.png)
Graphic design is the process of creating visual content to communicate information / messages to the masses. Considered a subset of communication design, graphic design is used to create visual content using elements such as photos, colors, typography, illustrations, and icons.
Considered an art form first used some 17,000 years ago to create cave paintings, graphic design is now used to create logos, editorial design used in books, newspapers and magazines, advertising, product packaging, signage and the like. Graphic designers usually have enough freedom to create their content without restrictions related to programming, resolution or speed.
Graphic design is a specialized branch of communication design, and candidates who wish to specialize in this need should start with a degree in communication design, which would allow them to specialize in graphic design starting in the second year. The entrance test to this course includes objective questions on color, geometry, visual observations, creative thinking skills, general design awareness, awareness of Indian culture, crafts and traditions, etc. The test covers topics such as visualization of 2D and 3D geometric shapes, observation, perception and reasoning skills, creative and problem-solving skills, application of basic knowledge of science and mathematics, art, crafts, culture, design and environment.
The course is best suited for those who are interested in pursuing a career in any area from marketing firms to government agencies.
Generally speaking, there are the types of graphic design mentioned below:
- Visual identity graphic design
- Graphic user interface design
- Motion graphic design
- Graphic design of publications
- Graphic packaging design
- Graphic design for marketing and advertising
- Environmental graphic design
- Art and illustration
Candidates seeking a career in Graphic Design can pursue a course in this design specialization at the undergraduate or graduate level. Some of the best colleges that offer aspiring graphic design courses include the National Institute of Design (NID), Pearl Academy, etc. Upon completion of a Graphic Design course, one can land a job as a graphic designer, image editor, design director, teacher / lecturer, etc.
Having a degree in communication design opens the door to being a graphic artist, marketer, creative director, or website designer. One can work in industries including media, public relations, communications, education, and business.
The projects in this line of work include custom web design for various merchandisers, the creation of advertisements for small businesses, the development of magazine mockups or graphic design for video games, among other things. Some standard skills required for the aforementioned careers include creativity, knowledge of design techniques, familiarity with various multimedia, and other relevant technical skills. Any design course is primarily aimed at those with creative leanings and left-brain oriented, equipping them with the skills necessary to pursue a career essentially thinking outside the box.
The average full-time fee charged for the course in India ranges from INR 30,000 to 3.1 lakhs, and the average salary offered to these professionals’ ranges from INR 274,572 per year, increasing with experience and knowledge.
Graphic Design: What is it about?
The program has been designed to offer eligible students a course that focuses on the conceptualization, "design," and execution of an idea. It can range from an advertisement to a movie, anything that needs to be graphically designed, the technology and software associated with it. Course study includes subjects such as typography, color theory, and design theory. A bachelor's degree in graphic design introduces the student to the graphic design industry, understanding its history and future, and the technology and equipment required to design something. Focuses on design principles such as balance, contrast, movement and rhythm etc, in typography, image making for web and print, image editing, and ultimately skills leadership skills needed to lead a team with your idea in this industry.
This design line has a growing relevance in contemporary times. Today everything from education to markets of all kinds has either gained a secondary digital presence or operates solely in the digital space. Digitization has not only allowed producers to find broader markets, but it has also allowed niche producers to find consumers that fit their specific demographics. Digitization has, in a number of cases, eliminated the costs associated with commuting and thus made web design and digital branding critical to today's commerce. Therefore, graphic design graduates are definitely in a position to adapt to the current era of the "virtual market". In fact, they have become quite indispensable in almost every industry today.
To sustain yourself in this field, one must be equipped with exceptional analytical skills and consumer insight to cater designs to consumer sensibilities as well as the client's brand image. Without a doubt, their artistic ability must be of a high degree and they must have the computer skills to translate their art into graphic design, with a strong sense of creativity. They must be communicators capable of understanding the client's needs and communicating their vision, as well as being good at time management since in this field an employee is required to work on multiple projects at the same time.
