Graphic Designer Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Graphic Designer? I am a graphic designer and was curious on how much other graphic designers were making. If you dont mind me asking whats your salary and how many years experience do you have?

Answer: I make between 45-50K. I've been working in the field for about 7 months. Previously I was a Production Artist and made between 35-40K. Hope that helps!

Question: Techniques a Junior Graphic Designer should know in order to work in an office? I am trying to get a job as a Junior Graphic Designer. Beside knowing how to use the software and being able to draw and design, could you tell me what other skills and knowledge are needed to work in an office, for example procedures such as sending something to the printers, colour and finishing techniques.

Answer: If you could get pre-press and printer knowledge, you would be at a distinct advantage. It's great if you can get a trip to a working printers and see the process for yourself. There are also some great books out there if you don't have time to actually visit.

Question: How can I become a Graphic Designer before going to college? this question is that how can I learn the basics of Graphic Design, I am so interested in it. I love designing websites and pictures. I want to learn, Can I get advice about being a graphic designer from real people who are graphic designers ! I love art and I love designing.

Answer: Unfortunately, the basics of Graphic Design are probably the most boring set of basics EVER, because you're not actually designing anything... you're learning the tools and theories that come into play, eventually, way down the line. I graduated from design school, and freshman year was filled with: 1) shade studies (painting swatches of gray colors, and making a 12 step gray-scale, and critiquing each others scales, saying things like "the jump between swatch 4 and 5 is too big a jump, while swatch 10 and 11 are too close in tone") 2) line studies (arranging parallel lines of varying thicknesses at various distances from each other, then critiquing each others studies, saying things like "the lines are so close together here that it looks like a mistake when compared to the rest of the lines") 3) color studies (choosing 5 colors, then applying them to the line studies from part 2, then critiquing each others studies saying things like "the colors are aesthetically pleasing, but they don't fit with that particular study") 4) form studies (using only a circle and a triangle, make several compositions where the two shapes interact with each other on a square layout, then critiquing each others studies, saying things like "I like the tension between the circle and the triangle, how the triangle is pointed at the circle, and the circle is slightly off the page, as if it's running away from the circle") The foundation of being a designer is 1) understanding how to talk like a designer... like how to describe why you chose colors, for reasons other than "they looked nice together" and how to describe why you dislike someone else's work. 2) understanding extremely basic concepts such as "horizontal lines are easy on the eyes, while vertical lines require more work for the eyes to take in and understand" 3) understanding how things interact with each other in compositions, and the underlying feelings and thoughts the interactions provoke. The difference between a college-educated designer and a non-college educated designer is not that one can design prettier than the other, but that the college-educated designer often has deeper understanding of why the designs are effective and understands the underlying rules of the human brain as it relates to the visual world. There are TONS of books on design, and if you're looking to pursue a college-like education in design I'd encourage you to find one that's all about the basics... don't go for the ones that have complete designs in them, go for the ones that have black and white shapes with simple compositions, explaining the basics of composition and theory. It's so boring, but it makes so much more sense when you've got a huge website to design and can make educated design decisions about it. Books that I read in college: http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Color-Joh… http://www.amazon.com/Design-Form-Course… http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Type-Crit… http://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Gr…

Question: How Much does a Graphic Designer and a Graphic Novelist make per year? I intend on being both a graphic designer & graphic novelist after I finish college, and I wanted to know the salary of both careers, and some information on the salaries if possible.

Answer: 55-65k a year

Question: What exactly does a graphic designer do? I've been told that I should try graphic design in college (I'm a junior in high school now) & as a career. But, what does a graphic designer do? What kinds of jobs would one who majors in graphic design in college have after graduating? What classes should I take now to prepare to major in it in college if it's something I want to do? Thanks in advance! =) P.S. - If you think I'll get better answers in another category (Y!A suggested this one and the Visual Arts category), please let me know. Thanks!

Answer: Go to www.aiga.org and look at their information on design education and design careers. AIGA is the professional organization for graphic design and so you know you are getting solid information there. To prepare, pump up your basic drawing skills because you will need to submit a portfolio to be accepted into a reputable design program. Most of them look closely at drawing in entrance portfolios. Yes, graphic designers need reasonably good drawing skills because that's how ideas are developed and refined before jumping onto the computer. They'll look at computer work, advertising, photo, and other art areas too but the drawings are weighed most heavily. Good luck! It is a great profession with lots of opportunity.

