6 Design careers you should consider

A career in web and graphic design is so much more than a simple task of putting text and images together in an attractive way. The professional and academic field of design is an expansive, creative endeavor that encapsulates a range of visual communication that can be leveraged for marketing and branding purposes.

Let’s explore 6 career options that defy stereotypes of what a professional path in design might involve. Get inspired, pick your path, and stick around for a word on some design tools that can get you started.

Brand identity design

It is the process of creating a visual representation of a brand that reflects its values, purpose, and personality. Brand identity designers get to work creating logos, color palettes, typography, imagery, and other elements that make up a brand's visual identity.

A typical day in the life of a brand identity designer might involve:

• Collaborating with clients to understand their branding needs
• Creating logos/brand identities for clients
• Designing marketing materials such as brochures or flyers
• Developing websites
• Creating digital content such as videos or animations
• Browsing trends in design technology

Average annual salary: $76, 267, depending on location and experience

To work as a brand identity designer, you may need the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Knowledge of design principles and elements
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma
• Familiarity with web development tools such as HTML/CSS and JavaScript
• Excellent communication skills, and problem-solving mindset

Web design

Web design is the process of creating user interfaces for websites, applications, and other digital products. It involves creating a visually appealing layout that is easy to use and navigate, as well as ensuring that the interface works properly across different devices.

A typical day in the life of a web designer might involve:

• Gathering and analyzing user requirements
• Working on developing user scenarios and user flows
• Creating wireframes, prototypes, storyboards, and other visual elements to communicate design ideas
• Designing user interfaces for websites and applications
• Collaborating with developers to ensure that recommended design strategies are implemented in websites and applications
• Monitoring user feedback and making adjustments as needed

Average annual salary: $84,860, depending on location and experience

To work as a web or UX designer, you may need the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• In some cases, knowledge of HTML/CSS and JavaScript
• Experience creating responsive websites and applications that prioritize an optimal user experience
• Strong visual design skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities

Creative services management

Creative services management is the process of managing creative projects, including graphic design, web design, video production, and other creative services. Creative services managers typically oversee entire projects from start to finish, including budgeting, scheduling resources, and ensuring quality control.

A typical day in the life of a creative services manager might involve:

• Managing and coordinating all parts of the creative process, from concept development to final delivery
• Ensuring projects align with assigned timeframes and budgets
• Managing personnel including designers, writers, editors, photographers, videographers, and other creative professionals
• Collaborating with external partners and communicating project progress

Average annual salary: $117,980, depending on location and experience

To work as a creative services manager you may need the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field
• Keen understanding of the creative process and knowledge of digital media platforms and software
• Strong and demonstrable skills relating to project management, budgeting and financial management, problem-solving, and effective leadership
• Experience working with external vendors to develop creative campaigns

Motion design

Motion design is a creative field that combines graphic design, animation, and storytelling to create visual experiences. Motion designers communicate ideas using animation across the mediums of film, television, web media, and other digital platforms.

A typical day in the life of a motion designer might involve:

• Collaborating with clients to define briefs and conduct project research
• Designing and editing storyboards, animatics, and visuals
• Developing style frames, color palettes, and typography treatments
• Animating characters or objects and combining motion elements
• Rendering out files for delivery to clients in various formats
• Troubleshooting technical issues that may arise during production

Average annual salary: $78,000, depending on location and experience

To work as a motion designer you may need the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) and other motion graphics software
• Artistic eye for composition and color and a strong understanding of typography
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team
• Ability to take direction well and make changes quickly when needed

Information architecture

Information architecture is the structural design of shared information environments; the art and science of organizing and labeling websites, intranets, online communities, and software to support usability. Essentially, information architecture ensures information is organized in a way that helps users find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

A typical day in the life of an information architect might involve:

• Analyzing user needs and developing plans for an optimal structuring of information on websites, applications, and other digital platforms
• Designing navigation systems that are intuitive and easy-to-use
• Developing wireframes to illustrate the proposed information architecture
• Creating content models that define the relationships between different types of content
• Collaborating with stakeholders to ensure the proposed architecture meets their needs
• Conducting usability testing to assess user interactions
• Refining existing architectures based on user feedback or changes in business goals

Average annual salary: $99,140, depending on location and experience

To work as an information architect you may need the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, web design, or a related field
• Experience of creating wireframes, prototypes, site maps, and other visualizations that effectively communicate the structure of an application
• Knowledge of user experience design principles and best practices
• Depending on your employer, you may need some knowledge of web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Excellent problem-solving skills to identify user needs and develop creative solutions

Data visualization and infographic design

Data visualization is the process of representing data in graphical forms, such as charts, graphs, and maps. Infographic design is the process of creating visual representations of information or data to communicate a message in an easily understandable way.

Average annual salary: $130,000, depending on location and experience

To work as a data visualization and infographic designer you may need the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Extensive knowledge of data visualization principles and techniques
• Strong understanding of design fundamentals
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Familiarity with HTML/CSS and JavaScript
• At least three years of professional experience in graphic design or a related field
• Excellent creative problem-solving skills and strong attention to detail

Fast-track your graphic design career

If one of the design avenues listed above caught your eye, there are concrete steps that you can take (and tools you can use) to set yourself up for success in a graphic design-related career.

As you get started, you’ll want to:

• Build a strong base of specific experience, Airbnb Design Lead Doug Alves has some tips on how to do this
• Show off your work with a robust digital portfolio. Readymag is on hand to help you get off to the strongest start possible with your portfolioKeep up to date with the design community