Studio Art - Graphic Design

The studio major concentrating in Graphic Design provides creative thinking and technical skills for a variety of career paths. This degree program offers a solid foundation for work toward graduate degrees and art-related vocations.  Related Occupations Many students begin careers as a web design coordinator, illustrator, print design coordinator, or freelance designer and publisher. Students are also prepared to pursue graduate degrees in Art History, Art Therapy, and Art Education. The studio major concentrating in Graphic Design provides creative thinking and technical skills for a variety of career paths. This degree program is designed to provide a solid foundation for work toward graduate degrees and art-related vocations. Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be accepted toward elective hours in art.

Related Occupations

Photo editor, Apparel graphic designer, Logo designer, Packaging designer, web designer, Multimedia designer, Advertising designer, Publication designer, Art director, User interface (UI) designer, User experience (UX) designer

Graphic design presents several opportunities for self-employment. If you’re the kind of person who likes to work for yourself then graphic design may be a good option. You will need to learn how to market yourself to new clients and stick to a work schedule without a manager, but there are excellent opportunities available if you can do it. With so many web design and advertising firms relying on freelancers and contractors, you can make a good living using just your laptop and a copy of Photoshop.

Niche designers earn excellent salaries. If you can find a niche in a particular industry and focus your talents in that direction then you will likely experience a higher salary than a general graphic designer. Those individuals who specialize in artwork for sports teams, for example, have chosen a profitable niche that is likely to pay much better than a simple junior designer position at an ad agency.

Fast Facts

• There will be an increase in demand for graphic designers over the next decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a 13% increase in demand for graphic designers by 2020. As new businesses start up and more and more commerce becomes dependent on the Internet, graphic designers will play an increasingly crucial role in commerce.
• Graphic designers are critical for marketing. All of the products and services that you choose to pay for needed someone to produce visual marketing material at some point. Everything from the label design on your soda can to the billboard advertising your insurance company relied on a graphic designer for their marketing.