Graphic Designing 101

Graphic Design Programs & Schools

Graphic Design Careers

Online Graphic Design Degree
Graphic Design Myth Vs Reality
Graphic Design Classes

Graphic Design Careers

Graphic designers get a message across through the depiction of colors, shapes, and images in
such a way that it captures the attention of the intended audience. Much of their work involves
creating logos or other graphical designs to instill brand awareness for a company. They are
oftentimes involved in creating advertising and promotional material through the use of
sophisticated graphic design software or by hand.

It is vitally important to be informed!

Be sure to request information from more than one school in order to compare
which program is best for you.
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The Art Institutes system of schools

Visit www.artinstitutes.edu
Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you're going. To take it, and your future,
as far as you want, you need an education that's focused on developing your talents and putting
you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination.

Programs:

Entertainment Design (BS)

Design & Media Management (MA)
Computer Animation (BFA)
And more...

Locations: Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, More...

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division

Helping creative minds bring their ideas to life. Today's creative economy needs people with
new ideas, and the ability to express those ideas. At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online
Division, we help students explore opportunities as they prepare to launch careers in the areas of
design, media arts, fashion, and culinary.

Programs:

Character Animation for Games (C)

3D Modeling for Games (C)
Graphic Design (BS)
And more...

Briarcliffe College
Get the education you need to help prepare for the job you want. Briarcliffe College makes it
easy by offering specialized associate and bachelor's degree programs in the fields of Business,
Design and Technology.

Programs:

Graphic Design

Locations: Patchogue

Los Angeles Film School

When students arrive at The Los Angeles Film School, they have passion and a dream. They
know where they want to end up, but not how to get there. We will guide you on your journey
through our associates and bachelors degree programs in Film, Recording Arts, Music
Production, Animation & VFX, Game Production & Design and Entertainment Business
toward fulfilling that dream.

Programs:

Bachelor of Science, Animation & VFX

Bachelor of Science, Film
Bachelor of Science, Game Production & Design

Locations: Los Angeles

Laurus College
Get started on your career with Laurus College. We offer programs for careers in the computer
and information technology, web design, business, and medical billing fields.

Programs:

Digital Arts and Computer Animation Associate Program

Web Design Associate Program

Locations: Oxnard, Santa Maria

Full Sail University - Online

Learning at Full Sail University has always centered around interaction and the exchange of
ideas. Our online curriculum fully embraces this philosophy. We have developed our own online
learning environment with the aim of being the most people-focused education experience on the
web.

Programs:

Computer Animation, Bachelor of Science (Online)

Graphic Design, Bachelor of Science (Online)
Media Communications, Bachelor of Science (Online)
And more...

Florida Technical College

Florida Technical College has structured its Health Care, Technology, and Programming
curricula to achieve one thing for its students: success in the real world.

Programs:

Web Site and Graphic Design - Associate Degree

Locations: Kissimmee

ITT Technical Institute

The ITT Technical Institutes offer programs in some of today's hottest technical areas. With over
100 locations nationwide and several online programs available, the ITT Techs are one of the
leading providers of technology education. Each ITT Tech offers convenient class schedules and
Career Services are offered to help you find a job.

Programs:

AS - Computer Drafting and Design

AS - Web Design

Locations: Harrisburg, Tarentum, Norwood, More...

Visual College of Art and Design

Follow your passion! For over 35 years, the Visual College of Art and Design (VCAD) has
taught artists and imaginative people just like you.

Programs:

3D Modeling Animation Art and Design

Graphic Design
Mobile Game Development and Design
And more...

Locations: Vancouver
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At a Glance

Other Job Titles: Computer Graphics Designer

Salary Range*: $26,000-$77,000; Median $44,000
Education/Training Required: Bachelors degree in graphic design
Desired Skills/Aptitude: Artistic ability, creativity, able to work as part of team, computer
skills, communication skills
Certification/Licensing: Not applicable in this field
Locations with Best Opportunities: Tennessee, Washington, Colorado
Employment Outlook: Increase by 13% (as fast as average)
Opportunities for Advancement: Opportunities as a chief designer, supervisor, or creative
director become available with experience and demonstrated skills

What a Graphic Designer Does

Graphic designers work on advertising projects for businesses and other organizations. They
typically meet with the project managers and clients to first find out the target audience for an
advertising campaign or promotion. Then, they try to capture the message that their clients want
to send to their target group through the use of graphical techniques.
Some of their other duties include:

Designing images that send the intended message

Selecting colors, layout, text fonts
Advise clients on marketing strategies
Present first images for approval or critique
Change images per client requests
Submit approved designs and images for publishing

Basically, the graphic designer must be able to take their clients message for grabbing
customers attention and convert it to a graphical presentation instead of a verbal or written
presentation. They do this through their artistic talent mixed with their ability to use complex
graphical software to make the first proofs.

Their works of art may be used in printed brochures, magazines, television commercials,
billboards, and web pages. Any application where clients want to say it with pictures rather than
words is a possible project for a graphic designer.

The Workplace
Graphic designers work for a variety of industries. They can work for design firms, public
relations companies, advertisers, printers, and specialty design shops. They work in studios
where they can collaborate with other graphic designers to get ideas and alternate perspectives on
projects. In these studios, there will be drafting tables and powerful computer workstations that
can handle graphical software and the processing required for producing quality images.
In todays world of the internet, self-employed graphic designers can work from anywhere that
has the required workstation and graphical software. It is for this reason that a significant number
of graphic designers are self-employed. Self-employed designers typically work odd hours
because clients may be in other destinations across the globe or must meet after work.

Education and Certification

Those interested in graphic design probably were while in high school and even before. If you
are still in high school, take advantage of art and design classes. This will prepare you for a
formal post-secondary college program.
Graphic designers oftentimes have natural talent but it is through a formal bachelors degree
program where they learn techniques to produce graphic art faster, more efficiently, and with
higher quality. A popular accreditation authority for these graphic design programs is the
National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
The most important credential for a graphic designer is the portfolio and in these graphic design
programs a student is taught how to build an effective oneone that will land a job. The
portfolio is a compilation of the graphic designers best works. Students are taught how to make
a portfolio that gets to the point yet sends the strongest message to prospective clients. It is much
like the resume for those seeking positions in other industries.
*Salary Source: BLS May 2012

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