Jobs for the Major

Jobs for the Major

How this major affects a job search

Graphic design grads head off into the world with their heads held high and their brains full of tech knowledge. The best and worst thing about this major is that there's no set career path. This means you might spend a lot of time doing small, one-time projects while waiting tables to pay the rent. It could also mean that you land a stellar job, right out of the gate. It's one part networking, one part determination, and two parts luck.

Best advice? Start developing a portfolio early. Whether you're off to the advertising world, or you want to do website design, collect it all in one, streamlined portfolio. That way, your experience can do the talking for you.

Common Career Fields

Advertising. A picture is worth a thousand words. Luckily, advertising companies can say way more than they bargained for by bringing in a designer. They use images, fonts, and colors to create a special and distinct look for the company. Whether we realize it or not, we look to this style to figure out what type of brand something is. We know a fun font gives us a sense of playfulness whereas a bolder print hints at seriousness.

Before we go over-analyzing the secret meanings behind fonts, we'll just say that ad companies call on designers to know this stuff, too. The style of the ad tells people what kind of company they are, with way less than a thousand words.

Creative Director. Fancy a life as Don Draper? Creative directors, also known as art directors, oversee the production of ad campaigns and other design work. It takes about a decade of experience to get to this level, since you're the boss. Once at the top, there's not much day-to-day design work, but there is a lot of managing and overseeing involved. At the top of the list is going over various design ideas with other creative people and figuring out the best way to please clients.

Now if only we had Jon Hamm's hair…

Film Editor. Say you get a graphic design degree, but you don't want to stick with the world of static images and instead find more joy in moving ones. Film editors use a bunch of the same skills as graphic designers since they work on manipulating images and scenes to get a certain point across. If movies are more you style, you'll need to become well-versed with editing software like AVID. You'll also have to focus on pacing, styles, and fading. Then, it's off to Hollywood.

Graphic Designer. Can we get a big, collective "duh" here, please? Why, yes, as it turns out, majoring in graphic design leaves you extremely qualified to be a graphic designer. Graphic designers work the most with commercial art. They listen to the needs of their clients, suggest some ideas, and attempt to execute the overall concept.

Illustrator. An illustrator is a bit like the love child of an artist and a businessman. On one hand, you get to be creative all day. Illustrators actually are producing art and are a type of artist, but instead of coming up with an idea, executing it, and then selling it all by themselves, illustrators have clients with certain specifications for the message they want to convey, which usually involves ad tactics or the company's image. Illustrator work is typically freelance, but there are also illustration companies that can ensure business for clients and work for their employees.

Technical Writer. Few people know how to speak computer. Sure, we all know the basics, but when it comes to technical writing, it might as well be a foreign language. Since graphic design grads spend a lot of time with computers drawing up new projects, they sure know the lingo. These computer-savvy techies help develop graphic and editing software. They might also use their powers to help out some scientists over in the engineering or chemistry labs. Businesses also consult tech writers to help them create systems for their company.

Web Designer. When you visit a website, you can tell if it's been properly designed…and sometimes it's not. Graphic design graduates often develop the back-end of websites—that's all the stuff that you don't see when you log on, but that makes it run smoothly. You have to know HTML, CSS, PHP, and other coding languages to write that stuff, but once you do, you'll be set. Graphic design graduates also develop the visual part of websites. Programs like Photoshop and Fireworks come in handy here, since most companies go for the sleek, polished look. You know, kinda like this.

Current unemployment of the major

8%

Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college

9%

Stats obtained from this source.