Question: Is it possible to step into a career as a Graphic Designer without a qualification? I am extremely interested in a career as a Graphic Designer. Is there such thing as a Freelance Graphic Designer? I am skillful in many aspects of Graphic Design, however, I would like to know how to take the first step into this career path. Any help/suggestions greatly appreciated. I don't have any specific qualifications. I would love to take part in a part time, evening course, but due to wormk commitments I haven't had time to actually enroll for anything like this.

Answer: Yes.. it's a very easy career to get into. You just need a computer and software and some artistic talent. (you sound like you already have those). Just start by making your own website, and then approaching local businesses to offer your services. Do free work, posters, flyers and the like for local charities, churches etc and put your contact details at the bottom. Go to the local print shops and find out about what formats they need work in. Leave your own flyers there. Put your flyers through the mailboxes of every business in you city. market yourself. Make up some business cards and have them ready to hand to people you meet who might be interested in your services one day. If you're reasonably good, and don't over-charge, you'll get lots of work. Qualifications don't matter at all. It's not like being a doctor where someone gets hurt if you mess up. If your work is good, that's all that matters. Studying can be good, because you will learn, but the qualification doesn't matter. edit: as the others say.. don't worry about chasing a "job" as a graphic designer. It's the kind of thing you have to do yourself, self-employed.

Question: How much code does a Graphic Designer need to know? Programmers and designers are two different people, with two different ways of thinking. That's why there are so many horribly designed websites out there - companies are hiring computer science grads, and not trained designers. My questions is though, as a graphic designer, how advanced do my coding skills have to be, whether it's ActionScript, HTML, or anything else?

Answer: You certainly don't have to know the deep down dirty depths of coding, but I'd strongly recommend learning HTML/CSS as a minimum, and then understanding the rest. Even if you're not the one doing the coding, your designs will benefit from designing with the code in mind. Your designs will translate to the web better, and will be more effective with an understanding of what makes them go. Most of the sites I do these days are not coded by me, even though I know how to. I do enough to stoke my understanding, but it's cheaper/better for me in most cases to outsource it.

Question: What decision do you make as graphic designer as far as selecting images? I know that as a professional graphic designer, you will either create your own images or buy existing images. So my question is: when should you use existing images? and when do you decide to draw your own?? What factors affect your decision? Also, if you decide to use existing image, how do you find the images that look exactly the same as those in your mind?? It's been confusing me for a long time. I hope you guys out there can help me! Thank you!

Answer: It is ALWAYS dependent on the client's budget. My own illustrations go for nearly $100 an hour, while simple design layouts go for as little as $50 to $60 an hour. If I have clip art or stock photo images available, I can save my clients several hundred dollars in my labor. And, believe me, while I would rather get paid my premium rate for a project, I would still rather get paid something than let a client go. Some clients are willing to strike a happy medium by paying me to research the EXACT stock photo image, especially if it is of a subject that I cannot capture with my own camera equipment. (inaccesible subject matter or, something, technically beyond my photographic skills) Remember, that as a pro, it is not what I have in my mind, but what the client has on his mind. I do advise them that, like most design work, they get what they paid for. Still, at all the payment levels, I give the best if which I am capable, whatever the dollar value of my invoices.

Question: How can I find a good fulltime Chinese graphic designer in Shanghai for our new design firm? Our company Gecko Studio Shanghai is looking for a good graphic designer to create layouts, corporate ID, illustrations and product presentations. A good designer is hard to find.

Answer: Many graphic designers you may find in this website. Im sure you will find some from Shanghai. Good luck :)

Question: How can I become a graphic designer for Abercrombie and Fitch? Well, I plan to become a graphic Designer, especially for Abercrombie and Fitch. I have been drawing graphic designs ever since I was a little girl. Its either this or a dermatologist. Ok, Italia, mind explaining why I can't design at Abercrombie? Isnt it just be good at it and your in?Or design school? I dont know thats why im asking

Answer: From my experience in the design world Abercrombie probably hires freelance designers and buys their designs off them. If you want to be a graphic designer, go to a good college with a graphic design major. And make sure the school has good internship opportunities. Take it even further and research where the headquarters for Abercrombie is and find a school in that state.