National
| Median wages (2008) |
$20.39 hourly, $42,400 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
261,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
95,000 additional employees |
27-1024.00 - Graphic Designers
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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Graphic Designer, Graphic Artist, Designer, Creative Director, Artist, Design Director, Composing Room Supervisor, Creative Manager, Desktop Publisher, Graphic Designer/Production
Tasks
- Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
- Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Internet websites.
- Review final layouts and suggest improvements as needed.
- Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
- Use computer software to generate new images.
- Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
- Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Desktop computers |
| Laser printers — Computer laser printers; Wide format printers |
| Notebook computers — Laptop computers |
| Photocopiers — Photocopying equipment |
| Scanners — Computer scanners |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — FileMaker Pro software; Microsoft Access; Structured query language SQL |
| Desktop publishing software — Adobe Systems Adobe Distiller; Adobe Systems Adobe FrameMaker; Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign; QuarkXpress |
| Graphics or photo imaging software — Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks; Adobe Systems Adobe FreeHand; Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator; Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite |
| Web page creation and editing software — Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver; Adobe Systems Adobe Flash Player; Adobe Systems Adobe Macromedia HomeSite |
| Web platform development software — Adobe Systems Adobe ColdFusion; Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Hypertext markup language HTML; JavaScript |
| 27-1011.00 |
Art Directors |
| 27-1013.00 |
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators |
| 27-1021.00 |
Commercial and Industrial Designers
|
| 27-1022.00 |
Fashion Designers |
| 27-1025.00 |
Interior Designers
|
| 27-1027.00 |
Set and Exhibit Designers |
| 27-2012.02 |
Directors- Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio |
| 27-4031.00 |
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture |
| 39-5091.00 |
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance |
