Graphic Design , Job titles, Degree Concentrations & Areas of Specialization in the World

Graphic Design Job titles in the World:

If you want to take a go at creating your own, some various titles that you might see in the graphic design world:

• advertisement specialist
• advertising designer
• art director
• book setter
• brand manager
• broadcast designer
• copywriter
• creative director
• data visualization specialist
• director
• environmental designer
• exhibition designer
• exhibition fabricator
• graphic artist
• graphic designer
• illustrator
• interaction designer
• interactive designer
• interface designer
• logo designer
• marketing manager
• motion designer
• multimedia designer
• multimedia specialist
• package designer
• photo editor
• photographer
• prepress operator
• presentation designer
• producer
• production artist
• publisher
• senior designer
• sign maker
• sign painter
• signage and way finding designer
• technical illustrator
• The catc
• type designer
• typesetter
• UX designer
• video designer
• visual artist
• visual communications specialist
• visual designer
• web designer
• web developer

The catch is that none of those are necessarily isolated skill sets. Throughout a career, a designer will often be wearing a variety of those hats, often several at the same time.

On top of that, there's no real rules at to what a title implies in terms of seniority or salary from one company to the next. It's mostly arbitrary.

What Type of Concentrations are There With a Graphic Design Degree?

Different graphic design concentrations generally relate to different ways to communicate visually, depending on the audience, medium and circumstances. Programs of graphic design study usually offer similar foundational classes in a core curriculum, but usually allow students to pursue a specialized area of interest within the design degree. Some of the most common concentrations in graphic design are listed below.

Editorial Design (or Publication and Print Design):

Perhaps the most traditional area, editorial design encompasses publication and print design, exploring the overall structure of information as well as the use of text and images. Editorial design is employed in book design, for example, which concerns the appearance of the exterior cover and the layout of the interior pages’ content. Whatever the medium, the goal of editorial design is to keep the reader interested and to effectively communicate the desired content to that reader.

Poster Design

Posters combine words and images in a powerful public announcement, whether for a concert, public service campaign or product unveiling.

Typography

Typography examines the use of letters and words and their placement on a page.

Advertising and Marketing:

Advertising and marketing communicate directly with consumers. Advertising design attracts customers’ attention and generates desire for a product. Marketing uses symbols to specifically identify an object, associate that object with what it represents and use that identity in all public communications. Concentrations in this area focus on the psychology behind imagery, paying attention to the influence of colors, for example.

Logo Design and Corporate Identity

Graphic design is used to create a brand or identity for a company and its goods. This includes development of logos and print collateral.

Packaging Design

Product packaging, which simultaneously serves to protect and display as well as convey the identity of a product, serves a functional purpose, such as to enhance presentation, facilitate access and generate appeal.

Interactive and Navigational Design:

Several related but different graphic design subfields involve interaction with users or viewers, from giving directions to help navigate through a building to taking instructions from users through input in a mobile app.

Environmental Design

Signage helps people find their way through streets and buildings, giving clues about the environment people find themselves in.

Display Design

Exhibition and display design involves an audience through the use of graphics, objects, text, sound effects and participatory opportunities.

User Interface and Interaction

Successful websites, software programs, computer games and mobile apps need to be accessible, understandable and appealing to their audience. User interface and interaction designers work to enhance ease of navigation.

Motion Graphics:

Motion graphics and animation blend modern technology with artistic creativity, organizing ideas dynamically in time and communicate using images in sequence with narration, music and text. Examples where motion graphics are used include film titles, music videos, television commercials, website banner ads and digital displays.

Sustainable Design:

In recent years, more attention has been paid to the environmental, ecological and social impact of design. More graphic designers are concentrating on using their skills to address community challenges and to effect positive change in the world. Sustainable design also seeks to minimize negative impacts, exploring eco-friendly packaging solutions, for example.

Pursuing a concentration within a degree program allows for development of advanced, specialized skills that can help set you apart from others. Graphic design as an industry and as a field of study offers a wide range of different areas and angles to explore in different graphic design concentrations.

8 Areas of Specialization for Web & Graphic Designers

Some designers prefer the jack-of-all-trades route because it offers more job security. But most specialists would debate that focusing on a particular skillset improves your recognition amongst clients and employers.

This isn’t to say you should only learn one area of design and never try anything else. The idea of specialization is to do amazing work in one particular area, rather than do “pretty good” work in multiple areas. You can always expand your skillset but specialists prefer to work on projects in their area of expertise.

If you’re just getting into design you may like the idea of specialization but have no idea where to get started. Skilled designers may also like the idea but feel it’s impractical or difficult to choose. Well this post covers 8 popular areas of specialization for all designers. If any of these areas stand out then do a little research in Google to learn how you can get started on the path of specializing your design work.

