Graphic Designers Gain Advantage with Web Design Experience

by Sarah Clark
Career Training Directory Columnist

Like most creative jobs, those in graphic design can be very competitive. What can you do to stand out from the competition as a graphic designer? Get animation and web design skills and experience, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

For those who have just finished college or are considering a graphic design program, this news from the BLS probably won’t come as a surprise. Most graphic design programs offer a large number of courses related to website design. But for those who have worked as graphic designers for several decades, this news is a call to action.

Graphic designers need to update their graphic design education to get up to speed on new technologies. It’s getting increasingly difficult to design only for print, with the explosive growth and increasing importance of the Internet as a communications and marketing tool. Companies need designers to create their websites and make them interactive through the use of animation software.

Graphic Design Education for the Future

It’s not too late for any graphic designer to pick up the skills needed for success in the 21st century. Many graphic design programs offer courses in website design and animation during the evening, on weekends, and online, making it convenient for professionals with full-time jobs to learn new skills.

Print design—brochures, newsletter, and annual reports—may never go out of style. But web design adds a crucial dimension to the graphic designer’s repertoire—even die-hard print designers.

Don’t let changes in technology render your graphic design education obsolete-find out today how you can gain the skills that make you a more desirable candidate in an ever-changing, and increasingly competitive and global job market.

About the Author

S. Clark is a freelance writer who specializes in postsecondary education and career development.

Source(s)

“Graphic Designers,” The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics