialized role, so I think you're on the right track to consider those possibilities.
I don't know what journalism is going to look like in the future but you might think about being an infographic designer if you like data. Newspapers and other publications often use charts and graphs to simplify complex information; they're also used in marketing documents such as proposals (RFPs).
I suggest looking on Indeed, LinkedIN, and other job boards for communications, marketing, journalism, and publications jobs just to get a sense of what's out there now and what the job descriptions look like in terms of responsibilities, qualifications, and pay. Try to stay flexible and open to all sorts of possibilities.
Hope this helps!
HK Heng
Media Strategist
5
Answers
Singapore
Updated
HK’s Answer
There are generally two career routes you can consider:
First, consider starting your career in a small or medium-sized business (SMB). While many people naturally envision joining a large corporation, SMBs often offer more creative freedom early on. These teams typically look for “all‑rounder” marketers—someone who can design ad creatives, craft marketing communications, write case studies, and contribute to content strategy. This environment allows you to experiment across disciplines, build a versatile skill set quickly, and see how your creative work directly impacts the business.
Second, explore opportunities in creative or marketing agencies. Many large companies rely on agencies for ideas, campaigns, and creative execution. Working at an agency exposes you to a wide range of industries, brands, and challenges, while allowing you to consistently apply both your design and writing skills. It’s a great path if you enjoy variety, collaboration, and pushing creative boundaries while doing what you love.
Both routes can be powerful stepping stones—it ultimately comes down to whether you prefer building depth in one organization or gaining breadth through multiple clients and industries.
First, consider starting your career in a small or medium-sized business (SMB). While many people naturally envision joining a large corporation, SMBs often offer more creative freedom early on. These teams typically look for “all‑rounder” marketers—someone who can design ad creatives, craft marketing communications, write case studies, and contribute to content strategy. This environment allows you to experiment across disciplines, build a versatile skill set quickly, and see how your creative work directly impacts the business.
Second, explore opportunities in creative or marketing agencies. Many large companies rely on agencies for ideas, campaigns, and creative execution. Working at an agency exposes you to a wide range of industries, brands, and challenges, while allowing you to consistently apply both your design and writing skills. It’s a great path if you enjoy variety, collaboration, and pushing creative boundaries while doing what you love.
Both routes can be powerful stepping stones—it ultimately comes down to whether you prefer building depth in one organization or gaining breadth through multiple clients and industries.