How to Become a Graphic Designer: 5 Steps to Success

Graphic design is a varied and rewarding profession that combines technology with innovation and creativity. Graphic designers’ work impacts many elements of our day-to-day life, such as the logos we see or the magazines we read. The role is highly technical and requires a lot of learning and skill to undertake well.

This article is a comprehensive guide to everything that you need to know about how to become a graphic designer, including what the role entails, the different types of graphic designers, their work environment, and the steps you need to consider to get started in the profession.

What is a graphic designer?

Graphic designers create and update visual content for a variety of uses. They work with images, typography, structures and color to create websites, posters, logos and much more besides. The role requires plenty of creative flair but also a thorough understanding of graphic design software and techniques.

What are the different types of graphic design?

Graphic design is a broad profession, with lots of different avenues to follow.

Here is a list of the different types of graphic designer:

• Illustration designers develop original artwork or graphics for books and magazines. They convey stories and meaning behind these illustrations.
• Packaging designers focus on creating exciting and engaging product packaging that resonates with consumers. They are tasked with ensuring the company’s brand pulls through on packaging to create a coherent marketing message.
• Publication designers are responsible for the layout and design of printed materials like books and magazines. They will focus on typefaces and graphics to ensure the publication is coherent and captivating.
• Visual identity designers create brand elements like logos and fonts to ensure the brand they are working for has a consistent and engaging presence that resonates with its organizational values and purpose.
• Web designers create responsive and functional interfaces for organizations’ websites, including the graphics they use, the user experience, their layout, and branding. They also ensure the websites function correctly.

What does a graphic designer do?

The day in the life of a graphic designer can be extensively varied and covers many different responsibilities.

Here is a list of the main duties of a graphic designer:

• Conceptualizing ideas: Graphic designers will create ideas that align with the client’s wishes and pitch these ideas to them.
• Creating graphics: When the idea is signed off, graphic designers will use their technical expertise to create their designs.
• Sustaining ideas: Graphic designers will ensure that subsequent ideas for their clients align by maintaining a database of designs, colors and fonts.
• Collaborating with others: Graphic designers manage lots of projects at once by collaborating with people like marketing teams, photographers and copywriters.
• Revising designs: Graphic designers need to work with their clients, taking on feedback and working on adapting designs as needed.

What is their work environment like?

Graphic designers thrive in working environments that are conducive to creativity. They’ll often work in spacious, open-plan offices that are designed to promote creativity and collaboration. They generally have plenty of access to technology, such as powerful laptops and multiple screens.

Graphic designers are typically employed as freelancers or via employers; the former will almost exclusively work from home, but even employed graphic designers will be able to work remotely if they like. Most graphic design work environments operate with hybrid work patterns to boost their teams’ creativity.

How many hours do they work?

Graphic designers, whether they freelance or not, will enjoy relatively stable working patterns, working 40-hour weeks on a 9-to-5 basis. Sometimes, these hours might need to be compressed based on deadlines. Freelance graphic designers might have more space to pick and choose their hours.

What are the occupational hazards of graphic designer?

Graphic designers need to be aware of several work-related risks, most of which are connected to the desk work they get involved with.

They’re at risk of bright lights and eye strain due to using computer monitors for long periods, as well as repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Connected to this are the risks associated with sitting down for long periods, such as obesity or back pain.

Additionally, graphic designers are occasionally held to pressurized or tight deadlines and, therefore, need to manage the risk of stress, mental pressure or burnout at work.

How much do graphic designers earn?

Graphic designers’ pay can depend on various factors, such as where they’re working in the US, the level of expertise and certification they have, as well as their profile or experience working with larger clients.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average salary for a graphic designer being $64,700 ($31.11 per hour). Annual wages at the 10th percentile are $36,420 ($17.51 per hour), $58,910 ($28.32 per hour) at the median percentile, and $100,450 ($48.29 per hour) at the 90th percentile.

With salaries varying by state, the top-paying state for graphic designers is the District of Columbia ($93,050), followed by New York ($80,390), California ($79,850), Washington ($75,680) and Massachusetts ($74,490).

