Occupational Career Project

1. Occupational Career Project Kayla Langston

2. Overview • In the future, I hope to pursue a career in the field of Arts/A/V Technology & Communications. • What do you like about this field? • I enjoy creating artwork with technology etc. • What are some of the various jobs within this career? • Graphic Design • Why are you attracted to this field and wish to pursue this career? • I love art • I want to do something artistic for a living

3. JOB DESCRIPTION • Graphic Design • Personal Strengths: • I am fairly skilled at drawing • I like to create logos etc. • I know how to use art programs on the computer • Why Would I Like It? • I love to create art and use my imagination • I like to use computers • Duties/Responsibilities • g • Job Description • “At Black Bear, we strive to provide you with a visually consistent, cohesive image. As part of your design package, we also compile visual and verbal brand communications guidelines. These are the strategic key statements, which provide a standard for the strategic handling of the brand by all stakeholders. Based on our research and the approved brand expectations, we will conceptualize and design a brand mark that will create a connection with your target market, bring interest and encourage action. This brand implementation would be deliverables such as a logo, messaging, business cards, website, and more. All of these materials will be at the forefront of building your brand, along with the way you react to customers and how customers react to you.” • (Taken From http://www.blackbeardesign.com/graphic-designer-company-atlanta/) Ex: Graphic Design Project By Blackbear Design Group

4. Citation: N/a, N/a. "Welcome to Career Cruising 2.0." <i>Career Cruising</i>. N/a. Web. 18 Dec. 2014. &lt;https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/job-description/205&gt;. Job Description Cont. • We are all familiar with the work of graphic designers. Just think of famous company logos and graphics, such as the ones used to represent Nike, the Yellow Pages, and Microsoft. Every time you look at a magazine, brochure, advertisement, calendar, poster, product package, website, or computer program, you’re looking at the work of graphic designers. • Graphic designers are experts in visual communication. They use colors, photographs, illustrations, font styles, and other graphics to convey a message, tell a story, or create a particular feeling. Graphic designers create identities for products, services, companies, organizations, and government agencies. Their work can persuade, inform, and entertain the public. • The first step in any design project is speaking with the client. Designers must find out what the client wants, who the target audience is, what kind of budget is available, and when the project is to be completed. With this information in mind, they prepare rough drafts of designs, showing the style, visuals, and layout they will use. • The next step is to present several of these rough drafts to the client. If the client approves one of the designs, the graphic designer must bring together all the necessary artwork for the project. This may involve hiring a photographer or illustrator. The designer provides the photographer or illustrator with instructions for the project. • Finally, the designer takes all of the project elements—such as photographs, text, illustrations, and layout design—and puts them together into a polished final product. The final product can be a paper printout, webpage, or any other visual medium. • Graphic designers rely on a number of different computer programs to assist them with creating and arranging the various parts of a design project. They may also use simpler artistic tools such as pencils and paints. • The entire graphic design process can last several days or go on for more than a year. It can involve one designer working alone, or a large team of designers working with copywriters, marketing specialists, illustrators, photographers, printing press operators, computer programmers, and advertising account executives. • Many graphic designers specialize in certain areas, such as consumer product packaging or website design, while others choose to remain generalists. After many years of experience a graphic designer with talent could become an art director for their company

5. Training and/or educational requirements • Education & Training • Getting your high school diploma is the first step in becoming a graphic designer. High school courses in art, design, English, and computers are especially useful for this career. To become a graphic designer you usually also need a degree in graphic design or a closely related subject. • One option is to obtain a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college or an art and design school. Depending on the school, your degree may be in graphic arts or in fine arts. Some schools allow fine arts students to major in graphic design, while others offer graphic design as a concentration within a general fine arts program. • A second option is to obtain an associate degree in an area related to graphic design from a 2-year college. However, although this will qualify you for some graphic design positions, many employers prefer to hire designers who have a bachelor’s degree. • Aspiring graphic designers should also put together portfolios of their best art and design work. Design program admissions boards and employers both expect applicants to have strong portfolios. • Courses that develop your speaking and writing skills are helpful, since graphic designers must be able to communicate effectively with their clients. In addition, you might consider taking some business courses. Senior-level designers and freelancers may spend a significant amount of their time dealing with responsibilities such as marketing, budgeting, and business management. • Other Suggested Qualifications • If you are considering a career in graphic design, you should be visually oriented and have a good eye for design. It is important to be creative and disciplined since you’ll need to be able to consistently come up with fresh new ideas. You must also have a strong background in art-related areas such as color theory, illustration, design, and art history • Because a lot of print-based graphic design agencies operate in a Mac environment, familiarity with Macintosh computers is very beneficial. • Your language and communications skills should also be excellent. You must be good at working under pressure since there are always deadlines to meet. Finally, you should have good people skills. Unlike most fine artists, graphic designers must create for a specific audience and purpose.