1. Mobile App UI

mobile app design

One of the fastest growing areas for software happens to be on smartphones. Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS both command a tremendous segment of the market. Developers who build apps typically need to learn either Java(Android) or Objective-C(iOS). Specialization in programming is a little more difficult.

But as a designer you just need to learn how to design. The two OS’ have different interface requirements – but the designs are created in the exact same software. If you learn how to use Photoshop or Sketch then you’ll be able to design apps for any mobile platform.

The best way to get started is by practicing free tutorials. Tuts+ UI Design has an assortment of free tutorials. The whole Tuts+ website is actually great for beginners, along with searching for tutorials in Google. Once you’ve got some practice then try designing your own app interfaces & build up a great portfolio.

2. Advertising Design

advertising designer:

Some people get into advertising and learn about graphic design afterwards. Others start as designers and eventually fall in love with the world of advertising.

Put simply, design is just a means to an end. With advertising that end is to sell people on a product or service.

Advertising design can range from digital banners & landing pages to the print world of posters and billboards. You may even combine a unique skillset like animation to make commercials for TV or YouTube. The design skillset is very important but you also need to have great ideas. The best designers working for ad agencies know how to brainstorm ideas & visually execute them.

3. Targeted Website Projects

imdb media streaming homepage

The field of web design is vast and growing rapidly. Nowadays everyone needs a website and clients never know where to turn. If you specialize in a particular field of web design you may be able to carve out a niche for yourself.

As an example consider popular bands and musicians. A stellar website in the music industry is vital to good branding – yet there’s such a gap between amazing websites and horrid attempts at amazing. A professional designer who specializes in music websites can get a lot of high-quality clients and referrals for new clients too.

Music is just one example but there are so many unique areas of web design. You could specialize in entertainment, banking, restaurants, hotels, the list is practically endless. General web designers are always in demand but if you have a passion for one particular area try to carve out a niche for yourself and specialize in those clients.

4. Icon Design

wooden door icon design

Most skilled icon designers also have some knowledge of fine arts to back up their digital work. Icon design usually takes an idea from real life and virtualizes it with a unique style. To wit, if you want to specialize in icon design you need to be really good. The best way to get good is by studying light, tone, shape, perspective, and composition. You’ll learn this stuff the quickest by practicing fine art.

Although it is possible to design icons with only digital skills, you’ll improve dramatically by learning to sketch out detailed concepts first. Icon design can include website icons, branded iconsets, or even mobile app icons.

This may be one of the toughest areas to master but icon designers worth their salt make good money. If you have a true passion for icon design over anything else this might be an area worth pursuing.

5. Type & Calligraphy

inked calligraphy

Calligraphers are designers who love typography. Most typophiles get hired to do custom work on a company brand or logo. But there’s also room to earn money by doing work for signs, cards, menus, and other small print projects.

Masterful calligraphers even earn money by selling premium fonts. Online shops like MyFonts can provide income for freelance designers and type foundries alike.

When pursuing calligraphy just keep in mind that it’s a very specific medium without a means to an end. More clients will pay for a custom website than a custom font, so the demand is smaller and it might be wise to combine your calligraphic skills with other areas of design.

6. Digital Illustration

theme park digital painting

Great illustration work can be used on every type of design project. Illustrators might specialize in children’s books, CD covers, vector characters or even concept art. Digital illustration can be done on the computer but it mostly requires artistic talent.

Most designers consider illustration to be “art” rather than “design”. But this specialization made the list because it can be combined with so many different forms of design. Think about all your favorite cereal box mascots – those are illustrations. I can’t even imagine Captain Crunch without the Captain.

Illustration is another area that can be tough to break into. However if you have the skill and persistence it’s possible to make a great living.

7. Interface Animation

UI/UX design

Some designers prefer the phrase “user experience design” which encompasses the whole interface. Animation and visual effects tend to be sub-sections of UI/UX design. Websites are the most popular projects but great animators can be used on mobile apps and even desktop programs.

It really helps if you have a deep love for general animation or user interface components. Many UI animators do not practice regular animation but instead focus on digital interfaces. There is no right or wrong area to specialize for animation or motion graphics. Just find what you like and do the absolute best work that you can.

8. Print Projects

print style guide book

This may seem antiquated but print design is still very much in demand. Print designers can follow the same track as specialized web designers by focusing on particular types of clients.

General print designers can still earn a lot of money either freelancing or working at a design agency. But print specialization is also great if you can find clients paying for a particular service like business cards or style guides. Often it’s best to learn all areas of print and see if you stumble onto one area that interests you more than any other.

Moving Forward

These 8 skillsets are not the only areas of specialization but they are very popular among modern designers. Even if you don’t want to fully specialize in one area, there’s something to be said about developing one particular skillset over others. Hopefully these ideas can get you thinking about which areas of design most invigorate your creative passion.

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