How to Become a Graphic Designer (Artistic Careers in 2022)

Last Updated: June 27th, 2022 by Noah Shaw

People respond to first impressions when choosing everything from a box of cereal to the car that they drive. That’s why businesses in almost every sector rely on graphic designers to ensure they’re projecting the best image of themselves possible.

Whether you’re designing brochures, company logos, or product packaging, this guide will show you how to become a graphic designer. Keep reading to discover what it takes to become one and where you can earn the most as a graphic designer.

Visit our Career Guide for a list of all our job insights for an in-depth look at the new career path you are considering.

Job Description

As a graphic designer, your job begins with understanding what graphics are needed and for what purpose. You’ll find this out by speaking to an art director or clients.

Then, you’ll create the necessary graphics by hand and by using computer software. Those graphics include logos, illustrations, and anything else to fulfill their purpose.

Your process will require you to select the best shapes, colors, fonts and other visual elements to achieve the intended outcome.

Lastly, you’ll present your designs to the art director or client for feedback. Then, you’ll perform any change that might be necessary.

Read More: How to Become a Dance Teacher. Interested in other creative fields? We explore how to become a dance teacher in this guide.

What Does an Average Day for a Graphic Designer Look Like?

Before you commit to learning how to become a graphic designer, it’s always best to see what someone in that role would do on an average day.

So, here’s what your average day on the job will look like.

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Determine the Scope and Details of Work

Your work as a graphic designer is often part of a larger project. So, your day begins with a briefing from an art director or a client on the graphics they need.

From there, you’ll be able to understand the scope and details of your work before you start.

For example, they might tell you that you need to create graphics for a new brochure they’re releasing. Again, you’ll know the appropriate colors, imagery, and necessary font sizes.

Draft the Graphics Necessary

No work of art is done instantly. Instead, you’ll begin by preparing one or more drafts of the graphics you’re asked to create.

By having several drafts, you’ll be able to visualize what the client is imagining and give them options to choose from.

Some graphic designers prepare their drafts using the same computer software they use every day. However, others might start by drafting images on paper instead.

Gather Feedback and Make Adjustments

Once the drafts are ready, you’ll present them to your art director or client to gather their feedback. That is a crucial step in the process because it manages expectations on both sides.

Firstly, you’ll have a better idea of what they’re expecting. But, at the same time, they’ll also have a clearer understanding of what the outcome will look like.

Prepare Notes for the Final Producer

Graphic design is one of the earliest steps in creating anything.

Let’s use the same brochure example from before. In that situation, your finalized designs will go to a printer. They’ll prepare hundreds or thousands of physical copies of brochures according to your design.

You’ll also have to prepare any notes that might be relevant to the people using your graphic designs.

For instance, you’ll likely specify the type of paper the printer should print your brochure or the kind of texture the brochure should have.

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Research New Design Concepts, Tools, and Trends

Lastly, you should spend a part of your day keeping up with the latest trends in the graphic design world.

Like anything involving a visual aspect, people’s tastes change over the years. Keeping yourself updated on those changes ensures that your designs are always fresh and innovative.

Process for Becoming a Graphic Designer

The process of learning how to become a graphic designer is pretty straightforward. However, regardless of which stage you’re in, you must practice continually to sharpen your skills in the long run.

Here’s what the process will look like for you:

Start in High School

High school students can get a head start on this process by taking courses relevant to graphic design.

According to the Illinois Worknet Center, some of the high school courses you should take include:

  • Art
  • Graphic Design
  • Drawing and Painting
  • Web Page Design
  • Desktop Publishing
  • And more.

Taking these courses in high school will help you understand basic graphic design concepts that you will master later in college and throughout your career.

Get a Bachelor’s Degree

Most employers will require you to have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, fine arts, or something closely related.

You can choose from hundreds of courses nationwide accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Some of the topics you’ll cover in a typical graphic design degree course include:

  • Principles of Design
  • Printing Techniques
  • Studio Art
  • Computerized Design
  • And more.

