Why learn graphic design?

If you’re someone who wants to start a career that meshes both creativity and technical skills, learning graphic design can be a great way to break into a new field. The term ‘graphic design’ is broad as a whole but, generally, is defined as using visual communication to convey different ideas or messages to an intended audience. Graphic design professionals work in numerous industries and achieve this by using a combination of imagery and layout to create their visuals. Learning fundamental design skills is not only a great way to move up in your current role or start a new professional path, but having these skills in your toolkit can help you stand out in a competitive job market, regardless of the industry.

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Graphic design offers a promising job outlook

Starting a new career in a graphic design-related role means you’ll be entering an industry with a promising job outlook in the coming years. Whether your goals are to become a graphic designer or you just want to master Adobe Creative Cloud to boost skills for your current role, having a strong toolkit is the best way to set yourself up for success. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates nearly 21,000 new job openings in graphic design from 2023-2033. The average salary for Graphic Designers in the U.S. falls just under $61,000, though this number can vary depending on location and experience. 

In addition to the Graphic Designer title, professionals like Digital Designers with similar skill sets will also see promising growth over the next decade. Along with Web Designers, this field will see an 8% growth rate over that time, a figure that is higher than the national average for all occupations. 

Top skills learned during graphic design classes

If you’re ready to take a graphic design class to boost your skills, it’s important to understand what you’ll learn in beginner-level classes to determine if the program aligns with your personal and professional goals. Students with prior experience using different design tools may find some courses to be too basic in the curriculum and should consider a graphic design certificate program as a way to build on existing skills and pursue certification, such as becoming an Adobe Certified Professional in Graphic Design & Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator. 

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Graphic design training will almost always include learning Adobe programs like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. These are the industry-standard options when it comes to professional design projects. 
• Typography and layouts: These topics include learning how to structure text and balance elements to make sure final products are cohesive and, most importantly, readable. 
• Editing fundamentals: You’ll also gain experience completing fundamental image editing tasks like adjusting contrast and brightness and removing backgrounds. 
• Workflow organization: Another important skill gained during graphic design training is how to manage different file types and keep your workflow organized.
• Creative problem-solving: In addition to the more technical skills, learning graphic design means picking up soft skills like creative problem-solving, which is key for making edits and the design process as a whole.
• Portfolio development: Gaining design skills means working on projects that are ideal to use in a professional portfolio. Classes often teach the best ways to host and present these as well.

Careers that use graphic design skills

Outside of working as a Graphic Designer, there are numerous roles that incorporate the skills these professionals use into their responsibilities. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the most common job titles for those with graphic design skills:

• Freelance designer: While many designers choose to work in-house in more traditional roles, some prefer to freelance and work on their own. Freelancing has many benefits, such as choosing what projects you take on and being able to set your own hours, yet not all designers thrive with this level of freedom. However, freelancing is ideal for earning extra on the side or as a way to gain a bit of experience for your portfolio before applying for a full-time job.
• Visual designer: This role is one that incorporates both graphic and user interface (UI) design by working on and managing virtual experiences. You’ll often find visual designers working on websites and digital products to make sure the content properly represents the brand and that messages are delivered with accuracy to the target audience.
• Marketing designer: A marketing designer is someone who creates the elements used in content like advertisements and email promotions. In addition to having strong design skills, these professionals must have an understanding of brand identity and varying digital platforms. 
• Multimedia artist: This title is a broad term that essentially means working with design, animation, and video to produce content for a variety of platforms. They create graphics and animated content for publishing not only online but also in the film and television industry. The role requires a blend of technical aptitude and creativity, making it a solid choice for designers with some video editing or animation experience.

The difficulty level of learning graphic design will vary depending on how much experience you have and how much time you have to dedicate to learning a new set of skills. However, with the right approach and willingness to learn, it’s not too challenging to gain a fundamental understanding of design principles and how to complete basic tasks with the various Adobe programs.

If you’re looking to learn graphic design but aren’t sure where to start, try looking through some of the top graphic design classes in Los Angeles to get a feel for the options available and to see which matches your goals. It’s also important to consider not only the class schedule but whether or not you have enough time outside of class to practice and continue building those new skills. It can be difficult to pursue a new learning journey while working or dealing with a busy schedule, but evening and summer graphic design classes often offer part-time or more flexible options for attending classes.