What does a computer graphic designer do?
Computer graphic designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real computer graphic designer resumes:
- Create ads, manage copywriting, respond to customer inquiries, generate brand unity, establish clear company identity.
- present: Macintosh and PC platform.
- Create slides for speaker support, image slides from both PC & Macintosh platforms, and slide duplication.
- Design and typesetting of e-manuals, brochures, and flyers.
- Create layouts and designs for approval including creative concepts, and typesetting.
- Create numerous company desktop backgrounds for employee computers and computers send out for training purposes.
- Create teen advocacy/awareness ads, fliers, and posters for advertising for various forums and symposiums.
- Create illustrations for on-screen graphics, posters, slide decks, technical papers, and a book.
- Possess a thorough understanding of the Internet and all points and types of connectivity, hardware; laptop and desktop equipment.
- Develop animated PowerPoint presentation for corporate lobby and website, which engage customers with informative facts about company and products.
- Color-Correct photographic images and make sure vector images for print are CMYK.
Computer graphic designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Computer Graphic Designers are proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Graphic Design, and Adobe Illustrator. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Computer Graphic Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Adobe Photoshop, 14%
Designed Computer Graphics using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Graphic Design, 13%
Designed were favored over other compositors and graphic designers for advertisements and given extra duties for design.
- Adobe Illustrator, 11%
Performed various jobs using Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop to produce high quality.
- Layout Design, 6%
Gathered requirements and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to discuss and determine layout design.
- Design Brochures, 5%
Design brochures for campgrounds along with advertising on brochures.
- Computer Graphics, 5%
Designed Computer graphics for digital data broadcasting and new media data broadcasting.
Most computer graphic designers use their skills in "adobe photoshop," "graphic design," and "adobe illustrator" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential computer graphic designer responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a computer graphic designer to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Additionally, a computer graphic designer resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "automated the creation of 300+ page catalogs using custom programs to insert sql data into adobe indesign. "
Artistic ability. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling computer graphic designer duties is artistic ability. The role rewards competence in this skill because "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." According to a computer graphic designer resume, here's how computer graphic designers can utilize artistic ability in their job responsibilities: "designed artistic signage for special corporate events. "
Communication skills. computer graphic designers are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to computer graphic designer responsibilities, because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." A computer graphic designer resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "developed and implemented high quality, cost-effective, on-time conceptual design solutions for corporate marketing, print and web-based communications. "
Computer skills. For certain computer graphic designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "computer skills." The day-to-day duties of a computer graphic designer rely on this skill, as "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what computer graphic designers do: "produced ads and promotional pieces using harvard graphics and desktop publishing software on ibm compatible computers. "
Creativity. Another common skill required for computer graphic designer responsibilities is "creativity." This skill comes up in the duties of computer graphic designers all the time, as "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." An excerpt from a real computer graphic designer resume shows how this skill is central to what a computer graphic designer does: "created layouts and designs for approval including creative concepts, and typesetting. "
Time-management skills. Lastly, "time-management skills" is an important element of what a computer graphic designer does. Computer graphic designer responsibilities require this skill because "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." This resume example highlights how computer graphic designer duties rely on this skill: "worked on multiple packaging projects, web graphics and tradeshow graphics at the same time while under tight deadlines. "
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Compare different computer graphic designers
Computer graphic designer vs. Graphic artist
A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project. A graphic artist may work with a graphic designer in order to convey the overall message of a project. The portfolio of a graphic artist includes cartoons, illustrations, and graphic novels.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, computer graphic designer responsibilities require skills like "design brochures," "computer system," "macintosh," and "troubleshoot." Meanwhile a typical graphic artist has skills in areas such as "art direction," "photography," "brochures," and "mac." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, graphic artists reach similar levels of education than computer graphic designers. Graphic artists are 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Computer graphic designer vs. Designer
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that computer graphic designer responsibilities requires skills like "layout design," "design brochures," "computer graphics," and "posters." But a designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sketch," "customer service," "html css," and "javascript."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Designers tend to reach similar levels of education than computer graphic designers. In fact, they're 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for computer graphic designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood
Associate Professor, Graphic Design Art, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Computer graphic designer vs. Assistant designer
Assistant designers act as administrative support to senior designers in creating innovative designs by negotiating with the vendors about the prices of decoration materials. They are keen and up-to-date to the latest fashion and trends by conducting surveys and research. They are exceptionally creative and innovative and have excellent IT skills as they use illustration, typography, and photography layouts in the design process. However, being an assistant designer, career development relies on his/her /her specialism, reputation, and experience depending on how its opportunities are influenced by the company he/she works for.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, computer graphic designers are more likely to have skills like "graphic design," "layout design," "design brochures," and "computer graphics." But a assistant designer is more likely to have skills like "sketch," "tech packs," "line sheets," and "trend research."
Assistant designers typically earn similar educational levels compared to computer graphic designers. Specifically, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Computer graphic designer vs. Web designer
A web designer is a creative professional responsible for creating and redesigning the content and layout of websites. Web designers are required to meet clients and users to discuss the needs and goals of their clients. To create graphics, colors, and fonts, web designers usually use HTML coding to alter the website's layout. Web designers must build their portfolio by taking on unique projects for themselves and the people they know.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between computer graphic designers and web designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a computer graphic designer might have more use for skills like "layout design," "design brochures," "computer graphics," and "adobe indesign." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of web designers require skills like "wordpress," "html css," "javascript," and "ui. "
In general, web designers hold similar degree levels compared to computer graphic designers. Web designers are 3.1% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of computer graphic designer
Updated January 8, 2025
