| It's the intersection of high-tech and creativity; a | | | | Graphic designers held about 261,000 jobs in 2006, with |
| bubbling potion of strategy, purpose, and | | | | most working in specialized design services. In the |
| communication. A career in Applied Arts and Design is | | | | coming decade, another 26,000 jobs are projected to |
| both dynamic and versatile. Choose the clients and | | | | be added in the industry. According to the BLS, top |
| projects that inspire you to create masterpieces time | | | | employers include: |
| and time again. | | | | • Advertisers, publishers, and computer design firms |
| The Career 411 | | | | • Various segments of the Internet as well as |
| Professionals in applied arts and design are really | | | | movie, television, and video entertainment markets |
| graphic designers at heart and practice. They use a | | | | • Video gaming, web design, cell phones and PDAs |
| variety of manual and digital tools to create dynamic | | | | and other interactive media |
| messaging for a variety of purposes. According to the | | | | PayScale reports that the average starting salary for |
| Association of Independent Colleges of Art and | | | | graphic designers is $31,531. Those with 20 or more |
| Design, "Artists and designers are central to our culture | | | | years of experience in the industry typically earn |
| and our commerce; indeed, our society would not be | | | | $45,744. Potential salary levels are influenced by |
| where it is today without them." | | | | specialty, geography, and experience. |
| Some designers are commercially-oriented; they | | | | How to Get There |
| create advertisements, direct mail, and websites that | | | | No matter what particular area of applied arts and |
| sell products and services. Others work for non-profit | | | | design you choose, the steps that lead there should |
| organizations, using their talents to convey information | | | | contain some common elements. The American |
| and promote worthy causes. And still others are fine | | | | Institute of Graphic Arts suggests these courses: |
| artists--designing multimedia presentations that speak | | | | • Art - Helps you work on building hand eye |
| from the heart and reveal the beauty in a society, a | | | | coordination and craftsmanship skills. |
| historic event, or an inspirational thought. | | | | • Art and Graphic Design History - An essential part |
| Why This Career Has an Edge | | | | of building any designer's foundation. |
| Graphic designers relish several aspects of their | | | | • Design Theory - The elements of design, such as |
| careers. The ability to use technology creatively is key. | | | | line, shape, space, texture, value, and color. Also, how |
| A collection of software suites allows designers to | | | | these components work together to present a |
| manipulate photographs, experiment with fonts, and | | | | complete image. |
| add a musical component to their work. Using | | | | • Typography - Combining text and imagery to |
| interactive tools to bring a static design to life on the | | | | communicate in a clear and compelling way. |
| Web is an increasingly popular process that | | | | • Grid Systems - Enables you to tackle visual |
| well-trained designers can master. | | | | problems and solve them in terms of conception, |
| Job opportunity is another big plus. The Bureau of | | | | organization, and design with greater speed and |
| Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of | | | | confidence. |
| graphic designers projected to increase by 10 percent; | | | | • Photography - Includes learning which angles |
| that's about as fast as average for all occupations | | | | work, different types of lighting, and different lens |
| through 2016. Advertisers, publishers, and computer | | | | options. |
| design firms consistently court qualified candidates. | | | | • Design Strategy - The ability to come up with |
| | | | ideas and concepts that are appropriate to the design |
| Career in the Numbers | | | | problem is critical. |