Occupation

Graphic Designers

Human Advantage 73%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.6 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

Also Known As: Ad Designer (Advertising Designer), Ad Layout Worker (Advertising Layout Worker), Artist, Brand Designer, Catalogue Illustrator, Commercial Artist, Concept Artist, Creative Designer +27 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
  2. Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
  3. Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
  4. Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
  5. Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
  6. Use computer software to generate new images.
  7. Prepare digital files for printing.
  8. Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
  9. Research the target audience of projects.
  10. Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
  11. Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer.
  12. Study illustrations and photographs to plan presentation of materials, products, or services.
  13. Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
  14. Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.
  15. Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
  16. Research new software or design concepts.
  17. Produce still and animated graphics for on-air and taped portions of television news broadcasts, using electronic video equipment.

Supplemental Tasks (2)

  1. Photograph layouts, using camera, to make layout prints for supervisors or clients.
  2. Write or edit copy for clients.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
65%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
15%
Master's Degree
10%
Some College Courses
5%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
5%

Relevant College Majors

  • Design and Visual Communications CIP 50.0401Visual communication, branding, and digital design.
  • Commercial and Advertising Art CIP 50.0402Art and design for commercial and advertising purposes.

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • AJAX
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Apple macOS
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • Cascading style sheets CSS
  • Drupal
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Facebook
  • Figma
  • Google Docs
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
  • PHP
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro
  • WordPress
  • jQuery

Software (78)

  • Adobe ActionScript
  • Adobe ColdFusion
  • Adobe Distiller
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe FrameMaker
  • Adobe FreeHand MX
  • Adobe Macromedia HomeSite
  • Adobe PageMaker
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Apple Keynote
  • Apple iMovie
  • Apple iWork Keynote
  • Avid Pro Tools
  • Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Google Ads
  • Google Chrome
  • Google Drive
  • Google Slides
  • IBM Notes
  • LinkedIn
  • Maxon Cinema 4D
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Nuance OmniPage Professional
  • Oracle Eloqua
  • PDF readers
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • QuarkXPress
  • SignCAD Systems SignCAD
  • SmugMug Flickr
  • Social media sites
  • Verilog
  • WeVideo
  • Web browser software
  • YouTube

Tools & Equipment (10)

  • 35 millimeter cameras
  • Computer laser printers
  • Computer scanners
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital cameras
  • Graphics tablets
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopying equipment
  • Wide format printers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Design & Digital Arts Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Web Developers 78% match
Zone 4
Graphic Designers You are here

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