How to Transition into a Graphic Design Profession
Are you considering switching careers to become a graphic designer? Congratulations, you're about to join thousands of others who have done the same.
Making a living as a graphic designer has never been easier. And better yet, you don't need any previous design experience to get started. But before you dive headfirst into learning how to become a graphic designer, there's a few things you should know.
In this article, we'll cover
Why Graphic Design Is a Great Career Choice
Skills Needed to Become a Graphic Designer
How to Create a Portfolio If You Have No Experience
Ways to Get Your First Graphic Design Job
Why Graphic Design Is a Great Career Choice
Ready to make a career change? Consider this:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 20,000 annual job openings for graphic designers across the country. Those are a lot of open positions for hungry designers who are willing to work for them. Another reason graphic design careers are worth considering is the types of roles available.
There's way more to graphic design than printing flyers and posters. Designers today craft visuals for websites, apps, social media graphics, packaging, branding…you name it. Graphic design careers these days are varied and diverse. Not to mention in-demand.
Businesses large and small need professionals who can display who they are online. Graphic designers solve those types of problems for money.
Expect that need to grow. As more companies build out their digital marketing teams, graphic designers will continue to fly off the employment radar.
Oh yeah, one more thing…The median annual salary for graphic designers is $61,300. Top-tier designers make over $100k each year just doing what they love.
Skills Needed to Become a Graphic Designer
Before you quit your day job and open up your business, you should know what skills you need.
Technical skills include:
Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (primarily Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign)
Typography
Layout Design Principles
Familiarity with design-focused tools like Figma and Canva
I could go on and list more skills, but don't fret over the ones you don't know. Many of these skills are taught through online classes. Plus, you don't need to know everything to start getting clients.
Here are some soft skills employers want to see:
Ability to solve visual problems
Communication skills with clients and coworkers
Ability to meet deadlines
Openness to constructive criticism
The most successful designers are professionals who listen to feedback, stay on schedule, and know how to pinpoint their client's needs.
How to Create a Portfolio If You Have No Experience
There's a problem with switching to almost any career.
If you have no experience, you won't have a portfolio. And without an impressive portfolio, you won't land clients or gigs.
The good news? You can build your own fake projects. Designing made-up projects for nonexistent clients may sound silly, but it works.
"Fake" projects can include:
Rebranding your local coffee shop or bookstore
Designing a logo for your favorite pizza place
Creating graphics for a product launch
Create quality sample projects that demonstrate your design skillset. Pretend you're the designer for local businesses or startups. Think outside the box and design pieces you'd be excited to show off to potential employers.
Again, quality over quantity. Having five strong projects is better than showing off twenty projects you didn't put much time into.
You should also consider doing free or heavily discounted work for charities or small companies. NGOs, local non-profits, and startups are great places to find design gigs that will help you build up your portfolio. Win-win.
Ways to Get Your First Graphic Design Job
Cool, you have some skills and a portfolio. How do you actually get hired as a graphic designer?
As mentioned above, there are plenty of openings in the design industry. According to recent industry data, approximately 94% of first impressions are design-related. Businesses big and small understand the importance of graphic design, and they want skilled designers on their teams.
Here are four ways you can start getting hired.
Work as a freelance designer (eg. Fiverr)
Apply to entry level graphic designer positions
Look for internship opportunities
Search for contract work
Like I mentioned earlier, each path into graphic design comes with its pros and cons. But don't forget about networking. You have to put yourself out there.
Attend design workshops. Meet up with local creatives. Message designers on LinkedIn. You'd be surprised how many job opportunities are kept hidden from the public.
Here are some tactics you shouldn't ignore:
Email companies you admire and tell them you're looking for work.
Post your designs on Instagram and keep your audience engaged.
Reach out to designers who you look up to for informational interviews.
Volunteer your services to non-profits.
There's nothing worse than waiting for a reply after you've applied to a job. But if you take action and consistently put yourself out there, you're sure to find work.
Remember when I said that most successful designers have been rejected before? It's true.
Tips to Make the Transition Easier
Believe it or not, you won't be able to quit your job tomorrow and start earning money as a designer. If you want your transition into graphic design to be somewhat easy, you have to prepare for it.
Start learning graphic design skills now
Save up money in case you struggle to find clients
Create your portfolio while you're still working
Begin networking with other designers
Some people will want to freelance on the side until they have enough clients to make a full-time living. Others will take the leap and start their journey as a designer immediately. Better to start now than to never start at all.
Keep in mind, your first design job probably won't pay as well as your current role. But with experience under your belt, you can make the jump to higher-paying positions.
The graphic design industry is very dynamic. You can make six figures designing motion graphics or crafting unique brands.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a graphic designer is possible no matter your situation. There are dozens of companies looking for talented designers who can solve visual problems.
To recap:
Switching to a career in graphic design has many benefits.
You can learn all of the skills you need online
Take the time to create your own fake design projects
There are multiple routes into the design industry
Don't be afraid to reach out to companies you admire
Remember, graphic design careers weren't like they are today. Whether you're interested in traditional graphic design or digital product design, there's a place for you in this industry.
Ready to take the leap?
Learn how to become a graphic designer, then show the world what you can do.