GRAPHIC DESIGN IS ONE OF THE MOST flexible careers imaginable. From the types of places where you can work to the different jobs that you can do, the combinations are nearly infinite. You can join the ranks of established Fortune 500 companies, or march to your own tune as a self-employed freelancer. You can work from your home office in your pajamas, or put on a suit and tie and direct an advertising agency. You can even make movies for Disney! Graphic designers are the renaissance artists of the 21st century. The graphic designer is a true artist, drawing inspiration from everywhere - television shows, food, clothing styles, faraway places, nature, and interesting people. Unlike starving artists of days gone by, however, these highly skilled individuals are well paid to create art in the Digital Age. They influence every area of our culture, and continually have more and more input into every area of society. These artists are responsible for creating clothes, furniture, signs, websites, books, magazines, commercials, home appliances, cars, traffic signals, product packaging, the layout of city parks and tourist attractions, and even driverless cars. They deliver messages through visual concepts, designed to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. Graphic designers use a variety of print, electronic, and video media to create the designs that meet commercial needs of employers and clients. Using computer applications, they develop the overall layout and design of magazines, newspapers, journals, corporate reports, and other publications. They also may produce promotional displays and marketing brochures for products and services, develop distinctive company brands, and create signs and signage systems (called environmental graphics) for business and government. They help users navigate websites and produce the credits that appear before and after television programs and movies. One of the most compelling aspects of graphic design is that it is always changing. The technology used gets updated constantly. There are always new versions of software to learn, new techniques to apply, new strategies to try out. Getting a design job usually requires a four-year college or art school degree, but graduation is not the end of a designer's education. Lifelong learning is needed to succeed in this field. The specialties of web design, animation, video entertainment, and user experience, are currently seeing the most job growth, but the whole industry is seeing an uptick. There is the potential to make nearly six figures in this career if you are highly skilled and choose a hot specialty. Most designers will not obtain that level of success, but every designer can build a rewarding and satisfying career. That could mean climbing the corporate ladder, working solo, or creating an independent agency or design studio. If you are creative, love to learn, speak Adobe, and are handy with a keyboard and mouse, graphic design could be a good fit for your career.

The most comprehensive career book series available, Opportunities in ... explores a vast range of professions. Each book offers: The latest information on a field of interest Training and education requirements for each career Salary statistics for different positions within each field Up-to-date professional and Internet resources And much more.

Begin your graphic design career now, with the guidance of industry experts Becoming a Graphic and Digital Designer is a single source guide to the myriad of options available to those pursuing a graphic design career. With an emphasis on portfolio requirements and job opportunities, this guide helps both students and individuals interested in entering the design field prepare for successful careers. Coverage includes design inspiration, design genres, and design education, with discussion of the specific career options available in print, interactive, and motion design. Interviews with leading designers like Michael Bierut, Stefan Sagmeister, and Mirko Ilic give readers an insider's perspective on career trajectory and a glimpse into everyday operations and inspirations at a variety of companies and firms. Design has become a multi-platform activity that involves aesthetic, creative, and technical expertise. Becoming a Graphic and Digital Designer shows readers that the field once known as "graphic design" is now richer and more inviting than ever before. Learn how to think like a designer and approach projects systematically Discover the varied career options available within graphic design Gain insight from some of the leading designers in their fields Compile a portfolio optimized to your speciality of choice Graphic designers' work appears in magazines, advertisements, video games, movies, exhibits, computer programs, packaging, corporate materials, and more. Aspiring designers are sure to find their place in the industry, regardless of specific interests. Becoming a Graphic and Digital Designer provides a roadmap and compass for the journey, which begins today.

A revision to the bestselling visual guide to becoming a graphic designer Becoming a Graphic Designer, Fourth Edition provides a comprehensive survey of the graphic design market, including complete coverage of print and electronic media and the evolving digital design disciplines that offer today's most sought-after jobs. Featuring 65 interviews with today's leading designers, this visual guide has more than 600 illustrations and covers everything from education and training, design specialties, and work settings to preparing an effective portfolio and finding a job. The book offers profiles of major industries, coverage of careers in exhibition design and illustration, and new focus on designing across disciplines. Fully updated to include information on the latest trends in evolving design disciplines New coverage of digital editorial design, information design, packaging design, design management, and entrepreneurship From an author of over 100 books on design Complete with compact, easy-to-use sections, useful sidebars, and sample design pieces, this outstanding guide is invaluable for anyone interested in launching or developing a career in graphic design.

