What does a publications designer do?
Publications designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real publications designer resumes:
- Manage website redesign including copywriting and updating all website content.
- Assist with all in-house product photography, setting up and styling shots for catalog and advertising use.
- Design the inner spreads of both books, and complete the typesetting.
- Revamp the photo studio for better lighting and overall quality of the photography.
- Provide extensive digital photography for various projects.
- Maintain and update current manuals for all equipment produce in-house and identify areas for improvement in existing literature.
- Manage construction contract crews to ensure adherence to design specifications and NESC.
Publications designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Publications Designers are proficient in Graphic Design, Adobe Indesign, and Adobe Creative Suite. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Computer skills.
We break down the percentage of Publications Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Graphic Design, 20%
Started as a temp Product Photographer, now doing more layout and graphic design work.
- Adobe Indesign, 14%
Used adobe photoshop, adobe illustrator, and adobe indesign.
- Adobe Creative Suite, 13%
Assisted Marketing Coordinator in creation of publicity materials utilizing Adobe Creative Suite software.
- Publication Design, 9%
Executed responsibilities as publication designer by working across a wide variety of digital and print projects.
- Art Direction, 9%
Managed production of final electronic art, assisted in press supervision and collaborated on photographic and illustrative art direction.
- Adobe Photoshop, 8%
Design a variety of projects utilizing Microsoft Office, and Adobe PhotoShop and Illustrator.
Common skills that a publications designer uses to do their job include "graphic design," "adobe indesign," and "adobe creative suite." You can find details on the most important publications designer responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a publications designer to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "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." Publications designers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "authored hotspot links from graphic callouts to parts data using active cgm authoring tool. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling publications designer duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." According to a publications designer resume, here's how publications designers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "collaborated with editors to brainstorm and develop high-quality communication solutions, ensuring synergy between editorial and graphic design. "
Computer skills. This is an important skill for publications designers to perform their duties. For an example of how publications designer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a publications designer: "increased client's productivity by initiating and managing computerized asset management system for media and print materials. ".
Creativity. publications designer responsibilities often require "creativity." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." This resume example shows what publications designers do with creativity on a typical day: "traffic manager of the printing and inventory of marketing publications for the in-house marketing department. "
Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in publications designer job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what publications designers do. Publications designer responsibilities rely on this skill because "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." You can also see how publications designer duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "coordinated graphic design department to ensure that our team mets deadlines finalizing the creative development of a theme park. "
The three companies that hire the most publications designers are:
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Compare different publications designers
Publications designer vs. Graphic designer, marketing
A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations. One may also subject designs into various revisions and edits as needed. Furthermore, as a graphic designer, it is also essential to keep abreast of the latest trends and have an understanding of the target audience.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, publications designer responsibilities require skills like "publication design," "design solutions," "photography," and "technical manuals." Meanwhile a typical graphic designer, marketing has skills in areas such as "brochures," "blog posts," "flyers," and "digital marketing." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Graphic designers, marketing earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $52,640. On the other hand, publications designers are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $79,707.On average, graphic designers, marketing reach similar levels of education than publications designers. Graphic designers, marketing are 4.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Publications designer vs. Graphic designer internship
In a graphic design internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to accomplish tasks while under the supervision of more experienced colleagues. An aspiring graphic designer may use this opportunity to observe and participate in designing for various industries, handle different clients, participate in creative meetings, and learn strategies from experts. Furthermore, there may also be technical tasks involving research and analysis, gathering materials, coordinating with vendors, and producing reports and other necessary documentation. They may also be responsible for maintaining a database and responding to calls and inquires.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real publications designer resumes. While publications designer responsibilities can utilize skills like "publication design," "art direction," "in-house," and "technical manuals," graphic designer interns use skills like "graphic design intern," "blog posts," "adobe illustrator," and "flyers."
Graphic designer interns earn a lower average salary than publications designers. But graphic designer interns earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $41,614. Additionally, publications designers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $79,707 annually.graphic designer interns earn lower levels of education than publications designers in general. They're 5.9% less 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 publications designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood
Associate Professor, Graphic Design Art, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Publications designer vs. Graphic designer/production
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.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a publications designer is likely to be skilled in "publication design," "design solutions," "in-house," and "photography," while a typical graphic designer/production is skilled in "adobe illustrator," "signage," "brochures," and "design concepts."
Graphic designer/productions make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $59,531. On the other hand, publications designers are paid the highest salary in the retail industry, with average annual pay of $79,707.graphic designer/productions typically earn lower educational levels compared to publications designers. Specifically, they're 5.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Publications designer vs. Senior graphic designer
A senior graphic designer oversees all of the designing operations in a company, from conceptualization to production. One of their primary responsibilities is to ensure that all designs produced are according to a client's preference and brand. They also encourage fresh ideas from the team, communicate with clients or representatives, and manage the schedules to meet all deadlines. Furthermore, as a senior graphic designer, they are responsible for leading and mentoring a team of graphic designers, all in the joint effort to reach project goals.
Types of publications designer
Updated January 8, 2025
