<p>Can someone tell me what type of employment opportunities there are with this major? Is this a poor choice of major if one wants to make a living? Can you do anything with this if you minor in it, and major in either business (marketing or business administration), or major in communications?</p>
<p>Also, what types of talent does one need to succeed in this major and in the real world?</p>
<p>Graphic design can be a fabulous choice. Bottom line: it depends on talent, the strength of the actual art program, the contacts made (eg great professor with work experience versus itinerant teacher,) and the strength of the rest of the education. This is just one sample web site. [Graphic</a> Design Jobs. Graphic Designer Careers](<a href=“http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/articles/graphic-design-jobs.htm]Graphic”>Graphic Design Jobs. Graphic Designer Careers) Later, if you need more info feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Now, I notice that web site’s ads for “for profit” art schools. If you’re in the northeast, are you thinking Mass Art, RISD, UMass Dartmouth, Parsons, etc? Or?</p>
<p>lookingforward, I sent a PM to you.</p>
<p>Graphic design is everywhere. Every printed piece you see. Every magazine and newspaper. Every advertisement. Every billboard. Every website.</p>
<p>You could work for a big design firm in a big city or you could work for an in-house art department. Or you could be your own boss as an independent graphic designer. I live in a pretty rural area and I can think of at least a dozen independent graphic designers making a living doing this full time. Some concentrate on print. Some on web work. Some a combination of both. And then there are lots of others working in-house for manufacturing companies, printers and publishers, mail order companies, resorts, schools, colleges, and nonprofits in the area.</p>
<p>I don’t think you need to add marketing, business administration, or communication to your skill set to be employable as a graphic designer but I think any of those additional skill sets would better inform you as a graphic designer, improving what you do creatively.</p>
<p>I, myself, am the founder and owner of a printing company which is the direct result of just one graphic design course I took in college.</p>
<p>I know a few (4?) people with degrees in graphic design. Only one actually does it as a living and she’s an independent contratcor with a local business, so has to pay her own taxes, pay for her own health insurance, etc. And she also rarely gets to create anything truly original since that’s more expenseive than just using stock photography and stuff that’s readily available. Another friend does little jobs on the side through word of mouth designing signage and logos for businesses. I can’t really comment on the talent of any of them since I can’t even draw stick figures.</p>
<p>reeinaz, I know 2 people with degrees in this field and neither is employed, so this is my fear. Also, I could be wrong, but I don’t think that you have to be able to draw stick figures for this major (am I wrong about that?), but I don’t really know what type of talent one actually does need???</p>
<p>Drawing (stick figures or otherwise) is not necessarity a requirement for being a graphic designer. Graphic design is more about being able to combine elements in a pleasing, innovative, attention getting and readable way even if some of those elements are from a stock service.</p>
<p>Northeast Mom,</p>
<p>Regarding employability. A couple of thoughts: It might be tough to get that first job which, without experience, will be totally based on your portfolio. I would be looking for a college program with good internship placement as part of the college program. It is important for a beginning graphic designer to have some real world experience.</p>
<p>Also graphic design is a career, along with others of course, that has been greatly impacted by computer technology. It’s very important to be fluent in whatever the latest and greatest software developments are in the field.</p>
<p>I know someone who has a business degree, and it just so happens that he can draw well (even if this is not a requirement for graphic design). His career has been designing layouts for one mail order catalog for years. That mail order business did close, but after many successful years. Now he designs the layouts for a medical equipment catalog. Is these type of jobs called “graphic design”? This person does not have a degree in this field, but he is doing well without this degree.</p>
<p>I know two unemployed graphic artists.</p>
<p>One has about six years experience in the field but was downsized earlier this year. He tells me this field has shrunk considerably because many people with very little training can handle many graphic artist assignments. He’s looking to change careers.</p>
<p>The other is a recent graduate of a top school that provided internship experience. She’s thankfully working in an unrelated field and is contemplating what she wants to do.</p>
<p>I know several graphic designers. All are employed. One is now freelance but not by choice. She has struggled to find a full time job after being laid off 2 yrs ago.
My son is studying graphic design. His first love is drawing. I hope he will be able to find work when he graduates. When he applied to colleges he was considering Math or engineering plus he had fair grades and mixed SAT scores. He was a late bloomer to the art field so did not have a portfolio or the grades for a highly competitive program. When acceptances came in he had several schools that had graphic design majors by chance. He was drawn more to hand work versus computer graphics so he went with the school that offered a BFA. He has gotten a foundation in studio art plus learned the computer graphic side. At times he has some regrets about not trying engineering.
