Graphics are utilized on a wide range of objects, including laptops, smartphones, and product labels. Both large and small brands utilize printed and digital designs, such as logos, websites, and commercials, to catch the attention of their target market and advertise their goods or services. Behind every brand's visual marketing effort, regardless of what they are selling, is a graphic designer.
But what precisely do graphic designers accomplish? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), they merely produce real or digital visual conceptions to express ideas that motivate, educate, and enthrall people.
Although all designers have some characteristics, their tasks, working conditions, and skill sets might be very different. But we're here to take a closer look at what graphic designers do and how they do it in order to help you comprehend.
What is graphic design, anyway?
Involving aspects of marketing, art, technology and customer service, graphic design can seem like a complicated concept. To simplify their function, think of graphic designers like visual storytellers. A good designer’s job is to use imagery to tell a story in a way that supports a brand’s message and evokes emotion.
At the end of the day, a designer’s aim should be to fulfill their client’s desire to communicate an idea in a visual way.
What does a graphic designer do?
Now that you have a better idea of what graphic designers are responsible for, you’re probably curious about what they do on a daily basis. Keep in mind this can vary greatly depending on where they work and what they specialize in.
But when it comes to what a graphic designer does, there are some general tasks you can expect. Here are some of the daily duties as reported by the BLS.
Common graphic designer duties:
- Meeting with clients or art directors to define the scope of a project
- Using photo editing software, layout software and digital illustration to create designs
- Selecting colors, images and typefaces to convey a company’s brand and message
- Presenting design concepts to clients or art director
- Applying updates to designs based on stakeholder feedback and opinion
- Examining final designs to ensure there are no errors before printing or publishing
Where do graphic designers work?
There are three main settings that graphic designers have an opportunity to work in: in-house, agency or freelance. An in-house designer is employed by a company to produce creative materials specifically for their own brand. An agency designer will work on a project-by-project basis for a company who provides creative services for a variety of clients. A freelance designer is self-employed and manages their own workload and clientele.
Each work environment comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, and there are certain qualities and characteristics that are ideal in each setting. It’s important for graphic designers to familiarize themselves with the different options in order to decide which environment best suits them.
What do graphic designers do in an in-house setting?
In-house graphic designers enjoy the stability of a “traditional” work environment. They create designs strictly for the company in which they are employed, allowing them to fully invest in the brand and its target market. A designer in this setting tends to be a “jack of all trades,” having a broad skillset with the ability to take on many different types of projects for their team.
What do graphic designers do in an agency setting?
It is quite common for smaller businesses or individuals to outsource their design work to a graphic design agency. Depending on the size of the projects, agency designers may juggle several projects for different clients in any given week. The workload tends to ebb and flow depending on the contracts that come in, which often makes for inconsistent schedules while working to meet deadlines. Agencies often employ design specialists and disperse the projects accordingly to ensure high quality.
What do graphic designers do in a freelance setting?
For business-savvy and self-disciplined designers, freelancing can be an ideal option. These designers are self-employed and often work from the comfort of their own home. As the person in charge, they have the ability to pick and choose the hours they work, the types of projects they take and the clients they work with. In addition to the design responsibilities, they are also responsible for marketing, finances, operations and other important aspects of their business.
What are some important graphic design skills?
Since their jobs consist of several unique aspects, graphic designers must possess a unique blend of artistic and technical skills. We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 54,000 graphic designer job postings from the past year. The data helped us identify the most important hard and soft skills according to employers.
Top technical skills for graphic designers:
- Adobe Creative Suite®
- Social media
- Typesetting
- Website design
- Packaging
- Project management
- Visual design
- Marketing materials
- Illustration
- Digital design
Top transferable skills for graphic designers:
- Creativity
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration
- Organization
- Meeting deadlines
- Editing
- Problem solving
- Multi-tasking
- Time management
Are you destined to be a graphic designer?
So what does a graphic designer do? It turns out there is no standard job description. The specific duties are highly dependent upon the work environment and area of specialization.
This is good news for those interested in pursuing the profession, because you can essentially design your own career path—one that aligns with your own preferences and priorities. If that appeals to you, you might want to consider a career as a graphic designer.
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