Your thoughts on this article

WbThemer1 · 02-18-2013, 01:48 AM

I was just tweeted this article on Graphic Designers and the income potential of the profession. Was curious as to your thoughts on it. FTR, I am not a professional graphic designer, but have certain interests in the field. There are also several designers in my business networking groups.

Thoughts? Thanks!

<b> · 02-18-2013, 02:03 AM

It's probably more or less accurate for those designers who are actually established and working in the field. The wages, however, differ wildly from one industry to another and from one part of the country (or world) to another.

What isn't stressed in the article is how difficult it is to actually break into the field. Despite the world needing lots of graphic designers and the need for them growing, there are still far more people who want to get into the field that there are entry-level positions for them.

In the past, anyone with a knack for design, some artistic talent and an interest could probably land a job and work his or her way into the field. Today, that's a very unreliable entry path. Even with a four-year design degree, it's tough to get hired and extremely competitive. Assuming that the designer has the skill, natural talent, ambition, dedication, and two or three years worth of good experience, it can be a good career.

tri_me · 02-18-2013, 08:18 AM

I think the potential earnings and job opportunities is all dependent on location and how one presents themselves.

Alastair · 02-18-2013, 10:38 AM

It depends where a developer or designer lives and how he market his services.

PrintDriver · 02-18-2013, 02:02 PM

Like <b> said, established maybe. And one should always remember that about 1/2 of respondents make 'below average' wages. Probably more if the survey happens to be taken in an area where a few highly paid designers can offset quite a few low paid ones (NYC) for example. I think you'll find the response rate to salary surveys to be quite small. And skewed toward the higher end as those who make below living means tend not to answer such surveys.

WbThemer1 · 02-18-2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by <b>

What isn't stressed in the article is how difficult it is to actually break into the field. Despite the world needing lots of graphic designers and the need for them growing, there are still far more people who want to get into the field that there are entry-level positions for them.

So, in essence, the increased need/growth is, actually, for "experienced" designers that have already established themselves, correct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by <b>

In the past, anyone with a knack for design, some artistic talent and an interest could probably land a job and work his or her way into the field. Today, that's a very unreliable entry path. Even with a four-year design degree, it's tough to get hired and extremely competitive. Assuming that the designer has the skill, natural talent, ambition, dedication, and two or three years worth of good experience, it can be a good career.

The classic "Catch 22" of entry level job seeking.

Trying to gain experience, but not being able to get the needed experience because you "don't have the needed experience."

Just to be clear, this is how it seems to work in almost all professions, not just graphic design. You have to fight/scrap your way into it (or, into an "apprenticeship", etc.). How well you do that can, often, determine your success in gaining entry and staying within the given profession.

Thanks for the thoughts!

PrintDriver · 02-18-2013, 04:39 PM

The Catch 22 in graphic design is even more egregious because a lot of colleges do not stress the importance of a properly mentored internship. We recommend here that a student not even wait for a college mandated internship. They should be out looking for part time work at the beginning of their junior year at the latest. NOT freelancing work. Supervised work where they can learn not only the mechanics of design but the proper procedures for the various ways design output is created. The fact that some colleges don't even require an internship means there are even more unskilled designers out there. If a college does not offer an internship, ask why.

Freelancing shouldn't even be considered until after at least 5 meaningful years (preferably 10) in the industry working for someone else. That and having the management skills to run a business. There are far too many students out there without skills putting out crap and doing their 'clients' a disservice. They don't have a business plan and don't have even the rudiments of the legal part of the business set up.

As for the being creative part...
Graphic design is not about art. The designer doesn't get to do whatever creative thing pops into their head. It's all about the client's message and the most concise, memorable way to get it across. That sometimes means a designer has to forget their artistic wants and do what is needed. Far far too many design students find this out too late.

WbThemer1 · 02-18-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrintDriver

As for the being creative part...
Graphic design is not about art. The designer doesn't get to do whatever creative thing pops into their head. It's all about the client's message and the most concise, memorable way to get it across. That sometimes means a designer has to forget their artistic wants and do what is needed. Far far too many design students find this out too late.

Precisely. We face similar issues in IT... frequently, with a lot of ethics involved.
One of the biggest battles I often experienced was in re: the decision to do:

what the customer wants vs.
what the customer "really needs" (based on our "professional" experience/expertise) vs.
what we might "get away with" (based on the customer's inexperience) in re: "up-selling" them (to make us look bigger/earn us more $$$)

I always disagreed with #3 - but a lot of my IT management did not.

It's what led to my departure from corporate life and my desire to build my own business and be my own boss. Sometimes, you have to go with #2 above if "what the customer wants" isn't going to solve their problem (either long or short term), or the solution would cost them more than is necessary to achieve "what they want." I'd much prefer building "longer term" relationships with repeat business and word of mouth, than to go for the "quick/short term" profit. Perhaps, it's a harder road, but a more satisfying one to me at EOD.