In a snapshot:

What is their job outlook?

According to 2022 data from the BLS, there were over 270,000 graphic designers employed in the US, of which 81.3% (220,000) were wage and salaried, and the remaining 18.7% (50,000) were self-employed.

Total employment is expected to grow by 8.9% to over 279,000 by 2032, with the number of self-employed graphic designers increasing marginally to 53,000 (an increase of 6%), and the number of wage and salaried graphic designers increasing by 226,000, a lower increase of 2.6%.

These increases are largely driven by new technologies in graphic design, an increasing awareness of the importance of brand and identity, and the rise of freelance graphic designers.

What are the pros and cons of becoming a graphic designer?

To support you in weighing up whether being a graphic designer is the role for you, here is a list of the profession’s pros and cons.

Pros

• Graphic designers can enjoy a high degree of creative freedom and might see their designs enter the mainstream or become famous.
• Because graphic design is needed in most — if not all — industries and mediums, graphic designers can enjoy many varied career paths.
• Graphic designers have a flexible working pattern, meaning they can work wherever they feel more creatively enriched.

Cons

• Graphic designers might experience creative blocks, especially when working on less inspiring projects.
• Difficult clients can make life challenging for graphic designers through intense demands or pushing back on design ideas repeatedly.
• The graphic design industry is intensely competitive, meaning that you’ll need to continuously maintain your portfolio and upskill to stand out.

What are the entry requirements?

Getting started as a graphic designer is relatively straightforward, but you need to be aware of some guidelines and reference points to get yourself ready for a great start in your career. Here’s what you need to start out as a graphic designer:

Education

Graphic designers should focus on STEM subjects and art or design in high school. After this, the best course of action is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. While this isn’t mandatory, it significantly helps your marketability to employers.

Skills and qualities

The main skills for a graphic designer are creativity and an ability to master the technical design software that’s central to the role. Apart from this, you’ll need great attention to detail, analytical, stakeholder management and teamwork skills.

Work experience

While they work to establish themselves with no experience, graphic designers can undertake pet projects for friends and family and set themselves up as freelancers on sites like Fiverr or Upwork. You can undertake internships at university too.

Licenses and certifications

The main certifications for graphic designers are connected to the graphic design software they use. It’s highly beneficial to become a certified professional on this software, as this will help you remain competitive in an ever-changing field.

Would you make a good graphic designer?

The best graphic designers are innately creative and innovative people who love art and design, but also rise to the challenge of taking a client’s wishes and melding them with their own ideas.

Graphic designers are great with technology and enjoy continuously learning, as their software gets better all the time. If your interests and skills align with this, then maybe graphic design is the perfect role for you.

If you’re still wondering what career path your qualities and abilities can lead to, consider taking CareerHunter’s suite of tests, professionally developed assessments that match up your skills and interests with best-fit jobs and careers, helping you to find a profession you love.

5 steps to become a graphic designer

If you have read this far and you’re becoming increasingly excited about what a career in graphic design might offer you, then it’s time to start planning a career in this field. This section is a step-by-step guide to what you need to do to forge a rewarding career in graphic design.

Step 1: Gain higher education

While a degree isn’t mandatory to become a graphic designer, it can really boost your credentials and make it a lot easier to find work. Focus on the right subjects in high school, such as art or design, as well as STEM subjects, to facilitate entry into university.

At university, there are undergraduate graphic design degrees that provide a practical introduction to the career. Additionally, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design provides a list of accredited institutions. Many of these institutions provide graphic design degrees, or modules that specialize in graphic design.

You can also learn more about graphic design through online course options via applications like Coursera or LinkedIn, or by reading books on graphic design, such as The Elements of Graphic Design by Alex W White.

Step 2: Master graphic design software

One of the most important aspects of being a graphic designer is mastering the software you will be using. Therefore, it’s vital that you learn how to use graphic design software as soon as possible.

As you start out in graphic design, learn about software like Adobe Photoshop (great for creating and editing digital artwork), Illustrator (perfect for crafting vector graphics or logos) and InDesign (ideal for creating layouts, like magazines or brochures). You might also want to use Inkscape, CorelDRAW, Figma or Canva.

