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What can you do with a degree in graphic design?
Graphic Design Degree Careers
Businesses, companies, and brands all have one thing in common. They need someone to design how people can experience it. This is where graphic design comes in.
“A degree in graphic design opens the door to a wide range of creative career paths. At most liberal arts institutions, including Charleston Southern University, the goal is not to educate students for just one specific job but to provide a foundation that prepares them for multiple areas of the design industry. This approach allows students to explore their interests, discover their strengths, and ultimately find their niche while maintaining flexibility in their career options after graduation,”
What is graphic design?
Graphic design is the art of using visuals to communicate, rather than just using words. It uses visual elements such as text, colors, and images. Graphic design is everywhere, from print ads, to websites, to content on social media. With that in mind, there are many different types of careers one can do in graphic design.
“At CSU, students gain experience in a variety of concentrations, including typography, photography, web design, printmaking, and other creative disciplines. Each area builds upon the same artistic foundations while offering unique opportunities for specialization,”
So, what are some careers in graphic design?
DRAWING AND ILLUSTRATION:
A career in drawing and Illustration is probably one of the most common types of careers for graduates in graphic design. There are many types of jobs in drawing and illustration.
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer is someone who combines art and technology to communicate ideas visually. Graphic designers use things such as typography, color, layout, and more to create designs that are visually and aesthetically engaging. The designs that they make can be used for all sorts of things, like advertising, branding, digital media, print, or publishing. They make designs that are clear and pleasing to an audience.
Illustrator
An illustrator creates custom and original drawings to explain ideas, tell stories, and communicate. They use both traditional methods, such as using print with pencils or paints, as well as digital software. They also sometimes collaborate with different people, such as clients or authors who help them bring their concept to life in art.
Character Designer
A character designer is an individual who designs characters for movies, video games, animation, or comics. Just like an illustrator, they work with clients to help their character come to life visually. They focus on making the character design communicate who they are, such as their personality, background, and the role they play in the story.
Packaging Designer
A packaging designer is responsible for creating product packaging that aligns with the brand and appeals to the target audience. Essentially, they create the physical and visual suit that a product wears. They blend art with engineering, by designing boxes, bags, bottles, whatever the product needs to be packaged in. Packaging designers want to ensure that the product looks appealing on the self so more customers would buy them, while also making sure the packaging is protected during shipping. Most importantly, they make sure the packaging is clearly communicating what the product is and what it does.
Freelance Designer
A freelance designer is self-employed and gets hired by different clients. They work on a project-to-project basis, which means they are able to set their own hours and rates. “Others discover that they enjoy the flexibility and independence of freelance work, allowing them to set their own schedules, choose their clients, and work from virtually anywhere,” said Hornbeak. Freelance designers create visual material, such as logos, website layouts, and graphics.
TECHNOLOGY:
With the technology field growing bigger every day so is the graphic design part of it. Here are some careers in technology that someone in graphic design could consider:
UI/UXDesigner
A user interface designer is the digital architect. They create the visuals, look, feel, and layout of online things like websites, apps, or softwares. They use color, typography, and aesthetics to ensure that the interfaces are intuitive and visually engaging. UI designers usually work closely with UX researchers and developers to help them create the visuals. A user experience designer comes after UI. While the UI designer designs the visual, the UX designer makes sure that what they have decided is effective and user friendly.
Web Designer
A web designer does exactly what it sounds like. They create and plan the layout of websites. They ensure the website is user friendly, while also ensuring the color and aesthetics work, and that the website works for all consumers.
Multimedia Designer
A multimedia designer is an individual who uses art and technology to make engaging visual or audio content. They could add elements such as animations or graphics to whatever they are designing and can be put on platforms such as websites, social media, or digital ads. Their goal is to make consumers engage more with the brand they are designing.
Social Media Designer
A social media designer creates content for social media platforms, such as Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook. They create visually engaging content that is aesthetically pleasing and engaging to the eye. Their goal is to bring more awareness to the brand they are designing for, and to get more engagement on posts.
COMMUNICATION:
Graphic design offers more to communication than one would think. Here are some careers in communication:
Brand Designer
A brand designer is a professional who conveys a company’s public image. They design the brand, making sure that everything looks right, such as the logo, colors, and typography. They create the visual personality of a company. They ensure that the company looks appealing while also trustworthy to customers.
Advertising Designer
An advertising designer is someone who creates visuals to persuade people to buy a product or to notice a brand. They want consumers to take action by designing things that are visually appealing and interesting to look at. They design things such as print ads, digital ads, or ads for social media platforms to bring awareness.
MOTION GRAPHICS:
There are also careers a graphic design majors can do in motion and video. Here are some careers:
Motion Graphics Designer
A motion graphics designer is someone who brings things to life through designs, such as adding animation, audio, or visual effects. They create moving content for things such as movies, tv, websites, social media, etc.
Video Editor
A video editor is an individual who takes unedited footage and makes it into an engaging and interesting video. They cut clips, edit sound and visuals, add effects, and apply feedback from the clients to make sure the final video is exactly what they wanted.
Graphic design internships
Doing an internship as a graphic design major is a great way to get experience. Internships give hands-on experiences, mentorship, as well as collaboration skills that cannot be found in a classroom. “Students are encouraged to gain hands-on experience through internships, many of which can be completed for academic credit. These experiences provide valuable professional exposure, allow students to build their portfolios, and often serve as a pathway to future employment,” said Hornbeak. Internships can help you figure out what you want to do after you graduate.
Where will your graphic design degree take you?
According to Hornbeak, “One of the greatest strengths of a graphic design degree is its versatility. There is no single path to success. Instead, graduates can shape their careers around their interests, talents, and goals.” Graphic design offers many opportunities to turn creativity into a great and meaningful career.
Adrienne Antley, author, is an intern in the CSU Marketing & Communication Office and is a double major in communication and public health.
Learn more about Graphic Design at Charleston Southern.
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