Are you newly graduated with a creative flare? Or maybe you’re looking for a career change? With the graphic design industry constantly evolving and expanding you cannot go wrong considering a career in this sector. There are many different areas in which graphic designers are needed such as print publication, logo, package or digital online design. With the constant introduction of new technology and higher demands, the industry can only get more fruitful.

Shown below are some of the most popular jobs within graphic design and the skills required:

• Creative Director
  The creative director of a company is usually a person with very good interpersonal skills for liaising with clients on a one to one basis. They have more a role of a manager than that of typical “hands on” designer. Good creative directors know how to use their team to their full potential in order to maximise awareness of the brand in question. Sometimes the creative director will also be involved in the design process, the recruitment process and also responsible for dealing with third party design firms. Potential candidates for this role will have a degree in a related field such as media or advertising, a few years’ experience in a management role is also required. You will need to be familiar with the programmes which you may be using such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. If you choose a career as a creative director then you can be sure of a healthy salary. Average salary for a creative director would be around £65,000 per annum, however depending upon experience and which company you are employed with, this could reach up to £100,000+ per annum in some cases.

• Package Designer
  A package designer does simply what it says on the tin; they are responsible for designing media for packages such as cans, bottles, boxes and all of the everyday containers we see in stores. For this particular role it is necessary that you have a keen interest in 3D modelling as a lot of your time will be spent comparing other pieces and your main focus would be on label artwork. If you do not enjoy what you do then you will not last within this industry as the hours can be quite tedious when trying to create the perfect design. An average package designer’s salary is usually around £45,000 per annum however this can potentially double depending on your experience and the company which employs you.

• Front End Web Designer
  The front end web designer creates the internet as we know it today. They are responsible for most of the design and media we find on websites every day. Typically employers would favour candidates who have a degree in a related area, whether it be fine arts, IT, marketing or design. A web designer must be extremely creative and familiar with the software used such as Fireworks and Photoshop. It is also a great advantage for applicants if they are familiar with website design, experience is vital; or perhaps even set up their own website? This would put you one step ahead of the other candidates. If you secured a job as a web designer then you could be looking at an average salary of around £40,000+. Again this could be much more or less depending on your experience and employer.

If you were to pursue a career in graphic design then an interest in the media industry and experience is extremely important. This is a very competitive industry and before job hunting you must prepare as best you can in order to give yourself the best possible chance of securing your ideal position.

Mediaweekjobs.co.uk lists the latest media jobs in media sales and advertising.