All graphic design software is highly complex and updated regularly. All the providers offer certification courses that you can take to become an accredited user of the software. For example, Adobe offers three different levels: Adobe Certified Associate, Adobe Certified Expert, and Adobe Certified Professional.

Earning these certifications takes a bit of time, money, and patience, but they make you even more marketable to employers and allow you to keep up to date with your skills as well.

Step 3: Arrange your portfolio

From the moment you start to consider graphic design as a serious career, you should begin to build a portfolio. This document showcases your skills, creativity and projects as a graphic designer, and is often more relied upon by recruiters than a résumé or CV.

A portfolio must always be kept up to date. As you work on any kind of graphic design project, even if it’s not work-related (ie: helping out a friend with a logo for their business), add it to your portfolio.

As time goes on, you might wish to target your portfolio to certain types of graphic design roles, or keep it generic, showcasing everything you have worked on, such as branding, digital design, or illustration and art.

Ensure your portfolio is professionally presented, visually appealing, and that you provide context to the content. You also need to present a digital or online portfolio as well, as this will help you reach a wider audience.

Step 4: Gain practical experience

You can begin your practical graphic design experience early in your graphic design journey — for example, by helping out friends and family with projects that can help you learn and can be added to your portfolio.

At university, seek out graphic design internships to help you gain hands-on experience in a professional environment. If you do a great job in these internships and integrate well with the organization, they might offer you a full-time role after your course ends.

You can also establish yourself as a freelance graphic designer, using your online portfolio and applications like Fiverr and Upwork to swiftly and easily gather clients.

Research and prepare for graphic design interview questions to give yourself the best chance of landing great roles. As your career progresses, effective networking will help you get promoted. Join graphic design groups on LinkedIn, attend webinars and conferences, and participate in other professional communities to broaden your professional contacts and learn from others.

Step 5: Embrace continuous learning

Graphic design is so firmly steeped in using technology and remaining competitive in an ever-changing world that it’s essential that you continuously learn in order to grow your career and look after your client base.

Seeking feedback from your clients on the work you have completed is an important part of this, as well as being open to criticism and trying new approaches. Taking the plunge and learning new skills that you haven’t touched before can help you take on new work and ideas.

You can also benefit through professional memberships and the certifications or courses that these bodies provide to their members. For example, the American Institute of Graphic Arts offers various courses and networking opportunities to their members.

FAQs about graphic designers

If you want to learn more about graphic design or you’re simply a little curious about this career, here are some frequently asked questions to shed more light on the profession.

Q: Can you become a graphic designer without a degree?

Yes, you can become a graphic designer with no degree, but it might take a little longer. You might want to consider intensively learning the software as soon as you can and looking at graphic design apprenticeships so you gain experience early on. It’s more important to become certified on the various graphic design software programs out there.

Q: What are the common challenges graphic designers face?

Common challenges can include creative blocks, handling feedback and pushback from difficult clients, managing multiple projects all at once, staying on top of design trends, and working to tight or stressful deadlines. Managing your portfolio so it leaps off the page and attracts clients and employers can also be a lot of work.

Q: What are the career prospects for a graphic designer?

Graphic designers can work in a variety of fields such as tech, publishing, marketing or advertising, as well as a wide variety of sectors such as private, public or charity. You can start out as a junior designer and progress to senior designer, art director or creative director, or simply freelance, taking on larger and more complex projects and clients.

Final thoughts

Becoming a graphic designer is a rewarding and engaging role that uniquely combines your technical prowess with excellent creative ability. The role is multifaceted and well-paid, and it offers a collaborative and supportive working environment.

If you decide that graphic design is the perfect career for you, then mastering the software needed to perform this role is key, as is considering a graphic design degree. Get started as soon as you can by freelancing on projects and building your portfolio.

This way, word will get out about your graphic design talents, and you will be building up a database of clients before you know it.

Got a question? Let us know in the comments section below.

This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published on July 23, 2018.