Design Your Career with a Graphic Program

By Sarah Jane Udall
Sarahjane.udall@theanimationschooldirectory.com

The graphic design industry is responsible for the majority of all modern print media. A graphic design program can prepare you to join this fast paced, and fast-growing industry in a number of specialized and creative areas.

The graphic design industry is responsible for the majority of all modern print media such as brochures, posters, advertisements, magazine ads, and commercials. Graphic designers often specialize in various areas in the graphic design and multi-media field to plan, analyze, and create visual images in order to communicate a particular message. A graphic program will also teach you about the various graphic design mediums. You will learn how to use digital photography as well as photo printing. You will also use computer technology to create graphic art and to develop lifelike images on a computer by using special computer programs and devices to manipulate or create images.

Available Degrees

Graphic programs can help you to earn a degree in variety of fields such as graphic design, multi-media art and animation, computer game programming, web design, advertising, or commercial design.

Curriculum for a Graphic Program

Graphic programs teach you to combine practical knowledge and applied skills with your own artistic ability in order to create formal designs for merchandise, web graphics, computer games, and more. Through your curriculum in a graphic program, you will be able to build a portfolio of completed designs and modules that will help you gain an edge when applying for jobs in the graphic design and multi-media arts industry.

Available Jobs

Graphic designers usually specialize in a particular area of graphic design such as illustration, programming, logos or web design. A graphic program can prepare you for careers in advertising as an art director or a designer. Other multi-media fields offer job such as computer game programmers, logo specialists, animators, illustrators, and other jobs in the visual arts.

Art directors, or creative directors are in charge of a creative team that produces artwork or ad campaigns for magazines, advertisements or products. Art directors play a major role in the development of a project by making decisions on the visual elements of the project and by giving the final say on the selection of models, art, props, colors, and other elements. Art directors also often do some of the artwork themselves. However, most of their time is spent doing supervisory and administrative duties

As a computer game programmer you will use state of the art computer hardware and software to create multiple levels of computer games from the initial storyboards to the final polished projects. You will be involved in storyboarding, illustrating, characterization, modeling, editing, and using interactive media.

Multi-media artists and animators draw series of illustrations that form animated moving images as seen in movies, television programs, and computer games. Some animators draw storyboards for television commercials, movies, computer games, and other animated features. The storyboards serve as guidelines to placing actors and cameras on the television or motion picture set and help address other details that need to be taken care of during production.

Job and Salary Outlook

The job outlook for graphic designers is good as there are a number of fields in which a graphic program will prepare you to specialize and work in.

The earnings for entry-level graphic designers are moderate, but there is usually potential to advance in both position and salary in this field. A large number of graphic designers are also self-employed and do freelance work.

Graphic designer’s earnings can vary depending on the type of design work in which they specialize, but the average salary for a graphic designer is between forty thousand and eighty thousand dollars a year. Salaries will vary by employer, level of experience, and the size of the project. Well-trained designers, programmers, and animators will continue to be in great demand in their fields, and are qualified to earn substantial salaries.

About the Author

Sarah Jane Udall is a freelance writer currently living in New York City. Her previous experience includes working for Global Village Communications in Washington, D.C., and in the Creative and Development departments of VH1 and MTV networks as a production assistant and a copy-writer, as well as doing script revision, press releases, and writing for an online newspaper. Sarah Jane holds a B.S. in Political Science and English Literature from the University of Utah.