How to Become a Graphic Designer

Hi,
Before we see how to become a graphic designer, let's see whether you are interested in one of the following. Do you love watching advertisements and get really impressed about the creativity behind it. Do you love working on creative image tools for hours on your computer, like to explore the latest graphic design programs? Do you just flip the pages while you see a full page advertisement in a magazine or newspaper, or check it out keenly before turning the page? Do you take interest in watching the website designs, advertisement banners or hoardings? Well, if your answer is yes, you must definitely think of entering the field of graphic designing.

How to Become a Graphic Designer: Requirements
As mentioned above you need to be interested in visual art and should be really creative to be a part of this world. You can start with bachelors degree in arts or design. Further you can enroll for a course in graphic design. This can be an undergraduate degree in graphic design or a 2 year graphic design program. Though you can get a great job without a degree on basis of your skills, opting for one is beneficial in many ways. Having the knowledge of desktop publishing tools like Photoshop, PageMaker, FrameMaker, QuarkExpress, Acrobat Exchange is one of the primary requirements to become a graphic designer. Taking drawing courses in school is definitely helpful. During or after the course, an internship in design department of an advertising, magazine, newspaper, website or a corporate firm will help you gain a lot of experience. Read more on graphic designer salary range.

How to Become a Graphic Designer: What Next
Once you are done with the course and internship and have the basic experience, its time to go ahead. Building a strong portfolio is what you must think about. Working as a graphic designer and designing promotional displays, marketing brochures, logo designs according to your client's requirements will give you a vast experience. It might also include creating visual designs for the company's annual reports, brochure, journals, etc. Taking a job in a magazine or newspaper will give you the opportunity to develop entire layout and design of the magazine, newspapers and their special issues. You can start as a freelancer and work on variety of projects. This will help a lot in building your portfolio. Remember that an impressive portfolio is an important factor for becoming a successful graphic designer. Along with your job, you must make sure that you keep yourself updated with the new software and programs of graphic designing. Constantly observing the designs featured in newspapers, magazines, journals, packaging designs, and learning various advertisement techniques is a must.