What job opportunities exist?
There are many jobs opportunities for graphic designers, if initiative is taken to get ahead of the competition. Although there are many types of jobs that a graphic designer can perform, it can be very difficult for a graphic designer to get hired as the design industry is very competitive. For a designer to get hired great determination and skill must be shown.
There are many different sectors that graphic designers can work in, covering basically every part of the creative spectrum.
Websites:
Many companies will hire graphic designers to design websites for them and have other people build the websites instead of having one person do both jobs, this is because graphic designers have a keen eye for making designs as smooth and simplistic as possible, this is generally what companies wish to have with a website. Whereas if one person was hired to do both jobs the design and/or build is likely to be compromised.
Packaging:
Almost everything these days has some form of packaging, be it just a tag or a full plastic cover. If packaging is attractive and well designed, it is ten times more likely to be purchased than something that is poorly designed. Due to the sheer volume of packaged products of recent years, jobs in package design are on the increase.
Books and magazines:
Jobs in print have always been popular with graphic designers, this is because it is where graphic design originated and really began to find its place. I personally believe that although new media is creeping through the gaps, there will always be a place for print.
Corporate identity - Giving companies a 'brand':
Many companies will hire a graphic designer, not only to design a website, but also design a visual brand that people will associate the company with. For example the roundhouse logo, created by jamesgood.
http://www.jamesgood.co.uk/design-portfolio/roundhouse-identity-design-website-design
Advertising:
Today, you can't go anywhere without seeing an advertisement. they are everywhere you look. but someone has to design these advertisements. A job in advertising for a graphic designer is now probably one of the easier jobs to come across. This is because the marked for advertising is huge. A primary example of this is Times Square in New York.
Computer games:
Although it would not seem like it, graphic designers have a place in the games design industry; Although the availability for jobs in this industry would be scarce and would mainly consist of concept art.
As well as working in different areas of design, graphic designers can work in different ways too.
Freelance:
Freelance designers work for themselves, and are employed and paid on a job-by-job basis. Freelance designers are generally hired by companies and agencies. This requires a great deal of dedication because work needs to be constant for a freelance designer to keep a steady income; at the same if a designer is dedicated enough, freelance work can be extremely rewarding financially. Freelance work is generally done by designers that prefer freedom with designs.
Sole trader:
Sole traders tend to create their own work instead of getting it from design agencies. They also tend to hire freelance designers if the work load gets too heavy.
Partnerships and collectives:
A partnership or a collective is usually created by sole traders that have joined together. One of the biggest benefits in a partnership or a collective is that graphic designers get to pick and choose who they wish to work with. Working with the right person is key to creating good designs in a partnership or collective because everyone can play off each others strengths.