Q: Can I learn graphic design on my own?

Yes, you can learn graphic design on your own. There are many ways to learn graphic design without formal training or education. While you don't need a formal education to become a graphic designer, you need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals. This means learning the principles of graphic design and effectively using elements like color, contrast, hierarchy, balance, and proportion in your work.

Q: Do graphic artists make good money?

Yes, graphic artists make good money. While the average graphic designer makes $50,000 a year, successful graphic designers get paid well. Highly skilled and experienced graphic designers, for example, can average $80,000 a year. Factors such as the type of graphic artistic role and the location impact how much a graphic artist can make.

Q: Is graphic arts a good career?

Yes, graphic arts is a good career. The graphic art industry is one of the most diverse fields an artist could enter. There are design needs across every industry, so graphic artists have many opportunities to take on a range of new and exciting projects. It can also be a very fulfilling career for this reason.

Q: Is graphic design a dying career?

No, graphic design is not a dying career. However, it is a rapidly changing industry that will require significant upskilling to keep up with the changes. The biggest area of growth in graphic design is in digital graphic design. As businesses transition from print advertising and publishing to digital and online marketing, this will increase.

Question 1

Graphic Artist vs. Graphic Designer

Accepted Answer

A graphic artist is someone commissioned to create graphic art for a specific project, while a graphic designer is a professional who creates visual concepts to communicate information.

Graphic artists may be illustrators or animators. They tend to have a specific style that lends themselves to be hired for certain types of projects. Graphic artists are involved in a wide array of projects including comic books, advertisements, company pamphlets, and book jacket covers.

Question 2

Can I learn graphic design on my own?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can learn graphic design on your own. There are many ways to learn graphic design without formal training or education.

While you don't need a formal education to become a graphic designer, you need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals. This means learning the principles of graphic design and effectively using elements like color, contrast, hierarchy, balance, and proportion in your work.

Question 3

What are careers in digital art?

Accepted Answer

Book illustrator, 3D modeler, and game designer are careers in digital art.

Book Illustrator
A book illustrator is a professional that creates drawings and other illustrations for books. The images that illustrators add help convey the ideas and messages of the books, as well as help bring the stories alive.
Many illustrators will usually specialize in illustrating certain types of books, like picture books or books in certain genres. Some book illustrators may write the books that they illustrate, but many simply add illustrations to existing manuscripts. Illustrators can work as a freelancer or as an employee of a business or corporations.
While illustrations are more commonly seen in children's books, they can be found in books for adults as well. This is particularly true for medical and healthcare books, where readers will see a number of diagrams and charts that are used to describe outcomes, medical conditions, or research studies.
When it comes to creating illustrations, some illustrators will work in tandem with the author of the book; however, in most cases, the illustrator will be given a description of the illustration that is desired, render the design, and submit it back to the author for approval. This is usually done through an editor or publisher.
A successful illustrator should be able to read stories, interpret them, and create an illustration using their own intuition and imagination. In most circumstances, they will use several different platforms or methods when creating an illustration. This can be anything from pencils and paint (or other traditional art mediums) to computer software.
3D Modeler
Another career option in digital art is a 3D modeler. Professionals who work in 3D modeling are often part of a larger design team creating projects like films, video games, commercials, and marketing campaigns. They often work in office buildings or agencies that are fast-paced and exciting.
A small percentage of 3D modelers may work from home; the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies 3D modelers under "multimedia artists and animators," and approximately 57% of these professionals are self-employed. Many who work with agencies still work from home.
A 3D modeler is a type of multimedia artist or animator who creates 3-dimensional models or visuals of items using a variety of different computer software programs and tools. This complex process is typically used to create 3D models for television, the motion picture industry, the video game industry, websites, and advertising.
3D modelers may also create 3D models for scientists, architects, engineers, and more. These professionals are very tech-savvy and must be very familiar with the variety of computer software programs used to build models, background scenery, and other elements required for projects.
The software involved in 3D modeling is constantly evolving, so it is of the utmost importance that anyone choosing this career stays up-to-date and current in their field. It is also important to have an artistic talent to accompany the understanding of the applications and software systems.
3D modeling requires a diverse set of skills, including software skills, modeling applications, and basic animation art. Along the same lines as a 3D modeler, a game designer is another option for someone looking at a career in digital art.
Game designer
A game designer works to create various games, levels, and steps for a video game. These professionals often work with level editing software that is created by the game programmer. This assists with the creation of levels without having to modify the actual game code.
Game design often involves creating the entire gameplay, including map features like cities, rooms, and tunnels to things like environmental conditions and weather and specifying the exact location of items. Designers will need a strong background in video game design as well as a deep knowledge of the programs and tools needed.

Question 4

What education do you need to become a graphic designer?

Accepted Answer

The education needed to be a graphic designer is a bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related fine arts field. To be qualified for more graphic designer jobs, most employers won't even consider you for a position unless you possess some form of degree or certification in graphic design.

Question 5

What is the difference between a graphic designer and a graphic artist?

Accepted Answer

The difference between a graphic designer and a graphic artist is that graphic designers use a user-centric approach to create content, whereas graphic art is simply an expression of ideas and emotions.

Question 6

Do graphic artists make good money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, graphic artists make good money. While the average graphic designer makes $50,000 a year, successful graphic designers get paid well. Highly skilled and experienced graphic designers, for example, can average $80,000 a year. Factors such as the type of graphic artistic role and the location impact how much a graphic artist can make.

Question 7

Is graphic arts a good career?

Accepted Answer

Yes, graphic arts is a good career. The graphic art industry is one of the most diverse fields an artist could enter. There are design needs across every industry, so graphic artists have many opportunities to take on a range of new and exciting projects. It can also be a very fulfilling career for this reason.

Question 8

Is graphic design a dying career?

Accepted Answer

No, graphic design is not a dying career. However, it is a rapidly changing industry that will require significant upskilling to keep up with the changes.

The biggest area of growth in graphic design is in digital graphic design. As businesses transition from print advertising and publishing to digital and online marketing, this will increase.

Question 9

What type of work does a graphic artist do?

Accepted Answer

The type of work a graphic artist does is to create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. To accomplish this, a graphic artist develops the overall layout and production design for projects such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and reports.

Frequently asked questions about graphic artists

Questions about becoming a graphic artist