Graphic Designing

In the most basic terms, a graphic designer combines text and images to perform a function. Whether in the form of a printed brochure or a digital app, the most important part is ‘to perform a function’. Artists create art for its own sake. But graphic designers create content that has a clear and defined purpose. So ultimately, art can only be judged subjectively, but graphic design can be judged objectively: i.e., did it achieve its purpose? In practice, a graphic designer typically works with various media, including both print and digital, to create designs that meet the needs of their clients or employers. Their day-to-day tasks may include creating logos, icons and other graphics; brochures, flyers and posters; packaging and product labels; website layouts and app interfaces; and more.

Becoming a graphic designer is largely a combination of education and practice. You can’t have one without the other. You need to study the fundamentals of design theory in order to know what you’re doing. But equally, following lessons alone will only go so far. Like driving a car, you’ll learn most of your skills by actually doing it. Although some professional graphic designers are self-starters, most will have taken some sort of course. That might be a degree, but it doesn’t need to be. Shorter, more intensive courses such as those offered by Shillington offer more focused attention on combining education with real-world practice, which can get you there faster.

Anyone can become a freelance graphic designer at any time: you don’t need a particular qualification or level of experience. The challenge is finding a client who’ll pay you. That becomes easier if you can show you know what you’re doing by developing a strong portfolio of work. And that requires experience. You can gain that experience, though, in a number of ways: through taking a degree or other type of course in graphic design, internships, entry-level positions, collaborating with other designers, working for friends or family, pro bono work, or self-initiated projects. The more education, training, and experience you have, the easier it is to build a career as a freelance graphic designer. However, there’s no ‘right’ time to do so: some designers leave it until late in their career, while others work from the beginning as freelancers and never get a salaried job.

The role of a junior graphic designer is to support the senior design team. You’ll be expected to complete some tasks independently, including preparing final artwork files for production and creating simple designs, such as banners, icons, or basic layouts for print or web projects. You’ll also assist in larger projects, such as designing a brand’s website or visual identity, as part of a team of designers led by a senior. As you gain experience, you’ll be given more responsibility and progress to mid-level positions.

You don’t need to use particular software to create graphic design: what’s important are the results rather than how you got there. However, if you’re working with other designers, using the same software makes it easier to collaborate on material together. Typically, design studios will expect you to be familiar with tools in the Adobe Creative Cloud, which requires a subscription and includes Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects. When it comes to UI and UX work, however, Figma and Sketch are currently more popular. Freelancers, however, have more freedom to use a wider range of apps, and popular options include the Affinity suite and CorelDraw.

When managers look at a graphic design portfolio, they typically don’t have much time to spend on it. So they want to see evidence of good design work across a range of areas, presented clearly and simply. That said, a good portfolio isn’t just a selection of eye-candy images. Managers are usually interested not just in the final artwork but in how you go there. So it helps to include some text description of what you did on the project, as well as behind-the-scenes images if possible.

Typically, it can between a few weeks and several months to find a job after graduating from a graphic design course. But it’s tough to give a clear figure because it varies depending on many factors. The most important one will be the local job market: if no one’s hiring right now, you may have to cast your net wider. It also largely depends on your abilities, your portfolio’s strength, and how much effort you put into looking.

There is a range of places where graphic designers work. The most visible are design studios, aka design agencies, which provide services for clients. Alternatively, most big brands employ in-house design teams, which create designs purely for that company. Graphic designers are also commonly employed by book and magazine publishers, advertising agencies, and media companies such as broadcasters. Some graphic designers work in education, often part-time, teaching design courses at universities, colleges, and other educational institutions. Finally, many graphic designers work as freelancers, either at home or in co-working spaces.