Communications Design
Career Opportunities and Resources
SAMPLE LIST OF CAREER POSSIBILITIES FOR COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN GRADUATES:
Advertising Designer or Director Digital Project Manager
Creative Director Lead Web/ Graphics Programmer
Graphic Designer Web Analyst
Marketing Consultant Image Editor
Promotional Designer Content Editor- Web
Layout Designer HTML Coder
Packaging Designer Communications Manager
Merchandiser E-Commerce Coordinator
Web Designer Integrated Marketing Designer
Web Administrator Illustrator
Multi-Media/ Interactive Media Specialist Catalog Designer
Publishing Industry Designer Production Art Manager
Signage Designer Visual Communicator
Corporate or In-House Designer Special Effects Artists
Freelance Designer/ Digital Artist Computer Artist
Exhibit Designer Graphic Designer for Film/ Television
RELATED SKILLS:
Apply project planning skills in order to determine client marketing objectives and goals
Demonstrate knowledge of XML
Develop, design, and publish a web design project using industry standard software and applying overall
industry design standards
Create a professional web site with e-commerce elements built on HTML with dynamic HTML
Distinguish the roles of participation in a web design team
Demonstrate the ability to work independently yet manage projects within diverse creative teams and groups
Apply management concepts and theory to solve problems in visual communications
Use technology to create typographic designs and layouts
Apply theory to graphic design using image and type
Use advanced Adobe PhotoShop techniques to address organizational, conceptual and image editing processes
CONFERENCES:
AIGA Design Conference—Biennial conference to celebrate design excellence and to cover critical issues in the
design community http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/design-conference-2009
The Big Brand Theory – Seminar on the back-story of big brands, and emotional connections that make those
brand’s success
Graphics of the Americas—Conference for design professionals to stay up to date on the latest technology
http://www.graphicsoftheamericas.com/
HOW Design Conference—Conference for design professionals http://www.howconference.com/GeneralMenu/
Rocky Mountain College Art + Design • Career + Alumni Services Office
1600 Pierce St. • Denver • CO • 80214 • P: 303.753.6046 • F: 303.225.8610
careerservices@rmcad.edu • www.rmcad.edu
EMPLOYMENT:
Creative Hotlist—Online resource for connecting talent with companies www.creativehotlist.com
Designer Today—Website for graphic design jobs, allows you to list design services you provide
www.designertoday.com
AIGA Design Jobs—Professional jobs in the design field http://designjobs.aiga.org/public/jobs_browse.asp
Denver Egotist —Job listings for the Denver Metro area http://www.thedenveregotist.com/
Coroflot—A fast, easy way to get your creative projects online and in front of the right people
The only job board that gives you access to the full creative spectrum http://www.coroflot.com/
CareerShift—Job and contact search management tool provided free to RMCAD students and alumni by the
Office of Career + Alumni Services
Government Jobs—Federal and state governments do hire artists and designers. http://www.usajobs.gov/
http://www.studentjobs.gov/ Government Internships at http://www.makingthedifference.org/
Jobs in Art—A paid subscription service that RMCAD Career + Alumni Services sponsors for you. See posting
under ‘Careers’ in the student portal, or on the Alumni Portal under Current Jobs in Art List.
Kickstarter—Funding platform for creative projects http://www.kickstarter.com/
FREELANCE EMPLOYMENT:
iFreelance--Post your profile today and get access to 1000's of buyers in need of your professional services.
Advertise to buyers, bid on projects, and earn money doing what you love to do. Commission-Free!
http://www.ifreelance.com/
The Creative Group—Matching talent with companies http://www.creativegroup.com/
Design Firms—As one of the world's leading directories of web designers, developers, graphic designers, etc.,
your business can reach thousands upon thousands of visitors each month. http://www.designfirms.org/
Go Freelance-- Go Freelance is dedicated to bringing you all the latest freelance jobs and employment
opportunities, with new listings added daily http://www.gofreelance.com/
Guru—Market your skills, find online freelance work, and get paid http://www.guru.com/
Freelance Designers—List your freelance company in the directory to provide quotes on job bids
http://www.freelancedesigners.com/dir/graphicdesign/
Creative Allies—A community for anyone who loves to create. Creative people from anywhere in the world can
upload Creations for their favorite bands and get paid http://www.creativeallies.com/
Elance—Platform for flexible employment helps businesses hire and manage online instead of onsite
www.elance.com
oDesk—With an average job size of $5,000, oDesk is the best place to find meaningful work and top-flight talent
www.odesk.com
Behance—A platform for creative professionals across all industries. Members create multi-media portfolios
that showcase their work within the Network, as well as throughout partner sites and organizations, and the
industry-specific Served Sites. Millions of visitors — including top creative companies, recruiters, editors, and
more — come to the Network to see the incredible work and find talent to hire. http://www.behance.net/
MycroBurst—A site for consumers to post design specs and get designs completed.
