A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic arts and design industry who assembles typography, images, or animated images to create a design. The designs are created for print and electronic media and are often used for publication. The primary role of the graphic artist is to present information in a way that is both accessible and memorable.
While it is not mandatory to have a degree in graphic design or a closely related field, it is highly recommended to pursue a 2 or 4 year degree. Working an internship while in college will give the student a taste of the real world, and a spot of experience for their resume when school is complete and a degree is in hand.
Opportunities in graphic design are many, but the competition is tough. An outstanding portfolio will help in opening doors to employment or self employment may be considered. It takes a great deal of self discipline and effort to establish a graphic design agency, but, for the right person, it could be a dream come true.
The successful graphic designer will develop solid design skills in art and illustration, composition and color, communication and presentation. They are the foundation and core of the skills necessary to compete in the world of graphic design.
Software is used extensively in graphic design and will be produce the finished product. Adobe, Quark and Corel are the big three software developers in graphic design. Adobe makes software to create and work with pdf formats such as FrameMaker, PageMaker and InDesign. Quark software is associated with desktop publishing, such as QuarkXPress, which is used in newspaper and magazine layout and Serif PagePlus which is used for creating graphics and images. Corel is primarily a graphics creation software and used in conjunction with other design software.