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About Graphic Design
You'll become
Average Salaries
Graphic Design workers may earn between $39,000 and $68,000 per year
Play a leading role in how we see, experience and appreciate the world by studying an exciting graphic design course.
You’re a creative thinker seeking to make a difference. Now, turn your curiosity into a rewarding new career in an in-demand industry, and help shape the way we engage with ideas, events and people.
By studying a graphic design course, you’ll build the technical skills and theoretical insights you need to communicate a clear artistic vision, develop a sound understanding of the factors that shape the way we communicate, and build the portfolio of creative work you need to start a career with a competitive edge.
Practical and creative, a graphic design course suits anyone with big ideas and the energy to pursue them. After completing a graphic design course, you can work as a graphic designer, web designer or illustrator, or in a marketing, advertising or communications role, using your creative skills and insights to develop compelling communications materials that engage, challenge and excite people.
You can study a graphic design course as certificate or diploma course or as part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree. While job opportunities have contracted slightly in the industry in the past few years, demand is again growing rapidly, with the Department of Employment expecting nearly 10,000 new designers to be required by 2020. With a graphic design qualification, you’ll have the skills, experience and insight to stand out in a competitive commercial environment, and take the first step on a rewarding and dynamic new career path.
What do graphic design graduates do?
As a graphic designer, you’ll be responsible for designing visual communications materials, including producing graphics, illustrations, animations and videos. You may work in-house for a creative agency or other business, or work freelance as an independent designer, which will affect the nature and scope of your day-to-day responsibilities.
As a designer, you can expect to perform tasks like:
- Consulting with clients and stakeholders, to determine the objectives and constraints of a design brief;
- Researching and analysing assignment communications requirements and selecting appropriate design medium and tools;
- Reviewing references and researching creative elements;
- Producing sketches, illustrations, diagrams and layouts to communicate design concepts;
- Providing informed advice on use of composition, light, colour, patterns and trends in design to clients and stakeholders;
- Detailing and documenting a selected design for production;
- Supervising or carrying out the design in the chosen media; and
- Managing the execution of design projects, including managing and briefing staff, and managing budgets and other resources.
You may also be responsible for managing accounts and invoicing, marketing your services and seeking new clients, and connecting clients with other creative professionals, such as photographers and copywriters, depending on the nature of your work.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
After completing a graphic design course, you’ll likely seek employment as a graphic designer, but may also choose to work in communications or marketing design, applying your creative skills to developing strategic communications.
Roles you may choose to pursue after completing your course include:
- Web Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Interior Designer
- Web Developer
- Game Designer
- Animator
- Illustrator
- Art Director
- Interaction Designer
- Conceptual Artist
- Game Concept Artist
- Game Evaluator
- Educational Game Designer
- Game Level Designer
- Game Researcher
- Interface Designer
- Digital Media Manager
- 2D and 3D Animator
- Visual Effects Artist
- Visual Effects Supervisor
- Motion Graphics Artist
- 3D Model Builder
- Retail Spatial Designer
- Display and Event Designer
- Social Designer
- Spatial Designer
- Human Centred Designer
- Design Strategist
- UX (User Experience) Designer
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Is graphic design right for you?
You’ll enjoy working in graphic design if you:
- Are creative
- Can express yourself well
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Can work independently
- Are proactive and enterprising
- Have excellent organisational and project management skills
- Are curious
- Enjoy problem-solving and testing
- Work well with people
- Can explain information clearly
- Are patient and empathetic
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook reports that the graphic design industry in Australia is large and growing. Currently employing approximately 46,500 people, the industry is expected to grow strongly until at least 2020, where it will employ approximately 53,300 people. While the industry has contracted slightly over the last few years, it is expected to grow strongly over the next decade.
While the size of the profession indicates roles are available in most areas of Australia, Job Outlook notes that the sector is concentrated in New South Wales, with approximately 45 per cent of all designers working in the state.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports that graphic designers can expect to earn a salary between $39,000 and $68,000 per year, with an average industry salary of approximately $51,000 per year. While a positive relationship exists between experience and earning capacity, PayScale notes that entry-level designers can still earn a competitive average salary of approximately $47,000 per year.
PayScale notes that over 80 per cent of graphic designers have less than 10 years of work experience, indicating that people move from this profession as their careers progress. After gaining experience as a graphic designer, you may choose to work in a more senior role as an art director, creative director or as a senior graphic designer.