6 answers
AnnaHope
Student
Frankfort, Kentucky
1
Question
Asked
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What Do I Need to Know and Do to Become a Successful Graphic Designer?
what classes in college would I need to take?
what do they do day to day?
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6 answers
Aml Omar
Marketing & Business Development Consultant
26
Answers
Egypt
Updated
Aml’s Answer
Graphic design can be a very good career if you enjoy visual problem-solving, creativity, communication, and working with clients or teams. But it is important to understand that professional graphic design is much more than making things look nice.
What would you need to learn?
If you study Graphic Design in college, typical courses may include:
Design fundamentals & visual communication
Typography
Color theory
Drawing / illustration
Layout & composition
Branding & visual identity
UI/UX fundamentals
Photography
Motion graphics / animation
Print & digital design
Design history
Portfolio development
Design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
The exact curriculum varies by university, so don't choose a school based only on its course list. Look at the student portfolios and graduate work as well.
What does a graphic designer actually do every day?
It depends heavily on the job.
A typical day might involve:
Brief → Research → Ideas → Sketches/concepts → Design → Feedback → Revisions → Final files
You might spend part of your day:
Designing social media campaigns
Creating logos or brand identities
Designing presentations, packaging, advertisements or websites
Editing images
Creating illustrations or layouts
Reviewing designs with clients or a marketing team
Revising work based on feedback
Preparing files for print or digital publishing
And honestly, a significant part of the job isn't "being creative." It's solving a communication problem within constraints: the client's goals, audience, brand, deadline and budget.
What should you do while you're in college?
Don't wait until graduation to build your portfolio.
Start creating projects now. You can even create fictional briefs for businesses and design complete campaigns for them.
Build a portfolio that demonstrates how you think, not just a collection of pretty images.
For example, instead of showing only a logo, show:
Client problem → Research → Concept → Logo → Color/Typography → Brand applications
Also learn skills beyond design itself: communication, presenting your ideas, receiving criticism, understanding marketing, managing deadlines and working with clients.
One final piece of advice: try the work before committing to the degree.
Spend a few weeks learning the basics of Illustrator/Figma/Photoshop and complete 2–3 small projects. If you enjoy the process of solving visual problems—even when the work becomes difficult—you have a much stronger signal that graphic design may be right for you.
You don't need to know today whether you'll be a graphic designer for the rest of your life. At this stage, your goal is to experiment enough to make an informed decision.
What would you need to learn?
If you study Graphic Design in college, typical courses may include:
Design fundamentals & visual communication
Typography
Color theory
Drawing / illustration
Layout & composition
Branding & visual identity
UI/UX fundamentals
Photography
Motion graphics / animation
Print & digital design
Design history
Portfolio development
Design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
The exact curriculum varies by university, so don't choose a school based only on its course list. Look at the student portfolios and graduate work as well.
What does a graphic designer actually do every day?
It depends heavily on the job.
A typical day might involve:
Brief → Research → Ideas → Sketches/concepts → Design → Feedback → Revisions → Final files
You might spend part of your day:
Designing social media campaigns
Creating logos or brand identities
Designing presentations, packaging, advertisements or websites
Editing images
Creating illustrations or layouts
Reviewing designs with clients or a marketing team
Revising work based on feedback
Preparing files for print or digital publishing
And honestly, a significant part of the job isn't "being creative." It's solving a communication problem within constraints: the client's goals, audience, brand, deadline and budget.
What should you do while you're in college?
Don't wait until graduation to build your portfolio.
Start creating projects now. You can even create fictional briefs for businesses and design complete campaigns for them.
Build a portfolio that demonstrates how you think, not just a collection of pretty images.
For example, instead of showing only a logo, show:
Client problem → Research → Concept → Logo → Color/Typography → Brand applications
Also learn skills beyond design itself: communication, presenting your ideas, receiving criticism, understanding marketing, managing deadlines and working with clients.
One final piece of advice: try the work before committing to the degree.
Spend a few weeks learning the basics of Illustrator/Figma/Photoshop and complete 2–3 small projects. If you enjoy the process of solving visual problems—even when the work becomes difficult—you have a much stronger signal that graphic design may be right for you.
You don't need to know today whether you'll be a graphic designer for the rest of your life. At this stage, your goal is to experiment enough to make an informed decision.
Thank you! This advice helped a lot.
Asher
Claire Raby
Senior Marketing Associate
2
Answers
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Claire’s Answer
Classes you might take in college:
•Graphic Design Fundamentals – learning the basics of layout, composition, visual hierarchy, and design thinking.
•Typography – learning how to choose and work with type, and how typography affects the way information is communicated.
•Color Theory – understanding color, contrast, and how different color combinations work together.
•Layout & Publication Design – designing things like brochures, magazines, posters, reports, and other printed materials.
•Branding / Identity Design – learning how to create logos and build a consistent visual identity for a company or organization.
•Illustration & Photography – developing your visual skills and learning how to create or work with imagery.
•Web / Digital Design – learning how design works on websites, social media, presentations, and other digital platforms.
•Adobe Creative Cloud – learning programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. These are important tools, but learning how to think and solve problems is more important than just knowing the software.
•Design History & Theory – understanding where design comes from and why certain design approaches work.
What graphic designers actually do day to day
It really depends on the job, but a typical day can include:
• Working on things like brochures, posters, presentations, websites, ads, event materials, or social media graphics.
• Coming up with ideas and concepts for a project.
