Graphic Design

Mid's Graphic Design Program will prepare students for the fast growing career opportunities available in the field of graphic design and communications. The program provides training that enables students to develop skills in visual problem solving, design, typography, layout, illustration, and digital media.

Courses are taught in a working studio environment where students learn how to take a project from beginning concept to final production. Students learn to use up-to-date industry standard tools. At the time of graduation, students will have a diversified portfolio of work.

Throughout the program, opportunities are available to interact with the business community. Through field trips, guest lecturers, exhibits, and internship courses, students obtain training and information which assist in career planning.

Graphic designers are helping to shape the visual environment of the 21st century. The artwork for print created by designers is used in advertising, magazine and book publishing, retail packaging, posters, signs, identity systems, corporate communications, exhibitions, and environmental design. The expanding area of digital opportunities include design of web sites, presentations, broadcast television graphics, e-commerce systems, and interactive multimedia.

Graduates may seek immediate employment or pursue further education. Entry level job opportunities are available with advertising agencies, design studios, publishing firms, corporate art departments, graphic production companies, newspapers, printers, and television stations. Graduates will find more career opportunities available in urban areas. Following current trends in industry, many experienced designers are successfully self-employed as freelance artists or as owners of art studios.

Visual Arts (MiTransfer)

Visual arts provide a means of personal expression and an opportunity to engage in visual communication in the artist's community or on a global scale. The artwork created by visual artists is viewed in studios, galleries, museums, art festivals, commercial businesses and private collections, as well as worldwide digital media.

Mid's Visual Arts MiTransfer Program will prepare students for transfer to a 4-year college, university, or art school. Art courses provide an opportunity for students to acquire an understanding of color, form, composition, and space through the use of various materials and techniques. Students may select from a variety of courses to fit their learning and transfer needs, such as drawing, painting, photography, 3D design, and graphic design.

A career in the visual arts requires dedication and commitment. The artist must develop a quantity of work in order to obtain opportunities to exhibit the artwork. Visual artists sell their work through artist's representatives, galleries and juried exhibitions. An art dealer generally accepts the work on consignment and will sell the work on a commission basis. Juried shows provide an opportunity for the new artist and are sponsored by museums, local or national art organizations, businesses and galleries. Other related careers include art therapy, education, and museum/gallery management.

Job/Career Outlook

In the field of visual communication, there are job opportunities in graphic design for print, illustration, web design, multimedia, animation, and video gaming.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), the areas of highest projected job growth in the next 7 years are:

1. Web developers with a projected growth of 27 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. The increase in jobs will be driven by the needs of companies to develop sites for mobile devices and ecommerce.
2. Graphic designers in computer systems design and related services with a projected growth of 21 percent, a greater growth than average. Companies and organizations have an ever expanding presence on the internet and will look to designers to create effective web sites.
3. Multimedia artists and animators with a projected growth of 6 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations. There is a projected increase in demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, and television.

Graphic designers who are able to create visual concepts and have a range of technical abilities for a variety of uses, such as print, web, and multimedia will be more in demand. In order to obtain employment, a student must develop a strong portfolio showcasing their technical skills, creativity and professionalism.

Median pay for Graphic Designers (primarily print): $46,900; Web Developers: $64,970, Multimedia Artists and Animators: $63,970; Art Directors: $89,760

AIGA Survey of Design Salaries 2014 (designsalaries.aiga.org) reports median salaries for design related jobs:

• Web content strategist $55,000
• Web developer $$58,000
• Web-based Rich Media and Motion Graphics Developer $60,000
• Mobile App Developer $70,000
• Self-employed $60,000
• Motion Graphics designer/Animator $60,000
• Senior Designer $62,500

PayScale.com reported a median salary in 2014 for illustrators of $46,806; many illustrators are self-employed and work on commission with reported earnings ranging from $21,698 to $100,255.

In the area of Visual Arts, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), reports a Craft and Fine Art median earnings of $44,400 with a project growth outlook of 2%.

Research Careers

O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development, HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!

RESEARCH Graphic Design CAREERS

RESEARCH Visual Artist CAREERS