Becoming a Graphic Designer?
A career as a graphic designer offers a lot of freedom and
creativity and has a financially lucrative outcome in our
increasingly media-based culture. Skills as a graphic artist can be
implemented in a wide range of fields, but they are most frequently
implemented in marketing and advertising sectors for small
businesses and major corporations. Ironically, for all of the
marketing that graphic designers perform for others, they are often
responsible for marketing their own skills, working as freelancers
on a constant quest to find new work while continuing to please
their returning clients.
A major university or art institution may train graphic
designers, or the graphic designers may have developed their
talents individually through experimenting with design software and
online tutorials. Regardless of education, it is more important for
graphic designers to continue to hone their skills and to
demonstrate their competence in a broad range of media. From shop
logos, promotional posters, business cards, web banners, and more,
the possibilities for creativity are almost limitless for graphic
designers. The quality of work and the reputation of the graphic
artist usually determine the fees for the work performed. A
freelance graphic designer can either charge flat rates for their
work or negotiate a contract with the customer after a request for
work has been solicited. Graphic designers must work for their
customers’ satisfaction; therefore, the work is not finished until
the customer is satisfied with the final product. Despite the
demands of the job, freelance graphic designers can earn in excess
of $50,000 a year if they establish a regular client base.
Graphic designers must establish a portfolio containing samples
of their best work. The portfolio should preferably be web-based,
as it is often easiest to anchor self-marketing on the web. Graphic
designers must often establish their own list of clients by
contacting potential customers and marketing their skills either
via phone, on the web, or in person. In addition to marketing
skills, graphic designers must have a strong range of desktop
publishing skills. Most graphic designers are well versed in Adobe
Design Suite and have the ability to carefully edit graphics and
images in Photoshop as well as spatially arrange images and text in
either Adobe Illustrator.
Some graphic designers may find it helpful to continue to
develop digital publishing skills in website design as well as in
flash animation. The combination of refined skills in each of the
three aforementioned areas will almost guarantee a steady flow of
work and higher income.