Career in Graphic Arts

Graphic arts refers to the artistic interpretation and creation of design through artistic expression. In other words, graphic art is the art of visualizing ideas. Graphic artists use their creativity and talent to design, display, advertise, package and promote. Graphic design is seen everywhere in the world around us - from books and magazines, food products, cars, household appliances, clothing, computers, and everything in between.

A graphic artist is also often referred to as a graphic designer. He or she uses a diverse range of media to create designs and visually convey a message or an idea to the public. Since the aim of a graphic designer is to enhance the image and saleability of a product, the work profile could encompass designs for websites, logos, stationery, print material, advertisements, films and videos, posters, brochures, and other promotional materials. Responsibilities could also include overseeing layouts during printing of magazines, books and newspapers, designing sets for theatre and film and even furniture design. Many graphic designers still use traditional tools such as pencil, ink and paper but more and more now rely on computer aided technology and the latest design software to enhance their work.

Graphic artists are required to hold a Graphic Arts degree or a diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Art or Commercial Art. In addition to this, hands-on experience is necessary along with a portfolio full of ideas and work. A graphic artist needs to be independent and self motivated and possess the imagination and creativity to deal with a range of subjects and products. A close attention to detail and an instinct for color, shape and form is essential. A good graphic artist would be one with an exposure to a wide range of media and communication techniques. He or she will be fluent in handling all sorts of tools, techniques, drawings and models. Graphic designers need to evaluate their customer's needs and must be adept at all sorts of sales and marketing strategies. Therefore, a comprehensive knowledge of theory and methodology is required to excel in this type of career.

Today, good Graphic Design Programs mix creativity with technology and business skills. Course material should include (among others) - Web page design, Flash, Typography, JavaScript, Web Animation, Photoshop, Illustrator, Pre-press Operations, Internet Management, Marketing, Computer Fundamentals, and Desktop Publishing.

Graphic designers have the choice to work alone or as a part of a large design team. They could opt for consultancy services or freelance work if they do not want to be tied down to a particular design studio or advertising agency. Media opportunities for graphic artists could be found in print, packaging, movie, video, television or radio. Graphic artists can be employed by magazines or newspapers, books, advertising agencies and graphic design firms as well as non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, companies and for specific events.

A career in design could lead to various positions in the field of graphic arts such as Art director, Directors - state, motion picture, television, radio, Visual artists, Animators, Children book illustrators, Commercial and industrial designer, Fashion designer, Interior designer, Set designer, Painters and illustrators, Cartoonist, comic book artists, Camera operator, television, video or motion picture operators, Desktop publisher, Composing room supervisor and Online producer.

And as the years go by, jobs for graphic designers are only expected to rise and individuals with experience in animation and Web design will have the best opportunity to qualify for the newer job positions being created in the fields of technology. A career in graphic design is assuredly fast growing and one that is becoming more and more competitive with every passing day. People now recognize the earning potential of such a career and the flexibility and independence offered by the choices within this field. Whether you work full-time in a small studio or large agency or freelance full-time on your own terms, the bottom line is that graphic arts is a great choice for people who need to express themselves creatively and earn well at the same time.

Design a New Career in Graphic Arts

When you read a magazine, buy a product at the supermarket, look at a billboard, watch television, or cruise a website, chances are you're looking at the work of a graphic designer. Today's graphic designers use traditional tools including pencils and paper, but they also use the newest and most sophisticated computer design software. Computer design applications include Adobe Illustrator, PRIMO pdf, AutoCAD 3-D Modeling software, and Adobe Flash software for web-based flash designs. To learn how to effectively use these tools, you'll need the right training.

An Example: You Design an Ad for Sneakers

It's the job of a graphic designer to create a message using color, shape, line, and texture. The message can be structured to enhance the sale of a product, or it can be reflected in the product itself to create visual appeal and branding.

For example, consider a sporting goods manufacturer that is introducing a new line of classic basketball sneakers. If they are marketed effectively they will sell well to young adult men, whether or not the buyers actually play basketball.

The marketing director of the advertising agency responsible for introducing the new sneaker comes to you, the graphic designer. The marketing director asks you to create an Internet advertisement for the sneaker. It's got to look exciting, dynamic, and fresh. The ad may feature an endorsement by a pro basketball player.

Are you going to design your ad using a theme of pretty yellow daisies in a summer garden? Probably not. Daisies are lovely, but they won't sell basketball sneakers. Would you use a cute puppy? Again, no. Everyone likes puppies, but you wouldn't use one in your ad campaign for sneakers.

