Graphic Designer Career Information - PDF

							  Macleans College Careers Department – Career Information Sheet                                                                                         March 2008


Graphic
                                    Tasks & duties                    Pay and prospects                                  How to enter the job
                                    Graphic designers                 Pay                                Personal qualities:                Tertiary Education
                                    may do some or all of             Salaries vary, but                 Graphic designers need             To become a graphic
Designer                            the following:
                                     • discuss requirements
                                                                      graphic designers usually
                                                                      earn between $30,000
                                                                                                         to be motivated, creative
                                                                                                         and accurate, with an
                                                                                                                                            designer you need to
                                                                                                                                            have a tertiary
                                       of the project with            and $75,000 per year               eye for detail. They also          qualification in graphic
Graphic designers create
                                       their client                   depending on                       need to be able to accept          design, media arts or
artwork, such as logos,
                                     • analyse the purpose of         experience, ability, and           criticism, work well under         visual communication.
packaging, advertising or
                                       the project                    the region they work in.           pressure and be open to            You are also required to
posters, for the promotion
                                     • discuss how to                                                    learning new skills.               have a portfolio of work.
or development of goods,                                              Career progression:
                                       approach the project
services and ideas. They                                              Some graphic designers                                                Entry Requirements:
                                       with colleagues                                                   Physical requirements:
may also design artwork                                               may progress to start                                                 Portfolio (& interview) +
                                     • develop design ideas                                              Graphic designers need
and/or layout for fabrics,                                            their own companies.                                                  Year 12 NCEA Level 2 or
                                       by researching and                                                to have good hand-eye
magazines, websites and                                                                                                                     AS for Certificates and
                                       brainstorming with             Job outlook: Average               co-ordination and normal
other publications, or help                                                                                                                 Diplomas.
                                       colleagues                     The outlook for graphic            colour vision.
to develop television                                                                                                                       Portfolio (& interview) +
                                     • prepare sketches,              designers is average and           Need to avoid
advertisements.                                                                                                                             Year 13 NCEA Level 3 or
                                       instructions and layout        the number of people               Occupational Overuse
                                                                                                                                            AS / A Levels University
                                       diagrams                       employed in this                   Syndrome (OOS).
Related jobs:                                                                                                                               Entrance for Degrees.
                                     • suggest production             occupation is expected to
Artistic Director
                                       methods, materials             remain stable over the             Secondary education:               Providers include:
Clothing Designer
                                       and costs                      next two to three years.           At least four years of             AUT
Illustrator
                                     • show design ideas to                                              secondary education is             www.aut.ac.nz
Industrial Designer                                                   Competitive Entry:
                                       the client                                                        preferred.
Interior Designer                                                     An increase in the                                                    Auckland University
                                     • receive client feedback
Photographer                                                          number of design                                                      www.auckland.ac.nz
                                       and alter the design                                               Useful subjects include:
Screen Printer                                                        courses and design
                                       accordingly.                                                       • Art                             MIT
Signmaker                                                             graduates over recent
                                                                                                          • Art Design                      Manukau School of
                                                                      years means competition
                                                                                                          • Art History                     Visual Arts
                                                                      for positions is high.
                                                                                                          • Art Painting                    www.manukau.ac.nz
                                                                      There are few chances to
                                                                                                          • Art Photography
                                                                      enter a design company                                                Massey University
                                                                                                          • English
                                                                      without any prior                                                     Albany
                                                                                                          • Graphics
                                                                      training.                                                             Wellington
                                                                                                          • Mathematics.
                                                                      Opportunities do exist                                                www.massey.ac.nz
                                                                      for people with no
                                                                      graphic design                                                        UNITEC
                                                                      experience in the                                                     www.unitec.ac.nz
                                                                      printing industry.
                                                                         Turnover:
                                                                         Low to moderate.
  This is only a brief summary. It is essential that you check detailed information available on Kiwicareers www.careers.govt.nz and other relevant websites and prospectuses.