How to become a Graphic Designer

You could choose a bachelor's or associate's degree to gain the necessary skills related to the design, technology, and communication. This includes coursework such as studio art, principles of design, commercial graphics, web design, advertising, and graphics-related computer technology with the knowledge on software such as Adobe Creative Suites.

This not involves a formal education but also hand-on experience with the internship programs and students can choose online courses according to their convenience.

An internship program to convert and learn the theoretical concepts into a practical experience. This helps students to work with professionals who can guide and supervise their work. Many colleges offer an internship program to students which helps them build networks and relationships with professionals, and design presentations to develop a portfolio.

If you are a graphic designing student pursuing a degree program, you must build a portfolio that is an integral part of the program. A portfolio is a demonstration of work including all the necessary designing skills, graphic software knowledge, effectiveness in communication, and efficiency in work. When you want to get a job, you must submit your portfolio with the resume. Hence you must invest time in creating an effective portfolio to stand out among the applicants.

After building an effective portfolio and gaining skills in the field, you now strive to earn your dream job. After landing on the job you start working on the advancement of your career by being up-to-date on the skills, software, and the latest technologies.

You could also pursue a Master’s degree such as MA or MFA to advance in the theoretical knowledge and creativity in work.

The associate’s degree in graphic arts is a two years course which gives you 65 credits to complete. It contains both the arts and general courses such as design theory and technology, typography, color theory, computer graphics, electronic imaging, and print/digital production. You are also given the option to easily transfer credits to the bachelor's degree and hence this acts as a stepping stone for the four year program.

 The bachelor's degree is a four year program that offers 120-180 credits hours to students which include the general education, core courses on graphic arts and electives. It is a program to provide knowledge to students on interactive design, typography, and motion graphics.

The master's degree is a two-year course and chosen by students who want to advance their knowledge in designing and graphic softwares. There are two options for you in the masters degree,

• Masters of Arts (MA): This is an advanced degree for students offered to specialize in the specific topics. Usually chosen by candidates who are interested in teaching or researching.

• Masters of Fine Arts (MFA): This is a professional degree for graphic students who prefer to research and explore various fields of graphic technology. A student graduating from MFA uses their portfolio and projects to get higher-earning jobs and communicate with the world or demonstrate the new skills acquired by them. 

Certificate programs differ from degrees in that they consist of fewer courses and may be completed in a relatively short time frame. While they do not offer the broad-based knowledge experience that comes from a full degree program, they offer a concentrated selection of courses which, when taken together, demonstrate expertise in a particular area.