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Custom designer vs graphic designer/production

The differences between custom designers and graphic designer/productions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a custom designer and a graphic designer/production. Additionally, a custom designer has an average salary of $59,230, which is higher than the $48,619 average annual salary of a graphic designer/production.

The top three skills for a custom designer include sketch, customer orders and customer service. The most important skills for a graphic designer/production are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Custom designer vs graphic designer/production overview

Custom DesignerGraphic Designer/Production
Yearly salary$59,230$48,619
Hourly rate$28.48$23.37
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs45,12395,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a custom designer do?

A custom designer's duties depend on their line of work or industry of employment. They are typically working together with a company's design and creative team where the tasks include meeting with clients to identify their preferences and needs, gathering and analyzing data to determine the best procedures, conceptualizing plans, drafting designs, and producing samples or prototypes for client approval. Furthermore, as a custom designer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with the creative and production team to ensure the accuracy and quality of the end product.

What does a graphic designer/production do?

A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.

Custom designer vs graphic designer/production salary

Custom designers and graphic designer/productions have different pay scales, as shown below.

Custom DesignerGraphic Designer/Production
Average salary$59,230$48,619
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $81,000Between $35,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMaryland
Best paying companyGeneral MotorsOptimum Nutrition
Best paying industryRetailTechnology

Differences between custom designer and graphic designer/production education

There are a few differences between a custom designer and a graphic designer/production in terms of educational background:

Custom DesignerGraphic Designer/Production
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Custom designer vs graphic designer/production demographics

Here are the differences between custom designers' and graphic designer/productions' demographics:

Custom DesignerGraphic Designer/Production
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 44.4% Female, 55.6%Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between custom designer and graphic designer/production duties and responsibilities

Custom designer example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish a theme redesign using css edits and html edits for a not for profit children's social network helpline.
  • Design and code responsive email templates to current industry standards using CSS, HTML and some JSON.
  • Develop functional wireframes and GUI prototypes in HTML using Dreamweaver MX.
  • Perform QC test on the fabric to ensure it meet customer requirements.
  • Utilize various graphical and animation software tools and technologies to transform graphical concepts into specific electronic applications on and off-line.
  • Create t-shirt graphics and logos for embroidery.
  • Show more

Graphic designer/production example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of products; custom banners, t-shirts, satin flags, from concept to final product.
  • Manage various publications including catalogs, catalog inserts, brochures, mailers and advertising material.
  • Develop and update conference materials, including PowerPoint presentations, posters, handouts, badges, table tents, and folders.
  • Produce corporate identity systems and collateral print materials, print advertising, product/capabilities brochures, direct mail and newsletters.
  • Produce daily, weekly and monthly newsletters in both print and HTML.
  • Create cleaner HTML email templates and help others within the group improve their HTML skills.
  • Show more

Custom designer vs graphic designer/production skills

Common custom designer skills
  • Sketch, 13%
  • Customer Orders, 13%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Customer Specifications, 8%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Graphic Design, 5%
Common graphic designer/production skills
  • Graphic Design, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 8%
  • Art Direction, 6%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Signage, 5%

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