Online Degree Choices for Graphic Designers

The Internet has broadened the opportunities that graphic designers once had, essentially creating a new line of different job descriptions for these professionals. Carefully crafted artwork like advertisements in print has evolved into websites and online advertisements, bringing a whole new perspective to the world of design careers. With these new developments in the graphic design industry and competition getting fiercer, now is the time to get an online degree in graphic design.

The Future for Graphic Design Careers

The graphic design industry is one that is destined to grow immensely in the future along with the growth of technology and internet. The positions that will be available are endless. As a matter of fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects graphic design opportunities to increase by 13% by the year 2018. This is a career avenue that must be engraved in a professional’s heart, because according to The Princeton Review, 40% of newcomers to the field of graphic design leave the industry within two years. Another 30% leave the field within five years and only 30% of professionals stay in graphic design occupations for more than five years.

These statistics should not discourage people who have a true interest in graphic design; however anyone who has a pure desire and the artistic talent should understand that this field of expertise is one that is demanding and quite competitive. An immense amount of time and effort may need to be put into graphic design trial-and-error and conferencing with clients before the work pays off. Building a client base or obtaining a job in this cutthroat field can also take time, however once these goals have been achieved, the income stream could be fairly lucrative.

Career Prospects for Graphic Designers

Many graphic designers who have the type of personalities that can stay motivated, manage their own work and clientele, and work alone may elect to stay self-employed, working hand-in-hand with clientele. As with all self-employment job possibilities, the salary of a self-employed graphic designer could fluctuate according to the amount of clients within the month. Others would rather work for a firm that recruits clients for them and collect a salary that they can count on.

A professional who is skilled in advertising and marketing might become an Advertising Designer or Commercial Designer, while people with the ability to coordinate many aspects of a project may become an Art Director. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast that educated and experienced Animators will be in high demand in the future. These graphic designers have both web design skills and animation abilities and can turn their client’s ideas into moving visuals. Entry-level graphic designers could enjoy a salary of $36,000, while Art Directors and Creative Design Directors could see salaries of $100,000 and more.

Getting a Graphic Design Degree Online

To be competitive in the industry, a bachelor’s degree is recommended from a top graphic design school, as most graphic designers have the equivalent of a four year degree. The Bachelor of Arts or Science in Graphic Design or the Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design are some of the options for aspiring graphic designers. Although the bachelor’s degree is not necessarily a requirement for positions at the entry level, employers in established firms seek candidates with a four-year degree for their more prestigious positions.

Artistic people who want to start their own business from home could choose to pursue their Associate of Science in Graphic Design or Associate of Art in Graphic Design if they wanted to learn the basics to get started. Some of the topics that will be discussed in both the online associate’s degree program and the online bachelor’s degree program include finance and production, computer software and graphic design tools.

Life as a Graphic Designer

Students should also focus on creating a working portfolio to show to prospective clients or employers throughout school and during their working life. The lifestyle of a degreed graphic designer is fast-paced and high pressure; deadlines are extremely important and can come quick and constantly pursuing work can lead to burnout. Even magazine layout editors and design consultants experience high pressure to meet deadlines.

For the artistically inclined people who enjoy this type of fast-paced lifestyle and are anxious to pursue it, the online degree programs that are available can be the fastest way to a future in creating artwork and design. The online associate’s degree can be accomplished in less than two years, while the online bachelor’s degree can be obtained in less than four years, and they are both achievable in a shorter amount of time if a student takes summer classes in addition to their regular coursework. Graphic designers who are already working with their own clientele, but want to take their experience to a company, can easily work from home while obtaining their online degree until they have the degree that is necessary to be competitive in the workforce.