Graphic Design Degree
A graphic design school prepares individuals to work creating visually appealing imagery in a variety of different fields. Students who learn graphic design and earn a degree from two or four year colleges or universities (or reputable online programs) typically ply their talents in a number of ways, from designing product logos to helping illustrate school textbooks to working on feature films or comic books. Graphic design can be used to enhance many things in many different ways.
Graphic Design Degree Description
According to the 2010-11 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, most employers within the industry tend to require a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. However, graphic design school offers a variety of study options, including two-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees as well as two-year associate degree programs. Those who enroll to learn graphic design at a traditional or online educational institution will learn how to create print, broadcast, and electronic media using a variety of different artistic techniques and computer tools, including Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXPress.
Whether they will eventually be creating merchandise packaging, highway road signs, or multimedia websites, students at graphic design school will all start out with the same basic coursework. Typical requirements might include classes on 3D modeling and animation, branding, cosmetic package design, digital illustration, digital layout, image editing, typography, and web page design. Once students learn graphic design and complete their degree programs, they should be able to use the latest computer software to create images and lay out documents, make web sites, animate 3D objects, as well as create and edit video presentations, all with a mastery of the tools and techniques applicable to a variety of project types and environments.
Graphic Design Careers
Many of those who graduate from a graphic design school will go to work directly in the industry. It will be their job to meet the needs of their clients by preparing sketches or mock layouts and then using the various artistic, auditory, photographic, textual, and computerized sources available to them to complete the task at hand. Work conditions may vary, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and job growth for those working with graphic design agencies is described as average, with competition projected to be fierce. Those with website design and animation experience are believed to have an advantage when it comes to these jobs opportunities, which have average annual salaries of between $32,000 and $56,000.
In addition to all encompassing positions with graphic design firms, those who learn graphic design can also pursue a targeted career performing this work within another industry discipline. For example, print designers can work their visual magic on newspapers, magazines, brochures, or other forms of advertising. Package designers can enhance product packaging for toy companies, food producers, or any other type of retail business. Corporate communications designers can work with big companies filling their graphic design needs, while entertainment industry employers can hire graphic designers to work on packaging, movie credits, stage play scenery, and more.