Graphic Design as a Proffesion as per Kyle Gibson

Kyle Gibson is the owner and creator of a graphic design creative studio called “KG Collective,” based in Goodrich, Michigan. His company provides many different services to its clients, including branding, design, interactive images, and motion animation. He started his company from scratch while he was simultaneously working an office job as a junior graphic designer. During his time there, he would work long days, which averaged between 10-12 hours in the office per day. Then, he would take it all home and put in an additional 4-6 hours on the side. Now being the owner of his own company, he has a bit more freedom with his schedule and how he works. When he or any of his colleagues go on travel, they have the ability to continue working together so no one falls behind: “My favorite part about the field is that you can be anywhere doing the same job. I prefer being home working on desktop, but I can also travel and still get work done on my laptop and not be stuck in one office at all times. I have one designer that works for me that likes to travel often and he is still able to get his part of the work done always.” This creative use of technology also helps Gibson to reach out to clients in remote areas. KG Collective has many big clients that are not necessarily located in Michigan. For example, they work closely with MGM Resorts, Heineken, AT&T, Dodge, plus many more. Because of the amazing technology available today, KG Collective employees are able to come up with designs from anywhere and all they need to do is send over a digital file.

Overview

Many people associate the idea of graphic design with digital drawings or car design, but it is much more than that. Graphic designers are responsible for tell-tale logos, eye-catching advertisements, and always-entertaining animations. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts it, “Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers” (2019).

Preparation

The educational requirements needed to be successful as a graphic designer differ among employers. While many might think that a college degree is necessary to find work in that field, this is not the case when it comes to being a designer. Some argue that it is a useful tool, however it is not nearly as important as having a sufficient portfolio and a history of experience in the field. Mr. Gibson, for example, has 4 different designers working for him and only “2 out of [the] 4 guys [he] hired did not go to school for design, they are just pure artists and taught themselves” (2019). In addition, when he was a full time creative director in Las Vegas, he “hired many people with or without a college degree for design, the main factor was their portfolio of work.” Even though a college degree is not necessarily needed, there are still certain credentials that must be met. It is extremely important that an aspiring graphic designer has experience with the software they will be working with.

According to Dr. Kelley S. Meier, “A graphic designer must be proficient in common design software, have experience with web design, and possess strong interpersonal communication skills” (2018). For the most part, common design software among graphic designers include Adobe software, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Meier encourages young designers to get familiar with these programs through volunteering at professional firms or by creating sample designs while in school (2019). It is also a good idea to learn different technical skills through an internship. This allows people eager to learn more about the graphic design field to get a firsthand account of what goes into making the career work. They would also get the chance to learn specific technical skills from professionals who use these programs every day. As the editor of College Grad puts it, “Internships provide aspiring graphic designers an opportunity to work with designers and to experience the design process from concept to completion, in some cases while completing a design program” (2019).

Another important attribute to a designer’s job-finding process is their portfolio. This is a great way to show potential employers what they can do. A designer’s portfolio should demonstrate their creativity and artistic ability. That way, employers can get a sense of how the designer works and whether or not they could be a great asset to the company. One last credential that is very important is the designer’s ability to communicate sufficiently and efficiently. They must be able to communicate well with clients as to not confuse or upset them. They also need to be able to understand clients’ needs and turns their ideas into a design that both the artist and client can be proud of (Pickett, 2019).

Field Analysis

Working Conditions

The industry of graphic design is a unique one. There are not many regulations in the field that are consistent from one job to the next. Because of this, most work conditions that designers experience throughout their careers are unique to the specific job in which they are placed. Also, many designers work independently of a company or firm, so their working conditions tend to differ greatly from someone who is a designer for a big corporation. However, there are some loose guidelines that many designers follow when creating a practical work environment. Many graphic designers work in an office setting or studios that follow an open-studio floor plan (Creativepool editor, 2015). This could help the artists communicate freely with each other, as well as other associates involved in the project at hand. Designing is often a collaborative task. Designers will have to work alongside other artists, plus other associates that help with branding and sales. These can include copywriters, photographers, and sales staff (Creativepool editor, 2015). The number of hours a designer works also varies between professions.

Many designers will work sporadic hours and according to chaotic schedules. The hours a designer puts in on one day is heavily dependant on the projects they have lined up and deadlines they have to meet. On average, they tend to work long hours in order to meet deadlines (Gibson, 2019). However, most creatives are seen to be workaholics, so this would not necessarily seem like a daunting task to them. A designer’s paycheck also depends on many different components: where they work, the types of clients they have, and their level of experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for graphic designers is around $50,000 (2018). However, most designers do not start out earning this much. Starting out, a junior designer might earn $40,000 annually, with hopes of becoming more experienced over the years and climbing the ranks (Glassdoor, 2019). The graphic design field is projected to have its employment rate rise by 3 percent between now and the year 2028.

Like any profession, there are both many positive aspects to the work, as well as many negative aspects. One of the positive aspects is that designers have the chance to do what they love everyday as a profession. They are constantly pouring themselves into their work, which is something you might not see as much in a finance report being analysed by an accountant. Another positive aspect is that graphic design can be a very mobile profession. Graphic designers often have the ability to work virtually anywhere as long as they are equipped with a laptop, or even basic artist supplies. This gives employees freedom to travel more often or not feel as obligated to come into work when they are feeling under the weather. Some negative aspects include the lack of a consistent schedule, as well as the long hours many designers put into one day.

Maintenance

For the most part, creatives seem to be very lively people. They enjoy going to art shows to source inspiration, as well as show off their own works of art. Because of this, there are many opportunities out there for graphic designers to come together and discuss the latest of what is happening in the art world. One of these ways is to get involved with an organization full of others with the same interests. Some of the more popular associations for graphic designers to become a part of include AIGA, Society of Illustrators, The Society of News Design, Society for Experimental Graphic Design, and International Color Consortium (Graphic Design Degree Hub, 2019). Each of these organizations are full of people who are bound together by their common interest in design. These organizations provide a multitude of articles, images, art competitions, job boards, training tutorials, plus many more resources, all for the convenience of the designer (Graphic Design Degree Hub, 2019). Sitting in front of a computer screen day and night can seem daunting at times, especially when designers feel especially burnt out and uninspired. These online associations are great resources for designers to take some time to focus on something other than their own project for awhile. All of these organizations also hold conferences annually, with the exception of The Society for News Design (Graphic Design Degree Hub, 2019). This way, designers have the ability to meet others in the field in person and experience how they use the same resources to create something unique to them.

Because graphic design in mainly digital, there are only so many online resources that designers have access too, yet they still manage to create unique projects every time. There are many technological resources out there to help designers channel their creativity. According to the creator of the award-winning branding agency JUST Creative, Jacob Cass, most graphic designers prefer to use the Apple iMac or a graphics tablet to compose their works (2019). Many designers also choose to equip their computers with Adobe software to help make digital formatting a breeze (Cass, 2019). However, graphic design is primarily a subjective field of work, and designers have the ability to pick and choose from a wide variety of resources to find what works best for them. Many graphic designers are trained to use these important programs either through taking design courses in high school or a university (Innovators Guide) or by learning from a profession in the field, such as taking an internship position (Learn How To Become, 2019).