Choosing a career path is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. But how do you know which one is right for you? Jobs with a graphic design degree are plentiful, and there’s a wide range of options to choose from to fit your unique skill set. Best of all, the need for qualified graphic designers is expected to increase over the next decade. Barton College is here to show you what you can do with a degree in graphic design and what career options are available in today’s market.
What is Graphic Design?
Graphic designers create visual content across a wide range of media in order to communicate a specific message. It’s a craft that can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians, who used hieroglyphics to paint on cave walls. Later, in the 1920s, the term was coined as printmakers began to advertise in newspapers and magazines. Today, graphic design is used digitally and in print for a variety of purposes, including advertising and logo creation.
Career Fields for Graphic Design
A degree in graphic design opens the door to a wide range of career paths. So, if you’re considering this field, you can pick a position that showcases your strengths.
Graphic Designers
This position requires a person to create images, logos, and other visual content to connect to a specific audience. They may design brochures, product packaging, advertisements, or other forms of digital media to be distributed across a variety of platforms. Graphic designers have the option of working in-house for a company, for an agency that serves many clients, or as a freelancer who manages their own clientele.
Creative Director
A creative director leads the advertising efforts for a business by creating visual elements for their clients. With a graphic design degree, this person leads the pitch process, delegates creative work, and manages the budget for each project. They need to have excellent leadership and communication skills and the ability to manage several deadlines at once while sticking to a strict budget. As the creative director, this person is in charge of creating their client’s brand in a clear and effective way.
User Experience (UX) Designer
A UX designer’s job is to create an online experience that’s enjoyable, easy, and natural. This position typically focuses on web design with the user experience in mind. A UX designer is a creative, out-of-the-box thinker who’s great at problem-solving online roadblocks with the goal of making a seamless online experience for potential customers to enjoy. This position requires a person who’s tech-savvy and creative, which provides the perfect combination for visually appealing and effective online content.
Classes You Can Expect to Take for a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
A bachelor’s degree in graphic design opens up a world of opportunities. As you begin your path toward a degree, you will enroll in foundational classes that cover drawing in 2-D composition and 3-D design. As you continue, your courses will begin to focus on your unique interests and include special techniques, studio-based projects, and real-world learning opportunities.
Each student is encouraged to choose an area of concentration that prepares them for a career in their niche, and your classes will be tailored to provide the skills and experience you need to have a successful career post-graduation.
At Barton College, you can pursue concentrations in:
- Ceramics
- Graphic Design
- Painting & Drawing
- Photography
As a junior, each student takes a portfolio course where they get to showcase ten pieces of art in their area of concentration. The portfolio also includes drawings, 2-D art, 3-D art, and color pieces.
As a senior, students showcase their own work from their concentration in a Senior Art Exhibition.
Internship Opportunities
Students who attend Barton College have had successful internships at a variety of reputable companies, including:
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Mint Museum
- Jeffcoat Studios
- Carolina Cabinet Company
- Duke Press
- Images Photography Inc.
Start Your Career Path in Graphic Design with Barton College Today!
If you’re considering a degree in graphic design, explore your options at Barton College. Our undergraduate program provides the education, experience, and community you need to have a successful and fulfilling career in graphic design. Contact us to learn more about the program, and sign up for classes today.
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