6. Found On: http://www.harrington.edu/student-life/blog/december%202013/graphic-designer-job-description-and-future-outlook Job market • According to the BLS, graphic designers within the specialty field of computer systems design and related services will have the most employment opportunities, with the sub-field expected to grow by 61%. Employment opportunities within design services is expected to increase by 27%. Opportunities within the advertising and public relations field is expected to increase by 17%, but employment positions within the printing industry will only increase by 2%.

7. Advantages and disadvantages • Advantages: • Relatively normal working hours (some fluctuation) • Disadvantages: • Stressful deadline pressure • Sometimes long work hours

8. Salary opportunities • Graphic designers make anywhere between $25,000 and $75,000 annually, with a median income of about $44,000 a year. • Entry Level: $32,000-$45,000 per year • Senior Graphic Designers: $53,000-$75,000 per year • Owners, partners, and principal designers of graphic design firms: $90,000-$140,000 • Level of Experience Hourly Annual • Entry Wage $15.61 $32,470 • Median Wage $20.93 $43,530 • Experienced Wage $28.73 $59,760

9. Citation: N/a, N/a. "Welcome to Career Cruising 2.0." <i>Career Cruising</i>. N/a. Web. 18 Dec. 2014. &lt;https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/sample-career-path/205&gt;. Advancement opportunities • Level 1 • Sample Title Junior Graphic Designer • Earnings $32,000 to $45,000 a year • Requirements • A bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related area • Responsibilities Assisting senior-level designers; handling simple designs; performing some administrative duties. • Level 2 • Sample Title Intermediate Graphic Designer • Earnings $40,000 to $55,000 a year • Requirements • Several years of experience as a junior graphic designer • Responsibilities Handling big projects from conception to finished product; dealing with clients; directing junior designers. • Level 3 • Sample Title Senior Graphic Designer or Art Director • Earnings $53,000 to $75,000 a year • Requirements • Many years of experience as an intermediate graphic designer • • Good conceptual thinking abilities • • Possibly some business training • Responsibilities Developing design concepts and campaigns; managing designers and other staff; performing administrative duties such as budgeting. • Level 4 • Sample Title Creative Director • Earnings $70,000 to $125,000 a year • Requirements • Many years of experience as a graphic designer and art director • • Excellent people skills and experience dealing with clients • Responsibilities Overseeing a staff of creative teams.

10. Found on: http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/OccGuides/Detail.aspx?Soccode=271024&Geography=0601000000 Benefits offered • Benefit packages vary among employers and generally include medical, dental, life, and vision insurance as well as vacation, sick leave, and retirement plans.

11. Conclusion • After doing further research, I still wish to pursue this career. I feel this way because, although I would need extra schooling, art is my passion and I want to have a job that I enjoy. Also, the job market is on the rise and Graphic Designers make a fairly good amount of money. 

12. Resources • Company example: • http://www.blackbeardesign.com/graphic-designer-company-atlanta/ • Job Description: • https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/job-description/205&gt;. • Job Outlook: • http://www.harrington.edu/student-life/blog/december%202013/graphic-designer-job-description-and-future-outlook • Advancement Opportunities: • lt;https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/sample-career-path/205&gt;. • Benefits: • http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/OccGuides/Detail.aspx?Soccode=271024&Geography=0601000000