Starting out...

How did you get your start doing graphics designer work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

I suggest you use the wonderful WWW. There are several places on the web where you can compete to get paid for your graphic design, degree or not.

Over at www.Worth1000.com they have logo competitions for real companies and pay real cash. This is a great way to build a spec ad portfolio of some basic work even if you don't win any money.

There are also websites like www.getafreelancer.com where people bid on jobs.

Search the graphic design ads here at Indeed, and make a point to familiarize yourself with the software employers want.

But your best bet is going to be start your own local business.

This is very good question because I have a degree in Art and I focused my classes in Graphic Design. I took all the classes but last class, which is why I don't have a BFA degree. BUT How can I start my career/dream of being a graphic artist if nobody is hiring entry level designers or allowing us to get this 3-5 years expierence that companies are looking for?

When I was going to school it was still ok to have an Associates Degree. Not now! I can't get a look because #1 I don't have the BS degree, and #2 I don't have the quote unqote work experience. But how do you get work experience with out someone giving you a chance? If someone knows tell me!

I graduated with a BFA in 2005 and am still looking for work in this field (largely due to the area I live). Make sure your portfolio is tight but competition is tough and practice your interviewing skills. Now I consider my work pretty good maybe not expert level yet but I know I have the potential to be great. What I did to gain experience before I landed a contract position with a company is to freelance. Start doing some work for family friends and acquaintances. Make up some business cards, make sure you have an a website that shows your work and ask other small businesses if they need a website made.
Its always best to know/learn the latest graphic programs like Adobe's: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. and web design apps like Dreamweaver, Flash, and maybe some Fireworks. Adobe Acrobat.

Richard in Charlotte, North Carolina said: I know many people that are very successful in this business and never went to college. The key to getting a job is knowing the programs and being a good designer which you can easily teach yourself by reading books, studying others work, and developing a good portfolio. Most jobs will give you a test and that is the way you will get a job. Some people with college degrees can't even design an ad. You would be shocked. I am 51 and have worked at many agencies and it's less then what is on your resume and more about what you can do, what you know and what your portfolio looks like. Learn the programs meaning Quarkxpress, Adobe CS, Dreamweaver and Flash and develop a killer portfolio and you can get a job. Knowing both Mac and PC are helpful but if one is your preference you are going to be limited to jobs that use that platform. Macs are the most widely used computers for graphic design so I suggest if you are using PCs you now know the PC. It's time to go to the apple store!

A little secret but I am not telling you to lie..lol..nobody calls the college to see if you went there and companies that are out of business can't be contacted. Do what ever you have to do to get in the door. Once you get in the door and you know what you are talking about and can perform you are in. That is the bottom line.

Thank You you advice is so appericiated. This is so helpful for me. Thank you so much

Best way to start is to be a Graphic Artist FIRST. Don't expect to be a Graphic DESIGNER right away because it is a different level altogether. LEarn the ropes of the real world first. Start at the end of the line not in the middle. Start with a sign company or a small print shop who needs people who can use the BASIC softwares like Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. Believe me, if you start learning the "production" part of the "industry" first, there's a better chance of getting your foot wet in the graphic design world. This small shops are teeming with business opportunities and contacts. Nobody will hire a Graphic designer who doesn't even know the basics of printing and production.

John Converse in Columbus, Ohio said: When I was going to school it was still ok to have an Associates Degree. Not now! I can't get a look because #1 I don't have the BS degree, and #2 I don't have the quote unqote work experience. But how do you get work experience with out someone giving you a chance? If someone knows tell me!

Try freelance agencies, if you pass the hands-on test your in the door then you will get the experience. Sometimes the company your freelanceing with will hire you if they like your skills and personality... do you fit in, that's what they want. But remember, know your programs like InDesign (1st) Quark (2nd) and Illustrator. And when your freelanceing, DON'T do personal stuff like surfing the net, talking on your cell and emailing. The work staff is watching you.
Good luck!

ritarick in Minneapolis, Minnesota said: Try freelance agencies, if you pass the hands-on test your in the door then you will get the experience. Sometimes the company your freelanceing with will hire you if they like your skills and personality... do you fit in, that's what they want. But remember, know your programs like InDesign (1st) Quark (2nd) and Illustrator. And when your freelanceing, DON'T do personal stuff like surfing the net, talking on your cell and emailing. The work staff is watching you.
Good luck!