He has ADD and LD and it has been a good major for him. Not a lot of reading and writing. His projects do require a lot of time and time management. He has an internship right now where he does design work for the university. Whatever design work any program or major needs. He has made videos, posters, brochures. He is presently working on a design for a food truck. He would like to get a job doing design for t shirts along the lines of billabong, Quiksilver but not quite so mainstream.</p>
<p>northeastmom, check the AIGA website for more about the field: [AIGA</a> | the professional association for design](<a href=“http://www.aiga.org/]AIGA”>http://www.aiga.org/)</p>
<p>I have worked with graphic designers for my entire career. I know a 2010 BA in graphic design from a respected program who’s job hunting, so I asked a leading local designer how the job market looks. He told me it’s still very tough (so what else is new?). In my opinion, the availability of software like InDesign has made it seem like just about anyone can be a graphic designer. Not true. It’s a professional craft that requires talent, training, and hands-on experience.</p>
<p>I work in this field and have for the past twenty+ years. I have always been able to find a job but have also diversified more into general marketing/pr. In addition, I have also done my share of freelance work. The challenge of freelance work is getting people to pay. Another challenge that has happened with the age of the computer/desktop publishing is that everyone considers themselves a bit of a graphic designer. They can add a picture/line/graphic so now they can make the brochure on their own. In a tight economy companies will produce their own materials in-house rather than pay an outside source. Staying up to date in graphic design is also difficult. The programs needed are upgraded frequently and are expensive. Not all companies are willing to pay to cost to keep you up to date.</p>
<p>OP - post your question on the Visual Arts Forum, you’ll get answers from those most familiar with art schools/requirements, etc.</p>
<p>I head a department that includes 3 graphic designers. Each is degreed in the field. If you would llike more detailed information, please PM me.</p>
<p>Thank you, thank you for this post! I’m the mom of a high school junior who is thinking of majoring in graphic design, and minoring in advertising. Just had a crisis at school with her AP 2D art teacher, who thinks her drawing skills aren’t up to this level 4 class. She does great in her graphic design classes (she’s in her third) and has always been very creative. She took the AP art class specifically to improve her drawing skills, and now feels very frustrated and deflated!</p>
<p>Mafool, I sent a PM to you.</p>
<p>newtothismom, I hope this is of some help to you and your daughter.</p>
<p>Both my S. and my DIL are Graphic Designers, both graduated from Cinci. Cinci’s DAAP college was famous at their time and selective.</p>
<p>Up until last year (I have a different job now) I also hired and managed graphic designers, both freelance and as part of an ad agency selection and on-going relationship process. The portfolio is everything and I don’t know any graphic designers that did not have some sort of degree. I’m sure they exist but mostly you see the resume with a BFA or the BAs from either an art school or a public or I just didn’t notice lack of a degree…again it’s the portfolio you are interested in. You can make a living at it but the salaries are really tied to the region/area. Most of the corporate jobs are with large corporations and the agency jobs depend on local economy. As graphic designers season sometimes they find they have a talent for project management or marketing communications and branch out. Some just stay graphic designers until they retire or go off to freelance. Some end up specializing in digital work - web sites and the like. Others end up in trade show work or print work. Some go to work at TV stations producing graphics, others land at billboard companies designing billboards or sign companies for customers that don’t provide their own art. And some end up in publishing, working for magazines or publishers. And some just like being freelancers and controlling their time. The earlier poster is correct much of what you see visually has been touched (or needs to be or should be touched) by a designer.</p>
<p>Although the terms get interchanged some companies call graphic designers art directors. If you want to split hairs generally art directors get involved in photo shoots, video shoots, picking models, and other areas that may not require sitting in front of the computer and may supervise graphic designers if the company separates those types of activities. In some companies art directors are involved with or without the graphic designers in conceptualization. There are many permutations and ways the jobs are defined and structured.</p>
<p>I just remembered. My tattooist has a BFA and was originally in graphic design once he graduated. He didn’t think it was hands on enough for him and now makes an excellent living as a renowned tattoo artist.</p>
<p>And to the poster who’s son wants to work for billabong designing tshirts. There are a few websites where people can submit tshirt designs and they are then voted on. Monthly, the winning design is actually put into production.</p>