Necessary skills for graphic design
|
To become a graphic designer, applicants must possess the skills mentioned below: |
Creativity |
|
Software knowledge |
Knowledge of programming languages |
|
Time management |
Display |
|
Good communication skills |
Capacity for teamwork |
|
Ability to work in detail |
Visual design skills |
|
Good interpersonal skills |
Ability to work long hours |
|
Ability to work to strict deadlines |
Knowledge of typography |
|
Knowledge of color theory |
|
Graphic Design Eligibility Criteria
Applicants who have passed their 10 + 2 from any stream (Science / Commerce / Arts) can follow the Graphic Design course at the graduation level. However, the most popular colleges allow candidates to participate in their admissions process only if they have completed their education at a recognized board. On the other hand, to pursue a Graphic Design course at the PG level, applicants must possess a Bachelor of Design degree.
Candidates wishing to apply for the course must have passed their Upper Secondary Certificate with a minimum of 50% grades in any course, from a recognized board. After application, some
universities / institutes may take an entrance test followed by an interview to judge the candidate's eligibility for the course.
Graphic Design: Admission Process
In most design institutes, candidates who meet the eligibility criteria are required to take a written entrance test and, in some cases, shortlisted candidates are called for a second study test, followed by a personal interview.
Graphic design entrance exams
In order to be shortlisted for admission to graphic design courses offered in popular Indian universities, the applicant must sit an entrance examination. Listed below are some of the most popular entrance exams that are taken to screen applicants for graphic design courses:
|
NID Entrance Exam |
AIEED |
|
Pearl Academy Entrance Exam |
TDV Entrance Exam |
Graphic Design Curriculum
The graphic design course curriculum varies from university to university, as well as from course to course. Candidates aspiring to follow a Graphic Design course are informed that they will study some or all of the topics mentioned below in their course.
|
Introduction to graphic design |
Modeling, design and illustration |
|
Typography |
Graphic design software and tools |
|
Image design and effects |
Photoshop |
|
Corel Draw |
Illustrator |
|
InDesign |
HTML / Javascript |
|
Adobe Dreamweaver |
Adobe flash |
|
Adobe Audition |
Computer basics |
|
Art and visual perception |
Vector graphics for designers |
Graphic Design: Curriculum and Course Description
A semester break from a communication design course, with a 5 semester specialization in graphic design, is shown below:
|
Sem 1 |
Sem 2 |
|
Sketching and drawing-1 |
Sketching and drawing-2 |
|
Design fundamentals-1 |
Design fundamentals-2 |
|
History of art and design |
Visualisation techniques |
|
Craft design studies-1 |
Society, environment and design |
|
Culture and design studies-1 |
Culture and design studies-2 |
|
Sem 3 |
Sem 4 |
|
Information collection and analysis |
Digital design tools- visual media |
|
Design process and thinking |
Visual identity design |
|
Introduction to photography |
Information system design |
|
Introduction to graphic design |
Typography and publication design |
|
Introduction to user experience design |
Visual ergonomics |
|
Introduction to design for moving images |
Sketching and drawing- 3 |
|
Sem 5 |
Sem 6 |
|
User interface graphics |
Packaging design and printing technology |
|
Brand communication design |
Environmental graphic design |
|
Advanced illustration techniques |
Graphic design project 2 |
|
Advertising design |
Graphic design project 3 |
|
Graphic design project 1 |
Portfolio making |
|
Interdiscipline elective 1 |
Interdiscipline elective 2 |
|
Sem 7 |
Sem 8 |
|
Design management |
Degree project GD |
|
Design internship presentation |
Flotaing credit course |
|
Graphic design project 4 |
Graphic design project 5 |
|
Global immersion programme |
Degree project proposal study |
Graphic design: career prospects
Graduates of the Bachelor of Design in Communication Design may have job opportunities in both the private and government sectors due to the changing nature of the economy in this digital age. Today, everything is viewed through a web interface, exists solely in a web interface, or is expanded through a web interface. In addition, advertising campaigns and branding have been largely digitized and their design is much more complex. Therefore, graduates in this course have a large number of job opportunities on offer. Manufacturing units, marketing agencies, fashion media, boutiques, hotels, etc. are examples of the various private sector companies hiring graphic design graduates.