• Creating layouts and trying different design directions.
• Getting feedback and making revisions – sometimes several rounds!
• Working with writers, marketers, developers, photographers, or other designers.
• Looking for images, illustrations, icons, fonts, or other visual resources.
• Preparing files for print or digital publishing.
• Proofreading and checking a
Take an introductory design class.
Practice with small personal projects.
Build a simple portfolio.
Look for internships or volunteer opportunities.
Keep learning and stay curious.
•Graphic Design Fundamentals – learning the basics of layout, composition, visual hierarchy, and design thinking.
•Typography – learning how to choose and work with type, and how typography affects the way information is communicated.
•Color Theory – understanding color, contrast, and how different color combinations work together.
•Layout & Publication Design – designing things like brochures, magazines, posters, reports, and other printed materials.
•Branding / Identity Design – learning how to create logos and build a consistent visual identity for a company or organization.
•Illustration & Photography – developing your visual skills and learning how to create or work with imagery.
•Web / Digital Design – learning how design works on websites, social media, presentations, and other digital platforms.
•Adobe Creative Cloud – learning programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. These are important tools, but learning how to think and solve problems is more important than just knowing the software.
•Design History & Theory – understanding where design comes from and why certain design approaches work.
What graphic designers actually do day to day
It really depends on the job, but a typical day can include:
• Working on things like brochures, posters, presentations, websites, ads, event materials, or social media graphics.
• Coming up with ideas and concepts for a project.
• Creating layouts and trying different design directions.
• Getting feedback and making revisions – sometimes several rounds!
• Working with writers, marketers, developers, photographers, or other designers.
• Looking for images, illustrations, icons, fonts, or other visual resources.
• Preparing files for print or digital publishing.
• Proofreading and checking a
Claire recommends the following next steps:
John Ilang-ilang
Creative Director
1
Answer
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
John’s Answer
Graphic design is an exciting and highly creative field that allows you to use your imagination and find inspiration in your day-to-day life. However, it is important to remember that design is ultimately about problem-solving. While art is interpretive, graphic design must communicate with a clear purpose to a specific audience.
When it comes to building a successful career, designers usually start out through one of two main paths.
The first path is driven by natural talent. Some people simply have an intuitive eye for great visuals and grasp the core principles of design just by observing the world around them.
The second path is through dedicated learning. Studying and mastering the formal principles of design is incredibly important because they serve as your primary guide. Developing a deep understanding of these fundamentals is essential, as it is the only way you will learn how to strategically break the rules to achieve your communication goals and solve visual problems effectively.
Most college and universities offer Graphic Design or Visual Communications, they typically fall under Bachelors of Fine Arts.
When it comes to building a successful career, designers usually start out through one of two main paths.
The first path is driven by natural talent. Some people simply have an intuitive eye for great visuals and grasp the core principles of design just by observing the world around them.
The second path is through dedicated learning. Studying and mastering the formal principles of design is incredibly important because they serve as your primary guide. Developing a deep understanding of these fundamentals is essential, as it is the only way you will learn how to strategically break the rules to achieve your communication goals and solve visual problems effectively.
Most college and universities offer Graphic Design or Visual Communications, they typically fall under Bachelors of Fine Arts.
Allison Rawls
Project Manager
2
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Allison’s Answer
To grow your core skills, focus on improving your communication and time management abilities. Great creative directors can present their ideas both visually and verbally. Explaining your designs to business-minded clients is crucial for success.
Designers often get absorbed in their work because it's enjoyable, but understanding your creative process and managing it effectively will help avoid frustration. Many people, especially those in business, may not grasp the details of the creative process. Being able to advocate for yourself and prioritize your tasks will earn you respect.
Designers often get absorbed in their work because it's enjoyable, but understanding your creative process and managing it effectively will help avoid frustration. Many people, especially those in business, may not grasp the details of the creative process. Being able to advocate for yourself and prioritize your tasks will earn you respect.
Jon Bader
Creative Director
2
Answers
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Updated
Jon’s Answer
These are all very thorough and positive answers so far! I would add that if you can use any of your electives to join something like a Public Speaking class - many great designers struggle to present their work, and it often has to do with being uncomfortable presenting in front of people.
Whether we are interviewing, or submitting designs to our manager, or trying to win a client, Designers are in a unique space where we are always having to talk about our work. Being comfortable and confident doing so, will only help to keep your career moving.
Second to that, building on some of the other responses: outside of classes you can take specifically, look for ways to illustrate your thought process, and why you have made the design decisions you have made. A class in Art Direction might cover some of this (it did for me), and you will get questions about these decisions when presenting your work.
Whether we are interviewing, or submitting designs to our manager, or trying to win a client, Designers are in a unique space where we are always having to talk about our work. Being comfortable and confident doing so, will only help to keep your career moving.
Second to that, building on some of the other responses: outside of classes you can take specifically, look for ways to illustrate your thought process, and why you have made the design decisions you have made. A class in Art Direction might cover some of this (it did for me), and you will get questions about these decisions when presenting your work.
Matt Staab
Creative Director
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Matt’s Answer
Aml's advice is really thorough and insightful. I would just suggest researching top graphic design schools and considering them after graduation. A well-rounded education is key for any designer or creative person. Traditional schools can offer this, but sometimes they don't dive deep into creative fields. Check out places like RISD, Art Center, SCAD, SVA, Pratt, Miami Ad School, and VCU/The Creative Circus. Choosing the right school and community to learn and grow with is crucial.