Challenges of graphic design jobs

Graphic design is an attractive career choice for creative people who also enjoy working with technologies such as computer software. Designers create a wide range of graphics used on websites, product labels and advertising, explains the U.S. Department of Labor website CareerOneStop.

But don't think that you will spend your whole day doing creative work. Designers spend a lot of time communicating with clients and colleagues who are not always easy to work with and who may have strict deadlines. Additionally, working in this competitive field requires staying up to date on marketing and technology trends, which can reduce job satisfaction for graphic designers.

Creativity is sometimes put on hold

Graphic designers dream of the day when they'll be told they have full creative control over a project, but that rarely happens. You are often given certain design parameters that leave little room for your own creativity. And this job isn't just about glossy magazines or big billboards.

You also work on projects that you might find boring, such as: B. Labels for cleaning products or packaging for vegetable seeds, especially if you are starting out and have just made a name for yourself. In these cases, job satisfaction lies in keeping a client happy and building a reputation for solid work delivered on time.

Design technology is constantly changing

Artistic talent is essential for the job, but you also need to have advanced graphic design skills in a variety of computer programs. InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Quark XPress and AutoCAD are industry standards, but the programs are regularly revised and updated.

One of the biggest challenges as a graphic designer is that you have to spend the time - and sometimes money - to stay current. Choose your graphic design school or program carefully, as some designers are not well prepared for the modern demands of website design, video game design, and mobile application design that are becoming increasingly prevalent.

The customers are not knowledgeable

Customers hire you to get their message out there, but they don't always know what they want. It can take a lot of effort to communicate with them and learn their needs. You may create multiple versions of a presentation before any of them are accepted, and your work may also be rejected.

To work as a designer, you need to be able to handle criticism and rejection. You will also work on rush orders for clients who underestimate time constraints or have emergencies. Therefore, it is important that you are flexible, adaptable and willing to work overtime when necessary.

Prospects and pay for graphic designers

The outlook for designers who focus on print work is not good. According to the U.S. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the publishing industry is expected to grow just 3 percent through 2030 - much slower than job growth in the average industry. With more and more DIY design systems, more and more people will be able to create graphics, images, and other designs themselves.

On the bright side, the median wage for designers was $53,380 in 2020, according to the BLS. Earnings vary significantly, especially if you're self-employed, which was the case for 19% of designers in 2020, according to the BLS. While the top 10 percent of graphic designers earned $93,440 in 2020, the bottom 10 percent of earners earned less than $31,720 in 2020 - so it's not always a lucrative profession.