Exploring Careers in Graphic Design

The field of graphic design is very broad. Designers create multimedia for news stations, commercials, movies, and TV shows.Designers also create graphics for website pages and in cartoon productions.
Determine what type of graphic design career you’d like to pursue. You also have other options related to graphic design — you can act as an editor or publisher of a print or video media production.
The field of graphic design covers a wide variety of arts. It also covers occupations that involve graphics editing and implementation.
Typically, graphic design careers are divided into two main categories, and then into several smaller categories or disciplines. The two main categories include designers and publishers.
The designers are usually the ones who implement creativity to produce a finished artistic product. This finished product can include both hand-drawn or painted items and/or computer art. It also can contain photos and text.
The publishers use some creative thinking as well. However, their main role in creating media is editing and producing. Publishers take finished graphic designs and produce them as newspapers, magazines, websites, and more.
Sometimes these two major roles interchange. In other words, the role of a graphic designer and a publisher is combined. This is more common in production studios operating off of a lower budget, or for freelance designers and small business owners.
Larger corporations typically divide the roles of graphics personnel and publishing personnel. Furthermore, a large number of different subcategories exist for graphic designers and publishers.
For example, some corporate employees may be employed as creative directors, layout artists, or Flash designers. Others may be assigned a specific task such as illustrating or photo editing.
Persons employed in graphics positions assist with creating a wide range of products. For example, employees work for companies that produce gift items (cards, calendars, e-cards, print stationary, etc.) while others produce business logos.
Other graphic artists are responsible for creating content for animation or movie productions. Yet another group of designers will create educational and demonstrative tutorials and slide shows.
Knowing the different options should help you to decide which career you want to pursue in graphic design and related fields. It will help you determine what your strengths and weaknesses are regarding design and publications.
If you can see the “big picture” in your mind but can’t translate your visualization into tangible form, then you would serve best as a publisher and to use ready-made graphics to produce your media.
On the other hand, if you are slightly disorganized but people have complimented you on your designs,, then becoming a graphic design is the best choice. The only challenge after this point is breaking into this highly-competitive field.
If you are determined and you have what it takes, then you will make it. Also, you increase your chance of success in this business as you identify your niche.
For instance, perhaps you are not thrilled about creating images for advertisements, but you have proven your skills in the cartoon world. If this is the case, then you should not try to pursue commercial advertising venues.
The opposite is true as well. If you demonstrate more talent in commercial ad logo design, then you probably have no interest in selling cartoon scripts. This does not mean you will never be able to, and it also does not mean that a cartoonist could never create commercial ads.
When you start out as a graphic designer, you are likely to find a niche. Stay in this niche if you find it comfortable. You are likely to have plenty of years to change careers or step out of you comfort zone.
Another area of graphic design not yet covered in this article is gaming. You can make a living creating sets and characters for video games.
Likewise, the world of gaming is very lucrative for editors and publishers. You can help coordinate the process of integrating graphic designs into various gaming formats. The possibilities are endless.