Graphics Designer

Becoming a graphic designer requires many skills that are necessary for the job. Firstly, the individual has to be an enthusiastic and flexible person so that when he/she is given a job, they are able to give their all to it. The person also has to be well disciplined, especially if they are a freelancer, with their clients.

The person should be detail oriented, organized, as well as have good communication skills and be a team player. People who have a natural flair for drawing and creativity are people who would succeed in this career. These people should also be able to use the computer as all the work is done through this medium.

Graphic designers are those individuals who create creative concepts for a client which meet their instructions and media requirements to put across a certain message or idea. They can work on products such as websites, posters, video games, books, corporate logos and product packaging.

Graphic designers meet with clients and account managers to determine what exactly they want, and then they think of creative ways to communicate the client’s message to the target audience. Graphic designers often come up with many ideas which they present to the client or account manager to decide on the one that they feel matches their needs. The idea that is chosen is then developed in full by the individual graphic designer or a team of designers.

The graphic designer can either be freelance or be working for a company. Graphic designers can work on more than one project at a time. There are many steps that they perform which include: meeting clients and getting their input on what exactly they are looking for, developing concepts for the client or account manager to approve, researching and developing design concepts, providing quotes to clients and showing them the design concepts, Producing the actual design through different media, graphic programs and photography.

The Graphic designer also has to keep up to date with the different design and production programs such as Quark Xpress, FreeHand, Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D Studio, Acrobat, Director, Dreamweaver and Flash which graphic designers have to use regularly.

If the graphic designer is working for a company, he/she should be able to work in teams with printers, copywriters, other designers, photographers and the marketing executives. If the graphics designer is freelancing, then he/she should be able to handle administrative tasks as well.


Graphic designers usually have to obtain an HND or degree level qualification in an area of design. A foundation level course usually has to be completed. Most job offers are given on the basis of past experiences and portfolios. A degree or qualification is not always required; instead employers look at work experiences. Competition is fierce and most graphic designers have higher qualifications therefore, entry without formal training or qualifications can be very difficult; although is not impossible.

Graphic designers must be able to use a variety of programs such as Quark Xpress, FreeHand, Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D Studio Max, Acrobat, Director, Dreamweaver and Flash. Graphic designers can also become members of a number of professional organizations, which provide useful resources, advice and training programmes.

The Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) offers in-house training and a continuous professional development programme for graphic designers and design companies.

Graphic designers in the UK, who are just starting out and are either graduates or trainees, earn £11,000 - £18,000 typically. After ten years of experience, senior designers earn in the range of £25,000 - £45,000 annually while creative directors can earn up to £65,000. For experienced freelances, £40 per hour is the current rate. These salaries depend upon the individual, the sector, and the location of the graphic designer.

A graphics designer in India who freelances earns approximately Rs. 90,000 – Rs. 525,000. A junior graphics designer has a salary of approximately Rs. 90,000 – Rs. 600,000 every year, while a senior graphics designer can earn from Rs. 180,000 – Rs. 800,000.

Graphic designers usually work full time, which is approximately 35-40 hours a week. The working hours are fairly flexible to enhance creativity and the different project deadlines. Most of the time of the graphic designer is spent in front of the computer in an office, apart from those who have their own studios.

Many of the graphic designing contracts involve team meetings as well as evaluations, and so the atmosphere in the office is very fun and lively. Although business trips are not very common, some clients may require graphic designers to travel and visit them.

The usual practice of graphic designers is to work in an office after they graduate and gain valuable experience and then freelance from their homes or studio spaces after a few years. For those working in an office; when you enter there will be either basic work given or very hard works given, depending upon the company.

After five or six years, the junior designers may progress to senior designer and eventually be promoted to managerial positions such as studio manager or creative director.

The most important perk of being a graphic designer is the ability to express your creativity while earning a good salary. You also have different mediums to use to express that creativity such as print and web. Another perk of being a graphic designer is that there is a large client base. Almost every firm needs a graphic designer and this ensures that work for graphic designers will always flow.

Becoming a graphic designer is also an easy thing to do. As long as you have a computer and know how to use the appropriate software as well as being creative, the field of graphic designing is the career for you. Moreover, if you are freelancing, then you are your own boss and you get to choose your own working hours as well as not having anyone supervising you.

Working in a design firm also has its perks because the firm already has all the equipment, software, an established work environment and a large client base. Also, a regular paycheck is given which is a good thing.

One of the biggest downsides of becoming a graphics designer is that because there are so many design graduates who are becoming graphic designers, there is a lot of competition in the market. Another downside to this is that because of the large fees that graphic designers charge, businesses now prefer to create their own designs rather than hire professionals.

Another downside is that although there is creativity involved in graphic designing, this creativity is limited because graphic designers have to design according to client specifications and thus don’t create the final design according to whatever they want.

In 2008, there were 286,100 people employed in graphic design jobs. By 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of graphic design jobs will increase by 13%. The graphics designing industry is a very competitive industry when we speak in terms of freelancing (which is 25% of all graphic designers); with people all across the globe competing for projects.

Even when we speak in terms of companies; there is a lot of competition between the firms to get the account. It is a very tough industry to compete in. Many inexperienced designers work long hours on assignments which cause many new comers in the field to become discouraged and leave the industry.

Freelancing jobs are found on many websites online such as Corflot and Krop. Graphic design firms are located all over the world, mostly in large cities such as London, New York and Mumbai.

After Class 12, you should go for a BFA programme in applied art, painting, animation or visual communication or even sculpture, depending on your interests and abilities.