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A graphic designer (also known as a graphic artist and communication artist) is a professional within the graphic design
Graphic design

The term graphic design can refer to a number of artistic and professional disciplines which focus on visual communication and presentation. Various methods are used to create and combine symbols, images and/or words to create a visual representation of ideas and messages....
 and graphic arts
Graphic arts

Graphic arts is a term applied historically to the art of printmaking and drawing. In contemporary usage it refers to the applied trade-skills of a graphic designer or print technician....
 industry who assembles together images, typography
Typography

Typography is the art and techniques of typesetting, type design, and modifying type glyphs. Type glyphs are created and modified using a variety of illustration techniques....
 or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media
Electronic media

Electronic media are media that utilize electronics or electromechanical energy for the end user to access the content. This is in contrast to static media , which are most often Desktop publishing, but don't require electronics to be accessed by the end user in the printed form....
, such as brochure
Brochure

A brochure or pamphlet is a leaflet advertisement. Brochures may advertise locations, events, hotels, products, services, etc. They are usually succinct in language and eye-catching in design....
s and advertising
Advertising

Advertising is a form of communication that typically attempts to persuade potential customers to Purchasing or to consume more of a particular brand of Product or Service ....
. They are also sometimes responsible for typesetting
Typesetting

Typesetting involves the presentation of textual material in graphic form on paper or some other Recording medium. Before the advent of desktop publishing, typesetting of printed material was produced in print shops by compositors or typesetters working by hand, and later with machines....
, illustration
Illustration

An illustration is a Information graphic such as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that stresses subject more than form. The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate textual information by providing a visual representation....
 and web design
Web design

Web Page design requires conceptualizing, planning, modeling, and executing electronic media content and its delivery via the Internet using technologies suitable for rendering and presentation by web browsers or other web-based graphical user interfaces ....
, or take a teaching position, although these specialties may be assigned to specialists in various graphic design occupations
Graphic design occupations

A number of occupations are commonly classified under the broad term of graphic designer. Graphic design career paths cover all ends of the creative industries....
.






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Encyclopedia


A graphic designer (also known as a graphic artist and communication artist) is a professional within the graphic design
Graphic design

The term graphic design can refer to a number of artistic and professional disciplines which focus on visual communication and presentation. Various methods are used to create and combine symbols, images and/or words to create a visual representation of ideas and messages....
 and graphic arts
Graphic arts

Graphic arts is a term applied historically to the art of printmaking and drawing. In contemporary usage it refers to the applied trade-skills of a graphic designer or print technician....
 industry who assembles together images, typography
Typography

Typography is the art and techniques of typesetting, type design, and modifying type glyphs. Type glyphs are created and modified using a variety of illustration techniques....
 or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media
Electronic media

Electronic media are media that utilize electronics or electromechanical energy for the end user to access the content. This is in contrast to static media , which are most often Desktop publishing, but don't require electronics to be accessed by the end user in the printed form....
, such as brochure
Brochure

A brochure or pamphlet is a leaflet advertisement. Brochures may advertise locations, events, hotels, products, services, etc. They are usually succinct in language and eye-catching in design....
s and advertising
Advertising

Advertising is a form of communication that typically attempts to persuade potential customers to Purchasing or to consume more of a particular brand of Product or Service ....
. They are also sometimes responsible for typesetting
Typesetting

Typesetting involves the presentation of textual material in graphic form on paper or some other Recording medium. Before the advent of desktop publishing, typesetting of printed material was produced in print shops by compositors or typesetters working by hand, and later with machines....
, illustration
Illustration

An illustration is a Information graphic such as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that stresses subject more than form. The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate textual information by providing a visual representation....
 and web design
Web design

Web Page design requires conceptualizing, planning, modeling, and executing electronic media content and its delivery via the Internet using technologies suitable for rendering and presentation by web browsers or other web-based graphical user interfaces ....
, or take a teaching position, although these specialties may be assigned to specialists in various graphic design occupations
Graphic design occupations

A number of occupations are commonly classified under the broad term of graphic designer. Graphic design career paths cover all ends of the creative industries....
. A core responsibility of the designer's job is to present information in a way that is both accessible and aesthetic.

Qualifications

A degree (or occasionally certificates from accredited trade schools) is usually, though not always, considered essential for a graphic design position. After a career history has been established, though, the graphic designer's experience and number of years in the business are considered the primary qualifications. A portfolio
Career portfolio

Career portfolios are used to plan, organize and document education, work samples and skills. People use career portfolios to apply to jobs, apply to college or training programs, get a higher salary, show transferable skills, and to track personal development....
, which is the primary method for demonstrating these qualifications, is usually required to be shown at job interviews, and is constantly developed throughout a designer's career.

One can obtain an AS
Associate's degree

An associate degree is an academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, four-year universities, business colleges and some bachelor's degree-granting colleges/universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years....
, BA
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
, BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts

In the United States, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate Academic degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual arts or performing arts....
, MA
Master's degree

A master's degree provides a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of profession. Within the area studied, graduates possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of theory and applied topics; high order skills in analysis, Critical thinking and/or professional application; and the ability to problem solving a...
 or an MPhil
Master of Philosophy

The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree requiring the completion of a thesis. It is a lesser degree than the Doctor of Philosophy or Engineering Doctorate , greater than the Bachelor of Philosophy , and is of greater scope than the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees....
 / PhD
Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated Ph.D. or PhD for the Latin , meaning "teacher of philosophy", is an postgraduate academic degree awarded by University....
 in graphic design. Degree programs available vary depending upon the institution, although typical U.S. graphic design jobs require at least some form of Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
.

In terms of skills, a graphic designer should be able to work with multiple software programs, as relevant to his/her job function, such as those in Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe Creative Suite is a collection of graphic design, video editing, and web development Application software made by Adobe Systems. The collection consists of Adobe's applications , that are based on various technologies ....
 and TechSmith
TechSmith

TechSmith Corporation is a software company developing screencasting tools for Microsoft Windows such as Camtasia Studio and SnagIt.The company was founded in Okemos, Michigan in 1987 by William Hamilton....
 products, and, depending on what media the designer is working in, should understand HTML and other programming languages to design websites, and/or should understand the processes involved in printing to be able to produce press-ready artwork.

Career portfolio

The graphic designer's Career portfolio
Career portfolio

Career portfolios are used to plan, organize and document education, work samples and skills. People use career portfolios to apply to jobs, apply to college or training programs, get a higher salary, show transferable skills, and to track personal development....
 in the past fifty years was usually a black book or large binder in which samples of the artist's best printed pieces were carried to show prospective clients or employers. Over the past 20 years, portfolios have become increasingly digitized, and may be entirely digitized and available on the Internet, CD, or DVD.

See also

  • Graphic design occupations
    Graphic design occupations

    A number of occupations are commonly classified under the broad term of graphic designer. Graphic design career paths cover all ends of the creative industries....
  • List of Graphic Designers
    List of Graphic Designers

    The following is a list of Graphic Designers for whom there is an article in Wikipedia. Only add names here if the person has their own article on Wikipedia, please....


External links