What freelance agencies do you suggest?

Any that deal with graphics like:
www.art-online.com/cache.aspx?id=1173
www.digitalpeople.net/

Try a search for "graphics temp jobs".

I hope that helps.

Isabel in Honolulu, Hawaii said: Best way to start is to be a Graphic Artist FIRST. Don't expect to be a Graphic DESIGNER right away because it is a different level altogether. LEarn the ropes of the real world first. Start at the end of the line not in the middle. Start with a sign company or a small print shop who needs people who can use the BASIC softwares like Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. Believe me, if you start learning the "production" part of the "industry" first, there's a better chance of getting your foot wet in the graphic design world. This small shops are teeming with business opportunities and contacts. Nobody will hire a Graphic designer who doesn't even know the basics of printing and production.

There isn't much difference between artist and designer these days. Basic knowledge of the Adobe big 3 won't get you into a sign shop especially when most use CorelDraw and various rips, print shops are even more varied with their software applications. Better know typography and specifically kerning.

What's truly sad is most employers clump print & web designers into one position. I refuse to do anything with the web.

2 friends & I have started a design company (print & web). We all 3 have varying degrees of industry experiences but none of us have freelanced. What is the "industry standard" for pricing in web design? We've gotten very good advise (especially for our region), curious about everyone's proclivities.

Also, what are your views to websites that are flash heavy?

Thanks in advance.

Pricing in web depends on your region and how knowledgeable you are with your services. Professional businesses may charge alot just for a simple 5 page design like $600 but that may include hosting, and programming php, etc. But still again even if you ask for a simple static design it could be $500 for 5 pages = $100/page.

Freelance designers may charge less and it can be customized to your liking any where from $30 - $100/page depending on the experience, creativity, service, and location.

I love Flash heavy websites if they are done creatively and load quickly. I heard its hard to get exposure if its a strictly flash site with no html behind it for seo, meta tag purposes but other than that they are great.

a real designer in Saint Louis, Missouri said: No you do not have to have a degree in design, The only people who will tell you that are the ones who did not have enough talent or creativity and had to have someone teach them. If design is what you want to do you have two choices: 1. You can go to college and get your degree and then spen 90% of the money you make to pay back your school loan or 2: get some real experence teah yourself the software and be confident about your skills and get a design job!

I would think that some drawing and design courses would be in order just to learn the basics. I think you probably could teach yourself the rest, follow it up with a solid portfolio and get hired that way. But...without a strong understanding of drawing and especially of design how good can you expect to be? I mean..unless you've been studing those things on your own for your entire life!

This isn't about "talent" this is about education. An education you can obtain regardless of if it is self taught or taught by others (if need be). Anyone can learn to draw and anyone can learn the basics of design.

To get a job in todays market without a degree would be harder then if you had a degree. Even degree applicants are having a tough time getting hired because of the steep competition and because the companies now want the applicant to know 2 jobs in one like graphic and web design, sometimes even programming to have a basic design job. If your a naturally gifted designer then you shouldn't have a tough time finding a job or freelancing, but for people who want to learn design you should learn from others at a school. And yes you will be paying back the loan for a while but if you love to design you shouldn't have a hard time doing something like freelancing, owning your own business, or finding a J-O-B!

There are probably classes that aren't accredited that you can find in your town or online without signing up for a 2-4 year degree and paying that loan back.

a real designer in Saint Louis, Missouri said: No you do not have to have a degree in design, The only people who will tell you that are the ones who did not have enough talent or creativity and had to have someone teach them. If design is what you want to do you have two choices: 1. You can go to college and get your degree and then spen 90% of the money you make to pay back your school loan or 2: get some real experence teah yourself the software and be confident about your skills and get a design job!