Gain Hands-On Experience

As part of your process, you must also continually gain hands-on experience. Not only does this develop your skills and abilities. But it also demonstrates those skills to future employers, increasing your ability to get a job.

During your college years, you’ll gain some experience where you’ll start to develop your portfolio (a lifelong collection of graphic design work).

Your portfolio will continue to expand after you graduate, take on internships, do graphic design independently, and enter the workforce.

Obtain Graphic Design Certifications

A lot of your work these days is done using industry-leading software. As a result, future employers will expect you to know how to use the most popular software, like those from Adobe.

You can develop and demonstrate your skills by pursuing certifications from companies like Adobe. 

Advance to Leadership Roles

In the long run, you can aim to advance towards leadership roles. You’ll continue to perform graphic design in those roles. However, you’ll focus more time on leading teams of designers and interacting directly with your employer’s clients.

Find A Graphic Designer Job Near You!

Are You Suited for a Graphic Designer Career? Skills, Credentials, Tools and Technology

Working as a graphic designer will require you to have or be willing to develop specific skills and proficiencies.  With them, you can build a strong career and go very far in the long run.

Here are some of the personality traits, skills, and proficiencies you’ll need to succeed as a graphic designer. 

Personality and Skills

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights creativity and artistic skills, computer skills, and analytical skills as necessary for this line of work.

Your creativity and artistic skills will be at the core of everything you do. No matter what graphics you design or for what purpose, these skills will turn original ideas into images that other people can see.

These days, most graphic designing and editing are done using computer skills. So for starters, you should be able to operate a computer and other devices like tablets. You should then develop skills in using specialized computer peripherals like computer drawing pads.

Lastly, your analytical skills are also crucial as a graphics designer. You need to understand how your use of shapes, colors, and other principles will affect the people looking at your designs.

Credentials and Proficiencies

A big part of learning how to become a graphic designer is becoming proficient in using the necessary tools.

For example, the Occupational Information Network (O*Net) states that you should be skilled at using graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator, computer-aided design (CAD) software like Autodesk AutoCAD, and video editing software like Apple Final Cut Pro.

Your proficiency requirements in using these tools will differ depending on the employer you want to work with. 

For example, working at a company that produces videos will likely require you to know how to use video editing software.

Besides that, your future employer might have invested heavily in one type of graphic design software instead of another. Therefore, they’ll typically tell you which ones they use in the job posting before you apply.

How Does a Graphic Designer Find Work?

When you finish learning how to become a graphic designer, you can find work immediately. You can do so by:

  • Freelancing, where you work for yourself serving clients directly
  • Applying for full-time graphic designer job openings with employers
  • By doing both at the same time

The excellent thing about being a graphic designer is that you can start working as a freelancer, even if you don’t have a full-time job.

You can freelance as a graphic designer by:

  • Approaching local businesses and offering them your graphic designing services. Businesses need logos, marketing materials (e.g. brochures), and more
  • Posting ads on freelance marketplaces online to find clients in other areas

Many graphic designers choose to work for themselves as freelancers only. Still, you can do that on the side while pursuing a full-time graphic designer job instead.

The best way to find a full-time role is to focus on industries that rely on graphic designers the most. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the industries that hire graphic designers the most are:

  • Specialized design services
  • Advertising, public relations, and similar companies
  • Printing companies
  • Publishing companies, e.g. newspapers, magazines, and other publications
  • Consulting firms

Find A Graphic Designer Job Near You!

What is the Average Salary of a Graphic Designer?

When deciding to learn how to become a graphic designer, an essential factor to think about is how much you’ll earn when you start working.

On average, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that graphic designers earn $59,970 a year. They also show that:

  • The top 90th percentile of graphic designers earns $98,260, and
  • The bottom 10th percentile of graphic designers earns $31,310.

Where Do Graphic Designers Get Paid the Most?

Another factor that affects how much you earn as a graphic designer is where you are in the country. The average salary is higher in some locations than in others.

Data by the BLS shows that you’ll get paid the most as a graphic designer in these 5 states:

  • District of Columbia: $85,070
  • Washington: $75,420
  • New York: $74,510
  • Massachusetts: $71,770
  • California: $70,000

How Do You Earn More as a Graphic Designer?

