How To Become A Graphic Designer

By: Rachel Mork

If you'd like to become a graphic designer, you'll want to get started on preparations as soon as you can. The competition in graphic design careers can be somewhat stiff, so the more you prepare, the better. Take the following steps to set up a premium resume so you can hit that first job interview with full confidence.

High School Preparations For A Graphic Design Career
As early as high school, you can begin building graphic design portfolios and fabulous skill sets. Enroll in all the graphic design and computer classes your high school offers. Take as many art classes as possible, expanding your knowledge especially in photography, sketching, painting and drawing. Enroll in community classes for fashion design, photography and graphic design classes.

College Preparations For A Graphic Design Career
While many colleges will tell you an associate's degree is all you need, you should realize the most lucrative jobs go to graphic designers with a bachelor's degree, which is a four-year degree. Make sure you take not only graphic design classes, but also software classes. Keep abreast of the software programs used in the graphic design industry, and either take college courses or teach yourself how to use the graphic design programs used in the industry. Start preparing a portfolio of your work from school.

Experience Preparations For A Graphic Design Career
Beginning in high school, you can volunteer to practice your budding graphic design skills in a variety of places. Offer to design your church, school or neighborhood newsletter, or volunteer to design marketing materials for a small local business. Apply for internships at corporations, or volunteer your services to a foundation or non-profit organization. Try to experiment with a variety of styles and mediums, focusing on the area you think you'd most want to do for a job. Keep a graphic design portfolio of all the work you do so you'll have examples to show at your first interviews.

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