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Career Description

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

What Job Titles Graphic Designers Might Have

• Artist
• Designer
• Graphic Artist
• Graphic Designer

What Graphic Designers Do

• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
• Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Use computer software to generate new images.
• Prepare digital files for printing.
• Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
• Research the target audience of projects.
• Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
• Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer.
• Study illustrations and photographs to plan presentation of materials, products, or services.
• Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
• Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.
• Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
• Research new software or design concepts.
• Produce still and animated graphics for on-air and taped portions of television news broadcasts, using electronic video equipment.

What Graphic Designers Should Be Good At

• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

What Graphic Designers Should Be Interested In

• Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

What Graphic Designers Need to Learn

• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.