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Job Opportunities

The field is changing quickly, and with this comes an entire glossary of new job titles. This is a selection of some of them, but don't be surprised if you come across others in your job hunt.

Job Divisions

Graphic designers are employed in virtually all kinds of businesses, industries, and institutions. Here are some of the typical terms used interchangeably for “in-house design department.” (The words group and team are also commonly used).

Different companies are organized differently, depending on their focus and goals. A large corporation may distinguish package design from promotion design, or editorial design from advertising design; a smaller business may keep all design activities under one umbrella, such as Design Department.

Likewise, proprietary or independent design firms, studios, or offices – design businesses that service large corporations and small businesses – may or may not distinguish among design functions, such as having a print design department separate from a multimedia design department, or promotion and collateral separate from editorial departments.

Art Department

Art and Design Department

Art Services Department

Design Department

Design Services Department

Creative Services Department

Creative Group

Graphics Group

Interaction Group

Research and Development Department

User Experience Group

Job Titles

The titles given to specific jobs and tasks throughout the design field vary according to the hierarchy of the specific company, institution, or firm. For example, an art director for one company may be a design director at another; a senior designer at one may have different responsibilities than a senior at another. Starting from the top, here are typical job titles as used by in-house art departments in publishing, advertising, corporations, and proprietary design firms and agencies.

The managerial level,

where jobs may or may not involve hands-on design work in addition to the oversight of the designers:

Creative director

Design director

Corporate art director

Creative service manager

Design manager

Brand strategist

The support level,

which involves working directly with the seniors in both design and production capacities:

Junior designer

Assistant designer

Deputy art director

Associate art director

Assistant art director

Production artist

Art associate

The creative or design level,

which involves directly serving clients. These titles embody different responsibilities, depending on the organizational hierarchy of the particular business:

Senior designer

Designer

Senior art director

Art director

Graphics editor

Entry level

Assistant designer

Junior designer

Intern (This category is temporary – a stepping- stone, perhaps – and is often unpaid.)

New Jobs

Since this book was first published, interaction design has become a dominant career choice for designers. Although communication is the common denominator between the graphic designer and interaction designer, there are profound differences. For more detailed information, see Becoming a Digital Designer by Steven Heller and David Womack (Wiley, 2004). In addition to familiar titles, like “art director,” new jobs in this field (see page xi for list of titles) include the following:

Information architect

Interaction designer

Service designer

Web designer

UX (user experience designer)

Freelancer

Freelancers, as opposed to principals of proprietary studios or firms, do not manage businesses with additional employees (although they may hire assistants as needed). They often take on individual, finite freelance projects either on the premises of the client or in their own studios. Freelancers usually do not use titles but, rather, advertise themselves as “Jane Doe, Graphic Designer,” or “John Doe, Design Production.”

Job Seeking

Social media have revolutionized our interpersonal and professional interactions. Now, not only are graphic designers expected to have a well-crafted resume and online portfolio, but they must also be part of networks like Facebook and LinkedIn. Increasingly, message apps like Twitter, Instagram, and Pintrest are promotional tools for designers.

Of all the new social and professional networks, LinkedIn is quickly becoming a way of connecting with future employees for an increasing number of recruiters and hiring managers. In a segment on NPR, Yuki Noguchi wrote, “Not having a profile on the social networking site LinkedIn is, for some employers, not only a major liability but also a sign that the candidate is horribly out of touch.” Monica Bloom, a design industry recruiter for Aquent in Los Angeles, says that it is essential for graphic designers seeking employment to have a LinkedIn profile – more so than Facebook, although that is debatable.

And what about a designer's Google factor? Take a minute, open your Web browser, and do a search on your own name. What comes up? Are there any pictures that come up when your name is searched that you wouldn't want a future employer or coworker to see? What about things you may have said online? Prospective employers, like prospective blind dates, use the Web as reference. So be sure that you are aware of what others might find when they search for you in digital space.

As the design industry has become more and more digital, the portfolios are more interactive. Samples alone are not enough. Linking to successful projects increases credibility. While, in most cases, designers should still bring a physical copy of their portfolio to a job interview, an increasing amount of legwork is done when designers have their work posted online at all times for anyone interested to see.

Since many recruiters, headhunters, and employers reach out first to their online contacts with job openings, it pays to get on board all major networking and portfolio websites. There are many portfolio-hosting services, which gives designers an opportunity to circulate their work online for little or no cost. Check out Coroflot.com, Behance.com, DesignObserver.com, and CreativeHotlist.com for portfolio hosting and job notifications. Some employers also use Facebook and Twitter to announce job openings. Be sure your profiles and portfolios are up to date and professional.

When posting online or sending portfolio samples as an email attachment, it is easiest if the files are PDFs and not more than 2 MB in size. In many cases, if the attachment is larger, it will take too long to open online or clog up the recipient's inbox if e-mailed.

The Optimum Portfolio

Portfolios are now mostly online either on your own site or on a service, and/or stored on your tablet or laptop. You can have an analog version, but the days of bulky books and oversized cases are over. There are specific requirements for each discipline, but, on average, the idea is to show no more than 15 examples.

Entry Level

Most entry-level portfolios include a high percentage of school assignments and often one or two redesigns of existing magazines or fantasy magazines. This work exhibits original thinking, unfettered by the constraints of a real job, and yet the solutions are realistic.

Junior/Senior Designer

By this stage, portfolios should include a large percentage of published (online or printed) work. The junior may continue to include school projects, but the senior should jettison them. The samples should be of high quality. Not everything that has been published rates showing in a portfolio. Through these samples, the important thing is to show your taste, talent, and expertise.

First Impressions

Often your first impression will be made through a letter or e-mail sent to a potential employer. This is an opportunity to let them know who you are. So your letter should be simple and straightforward. Avoid flourishes and eccentricities. Be professional. This is an example of how familiarity can be too cute (note the critical annotations):

Hello

(To start, this is too informal; stick to “Dear Ms. Jones”)

I'm sure by now, you've received my little mailer from sunny., where I was working for.. studio. I've since returned to the good ol' US of A and I am looking for full-time employment!

(Never assume anything. Never send your work separate from your introductory letter. And watch out for sayings like “good ol' US of A.” It may be fine in speech, but in a letter, it is an annoying affectation.)

I'm looking to work in a place where I can implement all of my creative and professional skills to create high-quality work. That's why you've received a little mailer from me – You've been hand-picked! You're obviously talented, and I'd love the opportunity to work with you.

(YOU'VE BEEN WHAT?!!? Never suggest that you are doing a prospective employer a favor.)

Please see attached resume; I look forward to hearing from you! Kind regards,

(This letter will ensure you will be ignored. Remember, the quality of your work will get your foot in the door. The brevity and sincerity of your request to be interviewed will get you the appointment you need.)