In the government sector, for careers in banks, railways or nationalized defense services, the need for the candidate to pass the required exams organized by different government bodies such as SSC, PSC, UPSC, among others. Job profiles for both industries include graphic designers who are concerned with conceptualizing, sketching, and creating designs with client needs and consumer susceptibility in mind. Similarly, web designers are busy with creating websites, and
more specialized job profiles in this field include interaction designers, communications designers, service designers, etc.
Today's market is perfect for a graphic design graduate considering their needs in multiple industries. Most of today's businesses and companies, as well as government agencies, require designers to make them accessible in this era of marketing and digitization.
Graphic design job profiles and top recruiters
After taking a graphic design course, most applicants are hired by any of the companies listed below:
|
Publishing and printing houses (such as newspapers, magazines, etc.) |
Advertising agencies |
|
Graphic design studios |
TV and multimedia production houses |
|
Website development studies |
E-learning companies |
|
Web Design Studies |
|
Popular job profiles where applicants are hired after taking a graphic design course are as follows:
- Flash animator
- Layout designer
- UI designer
- Graphic designer
- Web developer
- SEO consultant
- Content management systems specialist
Types of Graphic Designer jobs
Graphic designer job profiles depend on experience and type of education. Below are some of the job profiles of a graphic designer.
- Art Directors: They are responsible for the visual style and images in newspapers, magazines, product packaging, and film and television productions. Art directors work closely with their clients or internal management teams to gather information about the brand and the desired target audience for their work.
- Multimedia Artists and Animators - Create animation and visual effects for movies, television, video games, and other forms of media. UX and UI designers are also very popular with aspiring.
- Web Designer - A web designer is responsible for designing and creating websites. He / she takes care of the text, information architecture, images, fonts, colors, HTML, markup language and other interactive elements etc. that go into the website design.
- Industrial designers: combine art, business and engineering to create products that people use in everyday life. When developing new product concepts, they consider the function, aesthetics, production costs, and usability of the products.
- Crafts and Fine Arts: They create handmade objects, such as ceramics, glassware, textiles, etc. They use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and display.
- Drafters - Drafters' drawings provide visual cues and show how to build a product or structure. They use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings.
- Mobile Designer - Mobile designers collaborate with cross-functional teams to create engaging and interactive experiences on mobile devices. These designers know the aesthetic and functional aspects of web and mobile design.
- Product designer: They are the professionals who are in charge of the visual or tactile aspects of a product. A product designer also deals with information architecture and product system design.
Graphic Design Salary
The average annual salary offered to a person who holds a graphic design degree ranges from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 6 lakhs. Candidates can expect a higher salary package based on their experience and skills. Some popular companies that hire graphic designers along with the average salary package offered by them are mentioned in the table below:
|
Name of Companies Hiring Graphic Designers |
Average Salary Offered (in Rs) |
|
Graphic Design, Inc. |
3 lakhs |
|
Designer Graphics |
3.66 lakhs |
|
IKEA |
2.24 lakhs |
|
VistaprintInc |
2.10 lakhs |
|
Decathlon Group |
3.36 lakhs |
|
Deloitte |
5.50 lakhs |
|
Accenture |
4.32 lakhs |
|
EY (Ernst & Young) |
7.27 lakhs |
Graphic Design FAQs
Q. What does a graphic designer do?
A. A graphic designer creates visual concepts either by hand or using computer software to communicate information / ideas to consumers. A graphic designer is responsible for creating the layout design and production of applications such as reports, advertisements, magazines, brochures, etc.
Q. Is graphic design a good career?
A. With the growth of the World Wide Web, graphic design has become a highly sought after career option. Graphic design as a career requires one to have great communication, intuition, intelligence, creativity, and technical ability.
Q. What kinds of jobs are there for graphic designers?
A. There are many job profiles where graphic designers are hired. Listed below are some of the jobs where candidates with a graphic design degree are hired:
- Graphic designer
- Multimedia artist / entertainer
- Art director
- Industrial / Product Designer
- Film and video editor
- Creative director
- Editor (Architecture and Engineering)
- Marketing manager
Q. Are graphic designers paid well?
A. The salaries offered to graphic designers vary from company to company. Some of the top recruiters in this field are: Graphic Design Inc., IKEA, Vistaprint, Designer Graphics. The average salary package offered to graphic designers is around Rs 3 lakhs.
