You want to become a graphic designer? This article is made for you. Whether you are interested in art, digital media, or simply curious, this article will help you discover what graphic designers actually do, the skills needed, the opportunities and the challenges.
It's a very creative but demanding job.
A graphic designer designs a visual idea for a client, present it, receive feedback and, most often have to change it to respect the client requirements.
On a typical day they design logos, advertisements, websites, etc. using different software. They also work with other professionals and have to present their ideas.
Graphic designers work in variety of environments. Most workers work in companies such as advertising agencies, marketing departments, or design studios. Some as in-house employees and other choose to work as freelancers.
There is not exactly one path to become a graphic designer. But most professional advice student to learn the fundamentals of design. The practical and technical side and build a strong portfolio showing your best work. That is what the employer will look primarily to evaluate your skills when hiring candidates. Studies are recommended but not mandatory, however, the experience that you gain by doing personal project or internships here and there helps you when you step foot in the job industry.
According to the Government of Canada's Job Bank, the hourly wage vary between $20/h, which is the lowest it can get to $51,28/h which is the highest amount you can get in Quebec.
Graphic designers constantly need training to keep up with changes in technology, design trends and more. For example, learning new features in certain application like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. Develop more skills in web design or UI/UX design, etc. to be more valuable. And since artificial intelligence is becoming more common, learning how to use AI tools could help you work more efficiently.
There is a high level of competition, especially for beginners. It's a harsh environment where you often face criticism and rejection. You have strict deadlines, a limited budget and have to perfectly respect the clients demands even if you have to redo your work a thousand time. To add even more difficulties, trends are constantly changing so the thing you learned 3 months ago might not be relevant now.
Most people think that this job will disappear because of AI, which is a possibility that we can not push aside. However, AI is more likely to change/transform the profession and reduce the demand for certain fields of design rather than completely eliminate the profession itself.
Graphic designers do not have a specific retirement age.
I am currently at the beginning of my journey. I plan to study Multimedia Integration Technique, where I hope to develop my artistic and technical skills, learn professional software such as Photoshop and Illustrator, and build a strong portfolio. I also want to gain a lot of experience through personal projects. Eventually, I would like to specialize in UI/UX design.
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