Online Graphic Design Jobs

Online graphic designers are often called webmasters or web designers. They are increasingly in demand as more companies look to the Internet to expand their customer base and raise market awareness. The future looks bright for online graphic design jobs, and candidates with the right educational background and skills will be amongst those chosen. Many will be drawn to the flexibility of online graphic design work, since a large percentage of those in the industry work on a freelance basis. This article will explore these topics, and provide more information about facets of the industry, including job description and pay details.

Online graphic designers are responsible for bringing to life the look and design of a website for a customer or client. To do this they use specialized computer software packages to help create layouts and design elements and to program animated graphics. Online graphic designers choose the artistic elements of a web design -- which involves the selection of colors, sound effects, artwork, photography, animation, font, etc. They also decide how the different elements get laid out on the page or screen, and even analyze data to translate it into a visually-pleasing graph or chart. They are intrinsically involved with understanding the client's vision for her business, which includes brainstorming to creating mock layouts online to illustrate the vision for the design. All this is done with the intention and hope of gaining customer buy-in. Once this is accomplished, the graphic designer goes through a process of tweaks, revisions and edits until the website is ready to go "live" online.

Most entry-level online graphic designer jobs require a bachelor degree with coursework in fine arts or graphic design. Recommended courses include studio art, design principles, computerized design, commercial graphics production and website design. Thorough knowledge of computer graphics and design software is a must, and it is critical that graphic designers keep up with the latest and greatest technological advances. Comfort with scripting languages like HTML is also necessary. Employers are on the lookout for candidates who show creativity, strong communication and problem-solving skills and an eye for detail. A portfolio of web designs is the best way to showcase these skills, and can often make or break you in an interview.

Online graphic design jobs are generally found by large advertising or design firms. Corporations often house online graphic design positions to support their Internet and intranet presence. Often times a corporation will hire a large advertising firm to come up with the initial website design and then use its in-house staff to maintain it and make updates. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about one-quarter of all graphic designers work as independent contractors or do freelance work in addition to having steady employment elsewhere.

Annual online graphic design job salaries vary widely from about $25,000 for an entry level position to $90,000 for experienced graphic designers working for a large advertising agency. The average salary for a graphic designer is about $40,000.

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that graphic design jobs will grow steadily at the national average through 2014, with Web design an especially strong field. Online graphic design jobs will especially be needed as demand increases for interactive media design projects --- not only websites but video games, cell phones, etc.