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Graphic designer

Alternative titles for this job include Creative designer

Graphic designers create printed and digital materials for magazines, packaging, branding, websites and social media.

Average salary (a year)

£25,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40

You could work

evenings occasionally

Meet Alicia

Alicia talks about how she got into graphic design, and the skills she uses in her role as a graphic designer.

1 minute 10 second watch

View transcript

Hi I'm Alicia. I'm a creative designer at OCPR which is a digital Market agency in Sheffield.

I've always been a creative from ever since I could pick up a pencil so I've always been into drawing, painting, anything I could do. Photography.

I decided to do my degree at Loughborough University studying graphic communication and illustration.

So in the graphic design role, there could be illustrators, there's animators, there's people going to editorial.

You you can sort of find your niche or you could be super broad within graphic design which I've really enjoyed as well.

Once you've done a design, take a step back and just be like 'So why have I done it? What purpose is it serving? Is this communicating the right message? Is it, you know, is it going to resonate with the audience?'

You always need to take a step back and be really critical about it I think that's one of the key skills of graphic design.

I think the best advice I could give to anybody starting in the creative industry, particularly graphic design is to always stay learning. Because it's just a constantly changing market and if you're working lots of different businesses, you want to know as much as possible.

I think as well just generally just being inspired by the world around you because everything is so relevant to the role, from signs on the road to how they lay it out, to menus you know.

Anything you look around you is it's all learning so I think you should take it all in wherever you are.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course

University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a design related subject, such as:

  • graphic design
  • art and design
  • graphic communication
  • illustration

Getting work experience during your course will give you an advantage when you start applying for jobs. Talk to your university careers service about work experience, internships and year placement opportunities, as well as any support to help you put together a portfolio.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • a foundation diploma in art and design
  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could take a college course, which may help later when applying to join a company as a design assistant.

Courses include:

  • graphic design
  • art and design
  • creative and digital media
  • photography

As part of your course, you would build a portfolio to showcase your creative ideas and skills to employers.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

More Information

Career tips

You will need a good working knowledge of desktop design, image editing and publishing software for all jobs.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Chartered Society of Designers and the International Society of Typographical Designers for professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can get more information about careers in design from the Design Business Association (DBA).

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • design skills and knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of media production and communication
  • knowledge of the fine arts
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a graphic designer, you could:

  • discuss your client's requirements and come up with creative ideas
  • work out budgets, timescales and deadlines
  • produce design drafts for images, wording, colours, style and layout
  • prepare artwork and templates using design software
  • present ideas to the design team and clients for approval
  • update materials and online content to match changes to branding
  • keep up to date with design trends and developments in software

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio, in an office, at a client's business or from home.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

  • become a senior designer or creative director
  • move into project or studio management
  • go freelance or start your own design agency
  • work in related professions like advertising, marketing, illustration or web design
  • take up teaching or lecturing

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a graphic designer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Graphic Design

  • Provider: LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP
  • Start date: 13 September 2025
  • Location: Leeds

Graphic Design Level 3

  • Provider: THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Oldham
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

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