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What does a Graphic Design Specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.
What does a Graphic Design Specialist do

A graphic design specialist utilizes their artistic expertise in creating imagery and designs that convey a particular message. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to determine their needs and goals, developing concepts and subjecting it for client approval, and revising designs as necessary. In a company setting, a graphic design specialist may work with a team, coordinating with them while sticking to budgets and deadlines. Furthermore, as a team member, it is essential to report to managers or supervisors, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

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Graphic design specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real graphic design specialist resumes:

  • Launch and manage the acquistion, design and catalog for the animation line of liscens products.
  • Lead the development and execution of several overhead presentations, advertising design, brochure marketing, and desktop publishing initiatives.
  • Create presentations from customer direction, including graphics, charts, and animation.
  • Build email campaigns, database selection, HTML presentation and quality assurance of all outbound campaigns.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations for pharmaceutical companies through the process of drug approval in front of the FDA regulatory committee.
  • Assist with the launch of several services, including an HTML newsletter, district YouTube channel and emergency notification system.
  • Create high quality artwork for Johnson & Johnson companies worldwide, complying to all local, international and FDA requirements.
  • Photograph inventory for Instagram posts and advertising.
  • Coach consultants in effectively utilizing PowerPoint and other applications.
  • Develop complex research and graphic projects for corporate management utilizing mini-computer and desktop systems.
  • Revise an existing PowerPoint presentation by adding and designing several slides to client's specifications.
  • Establish a SharePoint base system for storage, retrieval, and archiving proposal illustrations and corporate marketing and executive materials.
  • Receive recognition from senior management for contributing to accelerate revenue growth as a result of developing and implementing comprehensive design strategy.
  • Design logo and apparel screen printing, embroidery and team uniform merchandise.
  • Oversee all aspects of production from screen printing, embroidery, and laser engraving to ordering of products and supplies.

Graphic design specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 19% of Graphic Design Specialists are proficient in Graphic Design, Adobe Creative Suite, and Visualization. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Graphic Design Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Graphic Design, 19%

    Sole provider of graphic design to entire organization servicing literally every department which encompassed two locations.

  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%

    Supported the visual design team for multiple projects, creating and editing design file templates using Adobe Creative Suite.

  • Visualization, 5%

    Composed 3-dimensional visualization animations and renderings of proposed systems utilizing 3D Studio MAX.

  • PowerPoint, 5%

    Traveled to various medical conventions to over-see the end-product and user experience of PowerPoint Presentations and designs

  • HTML, 4%

    Assisted with the launch of several services, including an HTML newsletter, district YouTube channel and emergency notification system.

  • Brochures, 4%

    Handled internal corporate design work and various projects including brochures, informational posters and presentations.

Common skills that a graphic design specialist uses to do their job include "graphic design," "adobe creative suite," and "visualization." You can find details on the most important graphic design specialist responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a graphic design specialist to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what graphic design specialists do 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 design specialist resume shows how graphic design specialists use analytical skills: "created and maintained sharepoint site, a design and collateral database for lifeworks. "

Artistic ability. Many graphic design specialist duties rely on artistic ability. "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers," so a graphic design specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways graphic design specialist responsibilities rely on artistic ability: "use computer-aided design systems and artistic techniques to create and revise still graphics and animations. "

Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of graphic design specialists is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday graphic design specialist 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: "key responsibilities include the development of graphic design, advertising, communications and industrial design publications. "

Computer skills. For certain graphic design specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "computer skills." The day-to-day duties of a graphic design specialist 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 design specialists do: "initiated the first macromedia flash animation for computer-based training in the history of the company. "

Creativity. Another common skill required for graphic design specialist responsibilities is "creativity." This skill comes up in the duties of graphic design specialists all the time, as "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." An excerpt from a real graphic design specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a graphic design specialist does: "mentor and provide leadership to graphic designers by giving direction on creative and technical aspects of design projects. "

Time-management skills. Lastly, "time-management skills" is an important element of what a graphic design specialist does. Graphic design specialist responsibilities require this skill because "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." This resume example highlights how graphic design specialist duties rely on this skill: "managed printing & design projects for 30+ clients while meeting strict deadlines. "

See the full list of graphic design specialist skills

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Graphic Design Specialist Resume
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Compare different graphic design specialists

Graphic design specialist vs. Production artist

A production artist is responsible for managing digital content, meeting clients' standard specifications and requests for successful project completion. Production artists must have computer proficiency, especially on utilizing various software tools and applications to create illustrations and layouts. They also work closely with the creative team, cooperating in brainstorming sessions to ensure the consistency for each assigned task. A production artist should be keen on details, adjusting outputs as needed to maintain the highest quality for the actual presentation.

The annual salary of production artists is $5,945 higher than the average salary of graphic design specialists.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between graphic design specialists and production artists are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like graphic design, adobe creative suite, and powerpoint.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between graphic design specialists and production artist. For instance, graphic design specialist responsibilities require skills such as "visualization," "integrated marketing," "brochures," and "html css." Whereas a production artist is skilled in "production art," "photography," "digital assets," and "production process." This is part of what separates the two careers.

On average, production artists reach similar levels of education than graphic design specialists. Production artists are 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Graphic design specialist 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.

A career as a designer brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a graphic design specialist. In fact, designers salary is $10,422 higher than the salary of graphic design specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Graphic design specialists and designers both require similar skills like "graphic design," "adobe creative suite," and "powerpoint" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that graphic design specialist responsibilities requires skills like "visualization," "integrated marketing," "brochures," and "animation." But a designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "revit," "aided design," and "product development."

Designers may earn a higher salary than graphic design specialists, but designers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $87,754. On the other hand, graphic design specialists receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $67,457.designers earn similar levels of education than graphic design specialists in general. They're 2.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Graphic Design Specialists 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

Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we experience the arts, generally for the better. I anticipate great strides in the fields of digital media and digital music. Technology affords us the opportunity to connect with a larger, more global audience on the one hand, and also kindle, in a younger generation, an interest in the arts.

Graphic design specialist 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.

On average scale, visual designers bring in higher salaries than graphic design specialists. In fact, they earn a $30,570 higher salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on graphic design specialists and visual designers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "graphic design," "adobe creative suite," and "visualization.rdquo;

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 design specialist is likely to be skilled in "integrated marketing," "brochures," "flyers," and "sharepoint," while a typical visual designer is skilled in "visual design," "ui," "user experience," and "invision."

Visual designers earn the best pay in the start-up industry, where they command an average salary of $121,675. Graphic design specialists earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $67,457.When it comes to education, visual designers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to graphic design specialists. In fact, they're 4.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Graphic design specialist vs. Interactive designer

An Interactive Designer takes the business product and transforms it into a product that the user interacts with perfectly. They support engineering efforts to develop designs and get the details right.

Interactive designers tend to earn a higher pay than graphic design specialists by an average of $42,004 per year.According to resumes from graphic design specialists and interactive designers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "graphic design," "adobe creative suite," and "visualization. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between graphic design specialists and interactive designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a graphic design specialist might have more use for skills like "integrated marketing," "brochures," "adobe illustrator," and "flyers." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of interactive designers require skills like "user experience," "ui," "interaction design," and "invision. "

Interactive designers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $126,017. For comparison, graphic design specialists earn the highest salary in the technology industry.In general, interactive designers hold higher degree levels compared to graphic design specialists. Interactive designers are 8.9% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of graphic design specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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