5 Industries That Are Hiring Graphic Designers

Manufacturing
Publishing
Advertising
Computer Systems Design
Design Services

With plenty of industries that are hiring graphic designers, there are a number of career paths available to students who pursue an online bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Graphic designers skillfully develop images that convey messages and ideas, and the ability to do this is valuable in a wide range of industries.

Manufacturing

One of the industries that are hiring graphic designers is manufacturing. Piecing together parts of a product might not sound like an artistic job, but the industry has its creative aspects. Some graphic designers develop the look of the product’s packaging, combining the right images, wording and layout to convert browsers into buyers. Other graphic designers play a role in designing a product that looks good and functions well. Graphic designers who work in manufacturing may have job titles like “industrial graphic designer.”

Publishing

In the publishing industry, graphic designers create the images, like advertisements and logos, that appear in printed works like magazines, newspapers and books. They design the layout so that the content is easy to read and eye-catching where appropriate. While print publishing has historically been an industry where graphic designers were in demand, the trend toward digital publications is changing that. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates graphic design job opportunities in newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers to drop by 35 percent over just a decade. Still, publishing jobs are out there – especially for graphic designers who have the skills to design digital media as well as print layouts.

Advertising

Advertising is another industry that is hiring graphic designers. Graphic designers who work in the advertising field typically work for an advertising agency or else are self-employed and do design work on a freelance basis. In an advertising role, graphic designers develop the visual illustrations and animations used in an ad and the layout that pulls together the images and text.

Computer Systems Design

Unlike print publishing, computer systems design is among the industries that are hiring graphic designers at increasing rates. In fact, the BLS predicts that graphic design jobs in computer systems design will rise by 21 percent over a decade. This increase in career opportunities is a result of the increasing popularity of the Internet. Graphic designers who work in computer systems design develop website layouts and the digital media used on those sites.

Design Services

Of course, a graphic designer doesn’t have to limit his or her skills to only advertising or websites or printed materials. Specialized design services is still the industry that is hiring the most graphic designers, according to the BLS. One in five graphic designers is self-employed, designing images for clients in any number of industries.

Manufacturing, publishing, advertising computer systems design and design services are among the industries in which aspiring graphic designers who earn their degrees may someday work, according to U.S. News & World Report.

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