Graphic designer jobs typically attract persons that have an interest in visual artistic expression. For you to be a successful designer, a passion and interest in pictures, paintings, calligraphy and other similar forms of art is the key. Graphic design is a field that finds application in many different disciplines such as facilitating communication, product marketing, event publicity and overall branding. In earlier days, graphic design was a manual process. Nowadays, it is heavily dependent on information technology and there are many types of design software available to enable the design job. As a designer, you cannot afford not to know how to utilize the more common graphic design software applications.
There are persons that have the innate skill in design that could have been self-taught. Of course, talent is a huge plus. However, employers are bound to favor a person that has the requisite education over someone that only possesses talent and practical skills but not the education. Therefore, if you are to venture into this industry, an education in graphic design is imperative, preferably at degree level. Alternatively, you could study for a certificate or other professional course in design to boost your non-design degree.
Attending class has a larger benefit than just the theory around graphic design. The class provides an enabling and interactive environment for you to ask those difficult questions you may have had. You get to benefit from the thoughts and experiences of people in the same career as you. Then there is the networking. You can build crucial links with persons in the industry that always prove handy for many people at some point in their career. Further, some institutions have linkages with the industry and can provide reference or direct placement for some students.
One of the key challenges that persons holding graphic designer jobs face is balancing the quality of work with the demands of increasingly cost conscious clientele. Whereas one may want to provide the best quality of work possible, many times quality of work means extra cost, which is sometimes a difficult understanding to sell to clients. Quality of work can be further compounded by poor communication of required specifications by the customer. This could lead to a lot of rework as the designer attempts to meet the client's ever changing or unclear requirements.
Despite the challenges, one of the things that will drive you as a graphic designer is the satisfaction of seeing that final product fulfill its intended goal. When you see the client appreciate that poster, billboard or television ad that you created and which resulted in increased sales for the client, the effort is worth it. Of all jobs, graphic design ranks up there with the most satisfying.
