Designing logos, such as this sample, is one career option for graphic designers.
Graphic design employs both images and typographic elements to communicate a message. According to the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), graphic artists may work with painted, drawn, photographic or computer-generated images, as well as typeface. Common examples of graphic design include logos, billboards and print advertisements. A variety of career options exist for those with a graphic design degree.
Logo Designer
Most companies choose to have a logo developed as a means of easy identification, such as Harley Davidson's bar and shield or the Nike "swoosh." Logos, according to adigitaldreamer.com, include graphic and (sometimes) typographic elements arranged with distinct colors. Logos can also serve as branding tools. Graphic designers specializing in logo design help to bring the logo in line with a company's message and marketing strategy. This process may include creating multiple designs, as well as variations on the final design to accommodate different media needs.
Technical Illustration
Technical illustrators find employment in numerous media-related fields. Technical illustrators, reports adigitaldreamer.com, create storyboards, 3-D images and moving animation. In general, technical illustrators work with digital rendering and formatting. They can work as freelancers or for a firm, such as an ad agency. Television and commercial production, film, animation or computer video game production all require technical illustrators.
Layout Artist
Layout artists principally work with printed media, such as magazines. The layout artist handles a variety of concerns. They must arrange the art elements, such as pictures, to be visually appealing. Selection of the appropriate font or typeface also falls within the domain of the layout artist. According to adigitaldreamer.com, layout artists must be very comfortable with the software used in publishing. Examples of the software they might use include InDesign and Adobe Photoshop. Layout artists find employment with PR firms, ad agencies and manufacturers, as well as traditional print media (newspapers/magazines).
Web Designer
Like any other medium employing visual and typographic elements, to work at its fullest potential, a website requires design considerations to keep it both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Graphic artists also have some advantages, as they can create graphical elements themselves, rather than hiring another person. However, the technical elements of web design may require the graphic artist to learn use additional web design software, such as Dreamweaver or GoLive, according to adigitaldreamer.com.
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