Using a program like CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, you might create a design showing a group of urban kids playing basketball on an asphalt parking lot. Maybe it's at night, and the only light is from an overhead street light. Perhaps your layout uses colors like black and purple and silver. The lettering in the text is slanted and dynamic. You can tell from the ad that the kids who wear the shoes are passionate about basketball.

Even before you begin, you've already made some choices that a graphic designer makes. Whether you are designing an ad for sneakers, the box the sneakers come in, or even the logo on the side of each sneaker, the choices you make help tell the consumer about the product.

How's the Job Outlook?

Like many specialized careers, your job prospects may depend upon your level of training. Most entry-level graphic design positions require an associate or bachelor's degree. You'll need to get training from an accredited college or career school. But finding a good school should not be difficult; the National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits about 250 postsecondary institutions with programs in art and design.

Once you've got the degree you need, what's the outlook? According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 40,000 new jobs will be added in this field in the current decade from 2008 through 2018. Median salaries were $42,400 in May, 2008, but annual earnings can go over $100,000 for those who have ownership interest in a successful firm.

Prospects will be better for graphic designers with website design and animation experience. Demand should increase for interactive media products including cellphones, video games, personal digital assistants, and other technology. Proficiency with computers and computer design programs will be an asset.

Is it a competitive field? Yes! But the rewards are great. Imagine creating graphic art that could be seen by millions of people, and may even influence popular culture. With the right training, imagination, and hard work, a rewarding career in graphic design could be yours.

Getting Started

If you enjoy visual design and want to get professional training, you'll need to find an accredited college or career school, either near you or online, that offers graphic design programs. But how do you find a school? The best way to start is to go online to a reputable college directory. You can enter the search terms that fit your situation, such as "graphic design," "associate degree," and your home town or ZIP code. You'll see a variety of choices. Check them out and compare programs, financial aid opportunities, career services, and schedules. Then with one click you can get free information from the schools you've chosen. Make your choice and apply. In less time than you think you could be on your way to a rewarding new career in graphic design.

Creating a Prolific Future Out Of a Graphic Arts Degree

The skills acquired from graphic arts programs can be utilized in every aspect of life, from mainstream movies to TV advertisements, free newspaper outlines to the pages in fancy magazines aimed for promotion. You can find your way into success if you have a graphic arts degree, because the advertising firms, professional designing firms, media studios and abundant other institutions require attractive images to prosper.

What Can You Achieve Having a Graphics Arts Degree?

You must determine the path you would prefer to follow in your study when you choose to have a degree on graphic arts. The scopes of these programs are extensive; photography, digital artworks, metal works and anything you say, are inside the range of these. The subject matters of your degree will mainly depend on your preferences.

Being a professional artist while teaching elementary graphic arts in Austin, Texas, Vector Martinez suggests a developing graphic artist to have graphic degrees which provide diverse experience. "It is mandatory foe you to put effort in each aspect of graphics designing, including digital imaging, creating lithographs, painting, printmaking, creating illustrations, designing websites or web pages and many more. Besides, you get the opportunity to work with many artists having similar aims, share and develop your ideas, install your opening show with them and most importantly, you can put together a team made of quality co-artists who would be always there for you during your professional tenure.

Courses and Workload Anticipations in Graphics Arts Programs

The degrees have versatile extent. Some states have universities which render great education only on various divisions of visual arts. Regular graphic arts degrees usually consist of various lesson plans followed throughout the semesters, ultimately leading the students to specialize on the branch of graphic study in which they are most confident and qualified.

Typical courses of a graphic arts degree are short-listed here:

Theory of colors
Fundamentals of designing a web page
Identity and branding
Designing layouts and outlines
Typographic design
Animation in Flash

It would require about 18 months to 4 years to complete your degree on graphic arts, determined by the degree you target and the effort you put in every semester. Where it takes only three or four terms to acquire an associate of arts graphic design degree, 48 months or more are required to complete a bachelor degree on fine arts or communication design.

Degrees on Graphics Art and the Employment Scenario

Back in 2009, the bureau of labor statistics (BLS) collected information and formed a database including the wages and employment condition in U.S for different occupations. According to them, in the Unites states, average yearly salary for all jobs was $43,460 which is adequate for a reasonable lifestyle. The report quoted the annual Income of the professionals in the fields of games and sports, entertainment, designing, mass media and arts to be $51,720 and these sectors form the industry super-sector into which most of the students are employed after graduation.

