Welcome to the Creative Sector, we are excited to help you start your journey to a rewarding career in this industry. The Creative Sector is broad with many career opportunities, this course will focus on the area of Graphic Design but the skills and knowledge you learn can be used across all areas of the industry.
Let's start by looking at career opportunities within the Graphic Design space.
Careers and responsibilities
Graphic design is the practice of visually communicating, using a variety of elements that usually include one or more of the following:
- Colour
- Form
- Line
- Shape
- Size
- Space
- Texture
The field is considered a subset of visual communication and communication design, but sometimes the term "graphic design" is used synonymously.
Graphic Designers create and combine symbols, images, and text to form visual representations of ideas and messages. They use typography, visual arts and page layout techniques to create visual compositions.
Watch the following video from Gareth David Studio about the Graphic Design Industry and the specializations within:
Below are some of the responsibilities of a Graphic Designer:
- Put the art first
- Have a one-way relationship with their audience
- More artistic and hands-on through media such as sketching with a pen and paper
- Emphasize visual theory in their designs
- Must focus on how a design communicates a message to its audience
- Need to know how each element of a design translates to print
- Have one shot at getting a design right once it's printed
Some of the roles that exist within the field of Graphic Design:
- Art Director
- Creative Director
- Graphic Designer
- Packaging Designer
- Product Designer
There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.Milton Glaser
Now you understand Graphic Design in the Creative Sector, let's start with your first steps.
As a designer, your portfolio represents a window for the world to view your work and judge your talent, skills and experience.
Throughout this course, you will be seeing activities like this to build your own portfolio. Click on the expand button on each of the tasks to reveal the detail of each task. Let's get started with Task 1.
- Step One - Create an account in CANVA or a portfolio host of your choice.
- Step Two - Explore the creative sectors, and choose one that you can see yourself in.
- Step Three - Create a mood/vision board based on your chosen sector. Add in images that inspire you and speak creatively to you, add in goals and include your own personal flare that represents you.