Going to school goes beyond just learning about design. Also, there are many creative people you will meet in school and would actually push you to better your work. Some of the people I have known from school are actually doing great in their chosen field, and a few actually ended up teaching in universities. If you do decided to go to school. You have to research the school you plan on attending, and ask yourself if you want to be in a program the is strictly graphic design courses or be in a Art program with emphasize in arts and technology. I think it's nice to know different media and computer software as well. Remember education is something that can't never be taken away from you.

This field has crashed due to the crappy economy! Jobs are few and far between. A degree does nothing, I've seen many so called designers who can't design to save their life and half the reason the few skilled designers have found their work de-valued. I'll put my 15 years of experience against anyone with that piece of paper called a degree and the teachers and programs behind it. Stupidity within HR wouldn't know who is worthless or not. Why is it you see the same jobs at the same companies posted all the time often on a 3-4 month cycle as whoever they hire can't do the job.

Yes it depends on whose qualified to hire during the interview process. You can have "the gift" of design naturally or it can be learned. I ain't knockin whoever has the natural talent of design but you can also learn how to design from going to school. People go to college even if they have the natural gift of design because they want to show the employers proof that they can design. A lot of employers look for that degree but you can still dazzle them with your design without a degree but you better be good with some life experience.
I have been to many interviews for graphic/web design also due to the economy and even before the crash the competition is fierce. They package the design jobs with 2 other jobs in one. I have yet to see a graphic design job ad that doesn't imply other jobs included in the description.

How many years of experience did you need to obtain this position?

It is competitive out there. Your competition will have the best degree they can afford, and you should, too. Don't cop out, and don't get lazy. People LOVE to rationalize and convince themselves that they don't need a degree simply because they don't want to, or can't afford to invest the time and money.

If money is an issue, don't let it hold you back. There are literally thousands of ways to get scholarships, aid, and grants for school - I have many friends who actually receive additional financial aid on top of their tuition expenses. Sometimes, it literally pays to go to school. DO NOT let money stop you from getting the education that you want.

That said, it is not impossible to find work with a two year degree.
But it will be easier if you have a four year degree.

If you're unsure, why not earn an AA/AFA from a nearby community college first, explore the job market, and if you find a job - great, if not - then you can always go back to school and get that BA/BFA.

Host said: How did you get your start doing graphics designer work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

What do these staffing agencies charge their clients these days for staffing a graphic designer?

I worked with digital people years ago and they got me some pretty good gigs.

I'm a bit fed up. I've been trying to get a graphic design job for 2 years now almost going on 3. I have an associates and bachelors degree in graphic design. And I can draw in different styles. I've tried everything, contract id be skewed over herd too many complaints, freelance id like the experience, salary I really do need. But I find it hard just to get a interview in general. They ask for too much experience, or the pays too low, or if you don't have a lot of experience no dice. Or there's the annoying one graphic web designer, um tell me what that is? lastly I herd graphic designer not a graphic designer who took extra classes got lucky or can do graphic design and web.. graphic and web design are two different fields. So my question how do i get a salary job in a REAL graphic design job. And not change my portfolio for I can't afford to make new projects nor have time. Oh and uses illustrator, Photoshop or flash. Or freelance job experience with a company so I don't have to keep looking for work. If anyone can help Id appreciate it. Thank you.

The bad news is because computers & the advancement of technology have made all the design software & equipment accessible. Think about it, if somebody in high school can do the same job as a college graduate they'll take the teenager & pay them cheap to get a high quality job done. There's no value in graphic design because 70% of this American generation can't draw or either they don't understand proper layout, typography & color coordination (contrast). Most employers hate giving designers 100% credit for their work. The playing field has been leveled meaning that you're next door neighbor can download presets of shapes, logos, fonts & throw together a cheesy flyer for their company's newsletter for free. No company is going to hire a non-experienced graphic designer that they're stuck with when the internet has thousands of freelancers who create licensed templates that charge for less.

The good news is that if you're in your early to mid 20s your portfolio has to be outstanding/strong & you'll have to do a lot of volunteer work for the superiors in the city.