The Associate in Graphic Arts Degree: An Overview

Choosing a college degree program is never an easy decision. For most of us, it involves careful analysis of our strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and interests. For some who are lucky enough to have a talent, however, the choice of a major can be a natural extension of that talent.

If you're a gifted musician, choosing a major in music is a given. Have a knack for writing? Degree programs in journalism, communication, or English seem like the obvious choice. And if all you have done through your childhood, preteens, and teens is create art, then a graphic art degree is clearly the choice for you!

Graphic design is an excellent major for individuals who eat, drink, and breathe art-but contrary to popular perception, there is much more to a graphic design degree than art. Graphic design is a perfect amalgamation of creativity, technical proficiency, and business intelligence.

Having oodles of talent is important, but it's not enough to make you a stellar graphic designer. In addition to artistic talent, other qualities expected in a professional graphic designer are communication skills, ability to manage time, and teamwork. That's where a graphic program comes into play. A graphic arts degree helps you not only grow your artistic talent, but also helps you develop the technological and business proficiencies you need to pursue a career as a graphic designer.

Graphic Art Degree: Overview

Associate's degree graphic arts programs are available at design schools and community colleges as well as postsecondary four-year institutions.

These degree programs are typically two years long, and are designed to train graduates in using cutting-edge technology and design principles to create visual concepts that communicate an idea, thought, or message.

The objective of a graphic degree is to help students learn to use design techniques, traditional art concepts, color theory, typography, etc. in a business environment. That's why most graphic programs are also designed to provide graduates a solid understanding of the different functional areas of business.

Moreover, design work hardly happens now without the use of computers. So, graphic arts programs typically include training in the use of design software, desktop publishing tools, photo and video editing applications, etc.

Graphic Art Degree: Coursework

The coursework of an associate degree in graphic arts can be divided into several different categories: design, business, technology, and liberal arts.

As part of their design coursework, students are trained in web page design, typography, page layout, Illustrator, Photoshop, logo design, information design, Flash, etc. The graphic design degree curriculum includes business topics such as marketing, advertising principles, entrepreneurship, Internet commerce, etc.

Technology courses, such as computer fundamentals and programming languages, may also be a part of a graphic arts program, although there is more focus on such topics in a web design and development degree. Liberal arts courses tend to include English, sociology, communication, etc., in order to provide students a well-rounded education.

Graphic Art Degree: Prerequisites

To enroll in a graphic art degree, you should have a high school diploma or an equivalent GED credential. You should prepare for post secondary training by taking basic art and design courses in high school and creating a portfolio of your work.

Creating a portfolio is important, as some programs may require applicants to submit samples of their sketches, drawings, or designs.

CollegeAmerica was established in 1964. It has six campuses with comfortable facilities in Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona. It has trained generations of graduates for new careers in high demand jobs through its high-value degree programs.

CollegeAmerica offers undergraduate and graduate accredited degree programs in healthcare, business, accounting, graphic arts and computers. Its professional career assessment tool helps in choosing the right degree program. CollegeAmerica also offers flexible online programs through its affiliation with Stevens-Henager College.

Visual Graphic Arts - Cloud Sculpting with Lasers - The Future is Here

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, indeed, we have taken this common phrase and used it in our daily lives, as we talk with friends and family. The visual arts a much like this. What do I mean by visual arts? Well, things like architecture, photography, paintings, and cloud sculpting with lasers. What? Come again, what the heck is cloud sculpting with lasers you ask? Assuming you know what clouds are and lasers are it is self-explanatory right? Sure it is, but it's nothing you have ever seen so now I have indeed, piqued your curiosity.

Yes, that was the point of course, so you are intrigued by this concept are you? Well, I know I was when I first learned of it. It seems some University Students playing around with lasers under a research grant from the military were testing these low powered lasers and noticed that they could drill holes in the clouds and cause them to swirl, yep, you guessed it, just like a kid playing with finger paints, probably one of the first visual arts you learned, they wrote their names in the clouds.

And folks that is how laser cloud art came to be. After some practice they could draw on the clouds slightly and someone figured out that if they set up a computer to a mechanism they could use a graphic arts program and a CADCAM to design something and have the laser, well, do its thing on the cloud and draw a picture. So, this is how cloud laser art was able to prove its usefulness. The ultimate self expression of the visual arts, drawing on the clouds!