What does a graphic art designer do?
A graphic art designer specializes in conceptualizing and planning various art projects. They typically work at publishing companies, advertising agencies, tv and film industry, and other commercial art settings, together with graphic artists and other creators. Their responsibilities usually revolve around coordinating with the creative team, identifying the clients' preferences and projects' requirements, utilizing software and programs, developing layouts and drafts, presenting designs to clients, and performing revisions as necessary. Moreover, a graphic art designer must maintain an active communication line with team members for an efficient and smooth workflow.
Graphic art designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real graphic art designer resumes:
- Create ads, manage copywriting, respond to customer inquiries, generate brand unity, establish clear company identity.
- Prep customer create art for flyers, business cards, posters, etc.
- Create logos, flyers, business cards, marketing materials, and design websites.
- Design a variety of print publications including brochures, programs and banners.
- Update and maintain pages on the website including html code editing as needed.
- Design collateral, corporate identity, brochures and direct mail from thumbnails to final mechanical.
- Develop HTML website, blog and provide client with marketing ideas to help promote their business.
- Direct photography for commencement ceremony.
- Develop, protect and maintain brand identity through careful management of logo usage, photo selection, typography and messaging.
- Collaborate with various parks and botanical gardens around Chicago to provide rebranding
Graphic art designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 35% of Graphic Art Designers are proficient in Graphic Design, Web Design, and Design. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Graphic Art Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Graphic Design, 35%
Executed product designs, package designs, and graphic design direction for three major retail channels over the holiday season.
- Web Design, 13%
Incorporated the design process for Packaging, collateral, web design and direct marketing campaigns.
- Design, 10%
Coordinated with photographers to ensure results were consistent with advertising layout design and within deadline parameters.
- Autocad, 8%
Designed new office space for various companies using 3D software and a AutoCAD
- Photography, 7%
Directed photography for commencement ceremony.
- Design Concepts, 4%
Demonstrated outstanding versatility and creativity to maintain network integrity and availability while simultaneously contributing graphic design concepts to production team.
"graphic design," "web design," and "design" are among the most common skills that graphic art designers use at work. You can find even more graphic art designer responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a graphic art 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 graphic art designer resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "designed videos, brochures, pattern reading, data collection and testing, rapid prototyping, interpretation, insight sorting. "
Artistic ability. Another essential skill to perform graphic art designer duties is artistic ability. Graphic art designers responsibilities require that "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." Graphic art designers also use artistic ability in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created numerous artistic & creative brand/logo designs for small to medium size companies. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of graphic art designers is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday graphic art designer duties, as "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "conducted communications between customers, staff, and designers to assure that all specifications of the design were met. "
Computer skills. For certain graphic art designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "computer skills." The day-to-day duties of a graphic art 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 graphic art designers do: "used computer software to generate new images. "
Creativity. Another crucial skill for a graphic art designer to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what graphic art designers relies on this skill, since "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." How this skill relates to graphic art designer duties can be seen in an example from a graphic art designer resume snippet: "demonstrated excellence in meeting deadlines, finding creative solutions, and flexibility when working with others. "
Time-management skills. While "time-management skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to graphic art designer responsibilities. Much of what a graphic art designer does relies on this skill, seeing as "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of graphic art designers: "managed workflow of graphic designers in order to produce all items within a set deadline. "
The three companies that hire the most graphic art designers are:
- The Walt Disney Company1 graphic art designers jobs
- Johnson Brothers1 graphic art designers jobs
- University of Maryland, Baltimore1 graphic art designers jobs
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Compare different graphic art designers
Graphic art 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between graphic art designers and web designer. For instance, graphic art designer responsibilities require skills such as "web design," "design," "autocad," and "design concepts." Whereas a web designer is skilled in "css," "wordpress," "html css," and "javascript." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Web designers earn the highest salaries when working in the internet industry, with an average yearly salary of $81,039. On the other hand, graphic art designers are paid more in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $69,509.The education levels that web designers earn slightly differ from graphic art designers. In particular, web designers are 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a graphic art designer. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Graphic art designer vs. Junior designer
A junior designer is an entry-level professional who is responsible for creating high-quality designs according to the requirements of clients. Under the supervision of senior designers, junior designers must understand project requirements and projects and use various techniques to create drafts, models, and prototypes. They collaborate with team members to pitch in creative ideas and produce final design solutions that can include banners or logos. Junior designers must also take on specially design tasks and use feedback from other designers to improve.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that graphic art designer responsibilities requires skills like "design," "autocad," "photography," and "brochures." But a junior designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sketch," "revit," "construction drawings," and "auto cad."
Junior designers may earn a higher salary than graphic art designers, but junior designers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $55,726. On the other hand, graphic art designers receive higher pay in the hospitality industry, where they earn an average salary of $69,509.junior designers earn similar levels of education than graphic art designers in general. They're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for graphic art designers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.
Department Chair Visual and Performing Arts, Professor of Music and Humanities, College of Central Florida
Graphic art designer vs. Visual designer
A visual designer is someone who creates designs for a variety of platforms such as Internet and intranet sites, games, and wearables. The duties of visual designers depend on the specific project or industry in which they are working. Duties include creating user-centered interaction models, working with information technology and business teams to resolve complex issues, and designing logos, icons, and infographics. The qualifications to become a visual designer include possessing strong problem-solving, communication, and negotiation skills and obtaining a bachelor's degree in design.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a graphic art designer is likely to be skilled in "web design," "design," "brochures," and "flyers," while a typical visual designer is skilled in "sketch," "visual design," "ui," and "user experience."
Visual designers earn the best pay in the start-up industry, where they command an average salary of $121,675. Graphic art designers earn the highest pay from the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $69,509.visual designers typically earn similar educational levels compared to graphic art designers. Specifically, they're 2.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Graphic art 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.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between graphic art designers and designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a graphic art designer might have more use for skills like "design," "autocad," "photography," and "brochures." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of designers require skills like "sketch," "customer service," "css," and "html css. "
In general, designers earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $87,754. The highest-paying industry for a graphic art designer is the hospitality industry.designers reach similar levels of education compared to graphic art designers, in general. The difference is that they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of graphic art designer
Updated January 8, 2025