There are many ways to increase your earning potential as a graphic designer. Of course, some methods involve earning more from your primary job. But you should also know there are ways to make money on the side.

For your primary job, you can earn more by:

  • Pursuing training in graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop
  • Developing your soft skills so you can take on client-facing roles
  • Developing social media knowledge, since most companies will share your designs there

In your free time, you can also earn more money as a graphic designer by:

  • Taking on freelance graphic designs jobs with clients online or in-person
  • Providing graphic design consultations for clients and other designers
  • Create and sell graphic design lessons
  • Create and design templates for people to use

Graphic Designer Job Growth

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the field of graphic designers will grow by 3% until 2030. However, they describe that growth rate as being ‘slower than average’ compared to other jobs.

Still, it’s certainly worth learning how to become a graphic designer if you’re interested in this field.

Firstly, the industry will continue to grow in the coming years.

Secondly, there is a long list of roles where you can use your graphic designing skills and knowledge. In the next section, you’ll discover the top 10 roles for graphic designers in 2022.

Top 10 Roles for Graphics Designers in 2022

There’s a long list of industries and sectors that require the skills you have as a graphic designer. Any enterprise that relies heavily on the visual aspect of things will likely need graphic designers.

When you finish learning how to become a graphic designer, here are the 10 best roles where you can put your abilities to excellent use:

Logo Designer

Every business needs a memorable logo, whether they’re small mom and pop shops or global corporations. Some even go through several logo changes throughout their existence. 

With your graphic design skills in this role, you’ll specialize in helping companies develop logos that accurately represent who they are.

Photo Editor

People these days have the power to edit photos using smartphone apps. Still, that doesn’t compete with professional photo editing that only someone like you could do. 

Whether it’s editing photos for social media influencers or glossy magazines, this is another role for you to consider.

Video Game Designer

Modern video games are much more sophisticated than they’ve ever been. As a result, gamers now have high expectations for what they see on the screen when they buy a new game.

As a result, video game studios always look for people like you who have graphic design skills and knowledge.

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Packaging Designer

A product’s packaging is often just as important as the product itself. Aside from attracting a buyer’s attention, packaging these days must also be environmentally friendly. 

As a packaging designer, you’ll help figure out everything from packaging shape, color, design, and even the materials used to make it.

Product Designer

Aside from working on packaging, there are also specialized roles where you can design the product itself.

Art Director

Graphic designers don’t always interact directly with clients or worry about project management. 

So while they’re working, an art director focuses on understanding clients and managing the project. 

Then, you’ll supervise your team to get the job done right.

Advertising Designer

You’ll design materials like banners, brochures, and more in this role. The goal: make your employer’s brand stand out from others and attract the specific customers they want.

You’ll experience overlap between graphic design and marketing in this role.

Multimedia Designer

As a multimedia designer, you’ll leverage your graphic design abilities for entertainment purposes. 

For example, you’ll work on special effects, animations, and more. In addition, you’ll likely work for production houses responsible for making movies and TV shows in this role.

Fashion Designer

Naturally, the fashion industry also has a strong need for graphic design skills and knowledge. This role is perfect if you prefer designing fashion products and accessories.

User Interface (UI) Designer

With the popularity of smartphones several years ago, people have come to rely heavily on their mobile apps.

While app developers focus on the technical aspects, you can work as a user interface (UI) designer focusing on the look and feel of those apps.

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Professional Associations

Learning how to become a graphic designer doesn’t just happen at the school and college levels. The industry is constantly changing, and you can keep up by participating in top professional associations like:

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)

Graphic Arts Guild

The Society of Illustrators

International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda)

Freelancer’s Union

Top Colleges and Universities

Here are some of the best institutions where you can learn how to become a graphic designer:

Yale University

Rhode Island School of Design

Pratt Institute

Maryland Institute College of Art

The New School’s Parsons School of Design

About Noah Shaw

An editor & writer on staff at LandYourLife, Noah is a career research enthusiast passionate about helping others find & work towards their ideal vocation.