Graphic Design Jobs

3 Tips to Start Entry Level Graphic Design Jobs on the Right Foot

Graphic design is the use of electronic media to draw attention to an ad or website. Graphic designers use images, animation, illustrations, color, fonts, and patterns to draw the eye and arouse attention. Entry level graphic design jobs include working for magazines, publishing companies, website designers, television ad companies, and many different types of companies.

What is the Required Schooling?

To be hired in a graphic design job, a bachelor's degree in this field is commonly required. Many colleges offer programs within fine arts. Those courses include numerous classes on design - everything from design principles to commercial graphics. A liberal arts education is also helpful if it includes classes in marketing and business. Any type of business course is a plus and if you can target specialized fields such as computer graphics that will also help you get ahead of the game later when trying to move up the ladder of success.

Entry Level Graphic Design Jobs

After completing these courses an earning a Bachelor's degree in one or more of these fields, a student would then qualify to work as an assistant in this specific department or for a position that only requires technical skills. After working as one of these things, a serious pursuer of these positions could then complete a 2-year or 3-year program to learn more technical requirements. As somebody who is freelancing you can choose to work on your own and pick and choose your clients. Most people start out working for others and move into freelancing as it takes time to build a portfolio of work to show.

Average Pay

In May of 2008 the median annual wages for this course of education was $42,400. Average wage can range from the lower $30,000 to the upper $70,000 depending on experience and job field. On the average, those in a graphic design career working in the computer field make more money whereas others working for newspapers or other printed materials make less.

Working Your Way Up

Most who enter at an entry level or have been freelancing before, need around 3 years of working experience before advancing to higher positions. Some designers choose to leave the field to teach graphic design in colleges and universities. If a designer chooses to stay in this creative field, he could be promoted to chief designer, creative or art director, or a supervisory position. Opening your own firm helps you avoid looking for graphic design job openings or you could choose to specialize in only one area.

Don't expect to start out at the top with entry level graphic design jobs. Be willing to take small jobs and work for others to increase your portfolio. Once you have a portfolio with a variety of work examples to show others than you can start expanding and increasing pay or making preparations to freelance.

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