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Job Seeker's Toolkit for Graphic Designers

Graphic Design Skills

At their core, graphic designers are visual storytellers, but there is a lot of work that goes into that craft. Here are some graphic design skills to help you propel your career.

WHAT DO GRAPHIC DESIGNERS DO?

The day-to-day work graphic designers do will vary based on their company, but many of these roles focus on the creation of graphics for both digital and print, including but not limited to, email campaigns, social and media ads, website creative, sales decks, brochures, annual reports, internal and external presentations and look books. 

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WHAT GRAPHIC DESIGN SKILLS DOES ONE NEED?

Graphic designers should possess an array of hard and soft skills.

As for technical graphic design skills, designers are typically expected to be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite with an emphasis on Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat. Depending on the organization’s needs, knowledge of Premiere and After Effects can also be highly beneficial. 

Graphic designers should have a creative mindset and a strong grasp of color theory, typography, and layout. It’s critical that graphic designers understand the nuances of creating a style around these concepts that match the client’s or organization’s brand. 

Communication is an invaluable graphic design skill to master. While graphic designers might work alone once they’re in the production phase of a project, there is typically a lot of collaboration that happens in the planning phase. This is where graphic designers will work closely with marketing teams, clients, and key stakeholders in other departments to bring a vision to life. 

It is also important that graphic designers have keen attention to detail, good time-management skills, and the ability to take direction and constructive feedback. 

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO GRAPHIC DESIGNERS NEED?

Those interested in pursuing a career in graphic design can look at traditional higher education options focusing on design or technical schools specific to graphic design. But budding graphic designers will likely grow the most in an entry-level position or through an internship at a creative or marketing agency. 

Having at least two years under your belt working with an agency in some capacity will give you valuable first-hand experience, and time to learn from senior designers and art directors and help you begin to build your professional network. 

WHAT ARE HIRING MANAGERS LOOKING FOR IN A GRAPHIC DESIGNER?

In addition to the graphic design skills and experience mentioned above, hiring managers will want to see a strong digital portfolio that demonstrates your best work. 

You should think of your portfolio as a chance to visually tell a story about who you are as a graphic designer. It will be helpful for potential employers to see the thought process and vision behind your best designs. So, it could be helpful to include any sketches or storyboards that went into your final design. 

You’ll also want to keep your portfolio current to show that you are looped into current trends. Make it a habit to regularly update your portfolio, maybe every few months, or whenever you finish a big new project. 

Your portfolio should include a range of work from full-on creative decks to company logos.  

When interviewing, graphic designers should be ready to answer questions about their professional background and comfort working in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment. Graphic designers should also be prepared to talk about their previous projects and include information about the timeline, the target audience, the challenges, and what they are most proud of and why. 

HOW 24 SEVEN CAN HELP

Whether you’re looking for a job as a full-time or freelance graphic designer, the specialized recruiters at 24 Seven are connected with a vast network of employers to tap into. Working with 24 Seven recruiters is at no cost to you. So, if you’re ready to have a free job resource at your disposal as you propel your career as a graphic designer browse our open jobs and contact one of our recruiters today! 

This post was updated on August 30, 2022.