http://www.mycroburst.com/
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts)—Oldest and largest professional membership for and about design
http://www.aiga.org/ -Colorado Branch: http://www.aigacolorado.org/
Graphic Artists Guild—National union of creatives to talk about and pursue common goals and to raise industry
standards http://www.gag.org/ Also: www.graphicartistsguild.org/
Rocky Mountain College Art + Design • Career + Alumni Services Office
1600 Pierce St. • Denver • CO • 80214 • P: 303.753.6046 • F: 303.225.8610
careerservices@rmcad.edu • www.rmcad.edu
SEGD (Society for Environmental Graphic Design)—Global community that brings together graphic design and
architectural design http://www.segd.org/
Association of Graphic Communications—A network for industry information and idea exchange
http://agcomm.org
IAPHC The Graphics Professionals Resource Network—International organization dedicated to individuals in the
printing and graphic arts industry http://www.iaphc.org/
Printing Industries of America/ Graphic Arts Technical Foundation—The world’s largest graphic arts trade
association representing an industry with approximately one million employees http://piagatf@piagatf.org
Society of Publication Designers— The Society of Publication Designers is dedicated to promoting and
encouraging excellence in editorial design. http://www.spd.org
Society for News Design—Enhancing communication around the world through excellence in visual journalism.
http://www.snd.org
National Association of Independent Artists— http://www.naia-artists.org
Type Directors Club— International organization supporting excellence in typography, both in print and on
screen. Articles, videos, competitions and membership information. www.tdc.org
Artists Rights Society—Provides visual artists with support for copyright clearance and monitors the use and
potential abuse of artists' rights. http://www.arsny.com
New York Society of Renderers—Local 800 is comprised of Art Directors, Graphic Artists, Illustrators, Matte
Artists, Model Makers, Scenic Artists, Set Designers and Title Artists. http://www.artdirectors.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Webmaster Organization—Webmaster Club is the unified place to log into a group of various websites providing
products and services for webmasters. http://www.webmaster.org
LinkedIn—Professional networking site. Can join industry groups and connect with other professionals.
Recruiters search this system for potential employment http://www.linkedin.com/
AIGA Designer Directory—The AIGA designer directory is the perfect place to expand your professional
network. Do a search in your area to find local professionals who are doing what you want to do. Send them an
email sharing your story, and asking for the opportunity to meet. You never know who could become a potential
employer or client http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/designer-directory/
PUBLICATIONS:
Designer Today—design magazine and tutorial resource http://www.designertoday.com/Home.aspx
Graphic Artists Guild’s Handbook of Pricing & Ethical Guidelines—printed by the Graphic Artist’s Guild, about
copyright, contracts, and other industry information http://www.gag.org/about/index.php
Baseline—typographic magazine about the use and history of type and it’s connection to graphic design
http://www.baselinemagazine.com/
CMYK—magazine where emerging artists can showcase their work, and gives reports on individuals
revolutionizing the art and design world http://www.cmykmag.com/
Eye—a quarterly print magazine about graphic design http://www.eyemagazine.com/home.php
OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK AND WAGE STATISTICS:
The most effective way to gauge your potential earnings in your field is to conduct an employment search in the
region you want to work and average the wage for 6 jobs that you would be qualified for
US Bureau of Labor Statistics— US Government resource that provides salary information as well as
occupational outlook statistics http://www.bls.gov/OES/current/oes271024.htm
Design Salaries—The AIGA/Aquent Survey of Design Salaries, commissioned annually by AIGA
http://www.designsalaries.com/
Salary.com— Free salary calculator that provides average pay rate for professions in different geographic
regions http://www.salary.com/
Rocky Mountain College Art + Design • Career + Alumni Services Office
1600 Pierce St. • Denver • CO • 80214 • P: 303.753.6046 • F: 303.225.8610
careerservices@rmcad.edu • www.rmcad.edu
INTERNSHIPS:
Please keep in mind that this list is not a comprehensive list of all available internship opportunities. Use these resources
to assist you with places to begin looking for internships, or volunteer experience. There are many other resources at
your disposal – use them creatively and contact local companies directly. Share your story and desire to gain experience
while you’re still in school or recently graduated, and inquire about serving as an intern or volunteer for them. The
experience you gain will be invaluable!
Check local companies:
o Wall Street On Demand (Coordinated through Communication’s Design Chair)
o RipCord www.pullthecord.com
o Genesis Incorporated http://genesisinc.com/home2.phtml
o DeOlivera Twigg Eubanks Creative http://dtecreative.com/
Company owned and operated by two RMCAD Alumni
o Colorado Production Resource Guide http://www.cprgonline.com/guide/post-production-graphics-
animation-visual-fx/717/5
Interships.com— http://www.internships.com
AIGA Design Internships—Internships in the design field http://designjobs.aiga.org/public/internships.asp
Rocky Mountain College Art + Design • Career + Alumni Services Office
1600 Pierce St. • Denver • CO • 80214 • P: 303.753.6046 • F: 303.225.8610
careerservices@rmcad.edu • www.rmcad.edu