Whenever you think of graphic design, it is very certain that you think of artistic advertisements that are eye-catching and attract the attention of many. Amazingly, graphic designs have been so much in use these days, ranging from what you see in magazines, websites, and all that; they are examples of graphic design. While graphic design is not limited to what you see on the web alone, it extends to infographics, posters, logos, business cards, book covers, signs, product labels, mobile apps, website layouts, software interfaces, and many more.
The art of graphic design has a purpose, as it embodies a creative and systematic plan that aids in the solving of problems. Graphic designs also aid in achieving certain objectives when applied in terms of images, words, and symbols. The concepts employed in graphic design further explain it as the aesthetic expression and visual communication of ideas and concepts with the use of diverse graphic tools and elements.
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Graphics design has gained so much ground across the globe that it becomes very handy for companies wanting to sell products through adverts and also for websites wanting to pass across very complicated information in a very clear and simple way with the use of infographics. Graphic designs are also useful for businesses to promote and develop a reputable identity for themselves through branding and many other ways.
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Who is a Graphic Designer?
The question about the graphic designer is somewhat straightforward; however, it could be complicated as well when it comes to what tasks lie within the capacity of the designer. Over the years, graphic designers have continually created visual concepts with the use of computer software and sometimes by hand with the aim of communicating a bunch of ideas that inform, inspire, and captivate the minds of consumers.
These days, what graphic designers do is combine modern-day technology and art in the communication of ideas through the layout and images of the web screen as well as printed images. Graphic designers might use a huge number of design components and elements to achieve these decorative and artistic effects.
In general, they develop production designs strictly for advertisements, magazines, brochures, and corporate reports with the help of images and texts. To achieve this, they often decide their font, lettering size, type, line length of headlines, text color, text, and headings. When working alongside a writer, they often choose the best words and also decide whether the words will fit properly into lists, paragraphs, and tables.
Furthermore, the duties of a graphic designer include:
- Get along with clients or art directors to properly determine the scope of the project
- Give advice to clients as regards the strategy for meeting up with the audience
- To determine the message that the design should pass across
- Graphic designers create designs and images that immediately identify a product
- Aside from images and prints, graphic designers develop audio and video images that aid the illustrations on a website.
- It is the duty of a graphic designer to create designs and present them to the art director or clients. He must also satisfy the clients and make proper corrections where necessary.
Job Opportunities for a Graphic Designer
The advent of technology has brought about a lot of changes in how people run businesses and make business decisions. While there is a very high level of emphasis now being placed on online presence, this difference in thinking has brought about a huge change in graphic design and has also increased the need for more graphic designers whose work is needed by every business body.
That being said, this means there has been an increase in the employment rate of graphic designers, the following jobs to be mentioned are the best job opportunities a graphic designer can obtain.
- Visual designer
- User experience (UX designer)
- Graphic artist
- Graphic designer
- Web designer
- Art director
How Long Does it Take to Get a Degree in Graphics Design?
The number of years needed to get a degree in graphic design is almost the same as the number of years needed for a conventional degree. The number of years needed also varies depending on factors like the institution as well as the country in which the university is located. While the usual rate is four years to acquire a degree in graphic design, some institutions make it attainable in three years.
Can I become a graphic designer without a degree?
In the usual way, graphic designers usually need a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or any other related field of study to be well recognized and reputed. For candidacy, graphic designers need to demonstrate originality and creativity. This is through highly professional portfolio features that best spread the message with the most relevant designs.
While there is a need for a professional degree in graphic design, they can also become technical in dispensing their duties by acquiring a degree in other relevant fields of study. Interests in this career are also accessible to high school students; they can also take some basic design and art courses in high school, if available. This becomes useful when they learn that many bachelor’s degree programs start with students taking a year of basic art and design courses before commencing the program in detail.
The rest being said, it is noteworthy that graphic designers need to keep up with the updating of themselves with new and modern computer graphic designs, software used in the creation, mode of creation, as well as tools and equipment used in creating these modern and eye-catching designs.
Salary Outlook for a Graphics Designer
On average, a graphic designer receives about $50,370; this median wage covers a percentage of 50% of the total graphic designers across the globe; the other 50% earn below that. Among this multitude, 10% of the population earns less than $29,610 and the maximum amount earned by the top 10% is $85,760.
Best Undergraduate Graphic Design Schools
People are different in all things, including choices. This is why they desire and want different things, including institutions of choice and courses of study. While many have decided to study some high-end courses like medicine, law, and the like, you have settled for graphic design. This is why you are about to read about the top undergraduate schools for the study of graphic design.
Among all universities across the globe, you can best acquire a graphic design degree at any of the following universities:
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Florida
- Boston University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Miami
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- School of Visual Arts, NYC
- University of Minnesota
Best MBA Graphic Design Schools
From creating great designs for companies to making nice infographics and adverts for websites, designers are becoming more relevant and needed than ever before. What more can inspire a designer aside from good design skills? It definitely would be a more advanced degree in their field of expertise!
Many designers have become more creative and excellent at creating the best out of every detail with a creative mind towards their work while also creating the best and most perfect designs for you, only through good academic standings. If you wish to go beyond the first degree in graphic design, here are some of the best institutions for an MBA in graphic design.
- Yale University
- Rhoda Island School of Design
- North Carolina State University
- California Institute of the Arts
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- Boston University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- Art Center College of Design
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- California College of the Arts
- Academy of Art University
- The University of Illinois at Chicago
Best Online Graphic Design Schools
Having a degree in graphics design is very rewarding in that it gives the owner a high sense of pride and also expands their horizon and thinking faculty through the series of learning methods employed. In regards to that, the mode of acquiring a degree in this lucrative career field is somewhat laborious, there has been a plausible number of online courses in graphic design that appeal to everyone who is interested in taking them.
This course offers interesting advantages while also creating more opportunities for designers who take on these courses to acquire the most modern ways of performing the craft.
In most cases, these online courses have affiliation with top universities and institutions offering degree programs in graphic design; this explains why it can be a direct substitute for attending a university for such degrees.
You can completely take your program kin in the following top universities.
- Champlain College
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Liberty University
- Academy of Art University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Southeastern University
- Berkeley College
- Full Sail University
- Art Institute of Pittsburgh
- Franklin University
- Colorado Technical University
- Arizona State University
- Rasmussen College
- Bellevue University
- Independence University
- Capella University
- Hodges University
- Herzing University
- University of Maryland University College
- Western Governors University
Conclusion
In lieu of the above, you can now properly understand the cores of the career paths in graphic design while also distinguishing between the universities that offer the best courses. Also, more expositions have been made to confirm the fact that being a graphic designer does not take much of your time, only some productive hours daily.
This is seen in the fact that many people start out their careers in graphic design as part-time workers while also having other means and sources of income. The major ill a designer might be facing is having to look around for jobs from companies and other organizations when starting out.
However, after some terrific jobs, the work begins to speak for itself and the designer gets more referrals.
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