This guide aims to help students make informed decisions about careers in graphic design. The guide defines the purpose and practice of the graphic design field and identifies the strong link between effective educational programs and effective professional practices. Suggestions are given for evaluating schools and potential employers. Comments from educators and practitioners provide insight into schools' expectations of prospective students and employees. Noteworthy projects are presented to give a sense of the depth and breadth of the field. The guide is organized as follows: (1) "What is Graphic Design?"; (2) "What Graphic Designers Need to Know"; (3) "Who Becomes a Graphic Designer?"; (4) "What Goes on in Design School?" (Jorge Frascara); (5) "How do Graphic Design Programs Differ?"; (6) "How to Select a Design School" (Robert O. Swinehart); (7) "How Do You Find Your First Job?"; (8) "Graphic Designers at Work"; and (9) "What is the Future of Graphic Design?" Appendices include a list of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Chapters and Design Organization, A Directory of Design Publications, and Four-year Educational Institutions Offering Graphic Arts Programs. (MM)

What graphic design is, what designers need to know, and who becomes a designer have all evolved as the computer went from being a tool to also becoming our primary medium for communication. How jobs are advertised and how prospective candidates communicate with prospective employers have changed as well, as has the culture and context for many workplaces, requiring new approaches for how to find your first (and last) position. Through clear prose, a broad survey of contexts where designers find themselves in the present day, and interviews with designers, The AIGA Guide to Careers in Graphic and Communication Design is an invaluable resource for finding your place in this quickly changing and growing field. The book includes interviews with over 40 designers at all levels working in-house and out-of-house in studios, consultancies, or alone, including: Nicholas Blechman, The New Yorker; Rob Giampietro, Google; Njoki Gitahi, IDEO; Hilary Greenbaum, Whitney Museum; Holly Gressley, Vox Media; Cemre Güngör, Facebook; Natasha Jen, Pentagram; Renda Morton, The New York Times; and Alisa Wolfson, Leo Burnett Worldwide.

For the artistic girl who enjoys the creative process and also has a knack for handling the technology that powers her world, a graphic design career could be a great fit. This book provides easy-to-follow descriptions of careers in graphic design, including multimedia design, web design, and photography. Readers will find information on the daily duties of a graphic designer, the education and training required, and the job prospects for the coming years. This accessible guide also provides practical advice on how to write a resume and cover letter, build a portfolio, prepare for job interviews, and network.

The ultimate source for beginning professionals, working professionals looking to make a change, and entrepreneurs wanting to go out on their own, this friendly guide details every business aspect of commercial graphic design, including how to: • Create a portfolio • Make initial contacts • Develop a financial plan • Set up an office • Acquire supplies and equipment • Price your own work • Market on the Web • Nurture a growing freelance business • And much more In a market-by-market survey, the author devotes entire chapters to selling one’s work within every venue, including magazines, ad agencies, book publishers, greeting card companies, small business, and Web sites. This is the most useful book on the market for honing the business skills of freelance illustrators and graphic designers. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

Includes information on careers in architecture; interior and display design; graphic design; publications design and illustration; photography; industrial design; fashion design; film, TV, and multimedia; theater and stage design; fine art; crafts; art education; art museums; galleries; art publications; and art services such as artist materials suppliers and art therapists.

Career-seekers looking for a field that will take advantage of their artistic talents will find this volume immensely helpful. Readers will learn about the varied environments in which graphic designers work and the expectations that different kinds of companies have of their employees. They’ll learn how high school courses, college courses, extracurricular activities, online training resources, and internships can help prepare them for careers in computer and graphic design. There are even practical tips on getting and keeping your first job in this competitive field, as well as a useful overview of the tools and software of the trade.