The most famous artists all have one thing in common. They're either poor, or they have to find someone to pay for their passions... usually a business who will use their art in advertisements. In the movie The Agony and the Ecstasy, Raphael tells Michelangelo that "We are harlots, always peddling beauty at the doorsteps of the mighty." This was true in the time of Michelangelo, and it's true now. And the modern artists, the ones who can practice freely while someone else pays for it, are called graphic designers.
If you have a talent with colors, shapes, and layouts, there's no reason you couldn't use your gift in a career. The demand for quality graphic design is growing by leaps and bounds. In 2002, American companies employed 212,000 graphic designers. Imagine the fulfillment of being paid for your creativity as a graphic designer.
Should I Attend a Graphic Design School?
While graphic designers are in high demand, companies are looking for qualified artists who hold at least an associates degree from a graphic design college. Graphic design schools teach everything from color coordination and layout techniques to software use. They take raw talent and sharpen it to a skill... making your graphic design gifts marketable to advertising companies, specialized design services, and print publishers.
Another avenue for such graduates is video game design. As the online world becomes a stabilized marketing force, companies see the benefits of viral marketing. They use online video games as a means to attract children and adults to their websites. Video game design school prepares you to answer this niche marketing call.
It's easy to find graphic design colleges (both online and offline). The harder part is choosing one. To make the choice easier, request information from several colleges. Look through their information packets and find one that fits your budget. Ask their advisors about financial aid, and compare their schedules with yours.
How Much Money Can I Make Graduating From a Graphic Design School
Surveys taken by the US Department in Labor in 2002 report that 50% of graphic designers earned between $28,140 and $48,820. This wide range of incomes indicates that experience and ability play a huge role in earnings. Most graduates start as junior staff members in design or advertising companies. You can expect higher salaries and supervisory roles as you build experience. Design directors and the heads of creative design departments earned an average of $85,000.
Who's Hiring Graphic Design School Graduates?
- Advertising and Related Services: Every ad you see went through a process from conception to layout and design to print. Graphic designers play the biggest role in this. The average graphic design pay from advertising companies was $39,510 per year.
- Specialized Design Services: These companies often have specialized fields such as logo design, book cover, and CD design. They sometimes specialize in specific fields like medical, industrial, or direct mail. The average salary in such companies was $38,710.
- Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers: While much of their design work is in text layout, they still need graphic illustrations and photos. Their graphic design average salary was $31,670.
- Self-Employment: Approximately one third of graphic designers in 2002 were self employed. Freelancers who had attended graphic design school earned $55,000 according to a survey by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 2002.
The world of graphic design is changing drastically with each new technological innovation. Survival rests on continuing education and software skill development. But that doesn't eliminate the need for sketching talent. The drawing skills (even when working solely with computerized design) are an important part of developing a creative idea into a completed draft.
If your passion for art and design needs a little financial backing, look into a graphic design degree now. Start your journey towards career fulfillment and creative satisfaction.
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