Jobs
According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics graphic design jobs will increase about 13 percent in the decade 2008-2018.
The good news is that there will be available positions in advertising firms, websites, print and electronic media for graphic designers and graphic design college graduates.
However the BLS also states that the competition for these available jobs will be very high.
So what can you do to increase your chances of being noticed by prospective employers? In this three part series we’ll discuss various methods and tips on how to distinguish yourself from other job hunters and to help you qualify for more job opportunities.
School Until the advent of the personal computer, graphic design remained relatively static as far as technological advances –if you had good talent, design skills and a good grasp of aesthetics as your foundation, a career in graphic design was accessible.
However in today’s world, there is rarely a graphic designer that isn’t familiar with at least two or three of the more popular design/image editing software programs. Understanding and using these programs is essential in graphic design work.
In order to receive the important career training you need in graphic design, methods, and computer skills, go to a graphic design school that ranks high in the quality of its curriculum and broad range of design classes and programs.
Graphic designers who have additional skills in web design and animation will have the best prospects for jobs in their field.
Presentation
Your portfolio can be one of the deciding factors that can help you land a job in graphic design. Your portfolio should be professional looking and consist of examples that not only reflect your best work, but is geared towards the firm you are applying for.
Don’t be afraid to rearrange and restructure your portfolio from job interview to job interview.
The needs of different design firms can sometimes vary. If you do your homework by finding out what each company’s particular design needs are you can emphasize this type of work in your portfolio.
Be prepared to give your interviewer an Internet link to a website that shows off your work. Put as much care into designing your website as you do in assembling your physical portfolio. First impressions really count and you want to put your best foot forward in presenting your work.
Experience
A good graphic design education is essential for learning the skills of the trade but experience in the graphic design industry can also be an important part in your real-world education.
Graphic design students will especially benefit by taking on as many internships and outside work experiences as possible to fill this gap.
Increase your chances for landing a job by getting as much job experience as you can while still in school.
Next Time…
We’ll go over some practical tips on how to establish yourself in a positive way when going to a job interview. Until next week, take care!
Poster Clash 2010 is seeking entries for its contest. The theme for this graphic design competition is “Change one thing.”
According to the sponsors:
“From the simplest action of changing to compact florescent bulbs, to more in-depth changes such as political parties and life habits, motivating change in visual communication is one of the most basic and fulfilling aspects of the communication profession.
“Use this poster platform to engage, educate and drive change in your viewer’s world through the use of type and imagery.”
Contest Submission Details
All poster art must be submitted digitally to the official contest website. Click here for the entry form.
* Submissions must have a URL link to a low-resolution and high resolution version of your image. Low submitted images must be formatted in PDF. Low resolution images should be 72dpi while high resolution files should be 300 dpi and be 18″ by 24″ in size.
* The links to your images must be active until the conclusion of the contest.
*Your poster design must include the “Poster Clash” footer bar. The templates for the poster contest can be found by clicking here.
* The student entry fee is five dollars (5 USD) for each entry and ten dollars (10 USD) for non-students. There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit.
“Posters will be judged on the fulfillment of the entry guidelines and by the execution of the conceptual direction for this year’s contest. All entries will be thoroughly evaluated and considered for the finalist positions by our panel of professional designers.
“After the selection of the final 64 entries by the judges, the voting turns online where the general public will be able to vote for your poster submissions using an online voting system.
“You will not need to be present at the final event to win.” . . Prizes
10 full size professional copies of your poster ($300 Value)
Top 64 Finalists:
Award Certificate
Discounted Admission to the Main Event
. Other Details
Questions about this contest can be answered by sending an email to clash (at) aigablueridge.org. The deadline for this contest is February 24th, 2010.
One winning design will be selected from all entries and will be printed and sold at the festival.
The winning designer will be awarded a special artist “Priority Pass” (valued at $500) for the 2010 festival plus paid hotel accommodations for the 4-day event (April 8-11 in Downtown Durham North Carolina).
Contest Guidelines
All entries must include the following details in the overall poster design:
What to Submit
The final poster size should be 11″ x 17″ and include a ¼ inch bleed on all sides. The actual artwork size will be 11.5″ x 17.5″. The maximum file size is 5MB and must be in a PDF or JPG format.
For submissions that are non-digital, a scan of the artwork will be acceptable. The original artwork must be presented if selected as the winning entry for reproduction purposes.
Use of the “Full Frame” logo can be displayed in any single solid color. The logo must be at least 2″ in width. To receive the PDF file of the document and full contest guidelines, send a request to fullframeposter (at) gmail.com.
All submissions and artwork must be original and not copied from other published sources, magazines, copyrighted material, books or online sources. No team created entries will be accepted.
The contest sponsors do not have a theme for contest submissions but have indicated the following subject matter that is preferred:
Trees
Anatomical drawings
Scientific illustrations
Collage
Buildings
Wood grain
Blueprints
Ed Ruscha
Gig posters
Silhouettes
Kodachrome
Negative space
European compact cars
Aircraft
Lines
Penguin books
Criterion covers
Kites
Alligator gar
Bikes
Suitcases
Power tools
Letterpress
Telephone lines
Gymnasiums
Tom Waits
Things not made on a computer
Freshwater fish
Semaphore/flags/pennants
Icebergs
The contest sponsors have requested that poster submissions do not contain the following themes:
Deer
Ticket stubs
Cats
Hollywood sign
Sad children
Popcorn
Sprocket holes
David Caruso
Vampires
Snakes
The deadline for this contest is February 15th, 2010.
What Is NewActon Nishi?
NewActon Nishi is a new apartment complex with over 280 residential units located in Australia’s NewActon Precinct. The development offers cutting-edge green rating systems and is geared towards sustainable operations.
According to the NewActon Nishi developers, the new apartment complex will be a:
“…building that causes people to stop and take notice… to change minds… that we are no longer in the age of glass towers, but in the age of living, breathing buildings, and ecological rejuvenation. Nishi is a building that relies less on technology, and more on a passive solution, to deliver an incredible environmental outcome.”
The Contest
The developers are asking graphic artists to develop a logo and “visual language” that depicts the concept and brand name of NewActon Nishi.
The contest sponsors state:
“The key is the message. Your design must respond to Nishi‘s core values of sustainability, affordability and design excellence. How you choose to interpret those words is up to you but like Nishi itself, the answer is bound to be both progressive and flexible, using creative thinking to arrive at a smart solution.
“We don’t want to buckle you down too much, but you will need to bring a fresh color palette and use sympathetic typography to tell the story. You might want to compose a slogan or use random words to convey Nishi‘s inner beauty. Photography and illustration will also help bring your ideas to life.”
“…think about the ways in which your design will be used. There will be brochures, posters, construction hoardings and a website as well. Maybe we’ll make wallpaper for our display suite or project light onto the building itself.”
How to Enter
The first step in entering this contest is to register. This can be done by clicking here. After your form is accepted, you will be sent registration information, details about the contest, and other information about the competition.
Once registered you must submit an overview of your logo idea in 500 words or less. Your brief should include details regarding the creative process of your design and how your submission meets the contest guidelines.
Awards
The winner will have his/her design used for the promotion of the NewActon Nishi development.
There are two categories for prizes in this contest:
Popular Choice
The most popular choice through the online public vote will receive a Mac Book Air valued at $1800. This is Apple’s Greenest laptop to date. Using highly recyclable materials and meets the EPA and U.S Department of Energy 5.0 Energy Star rating.
Judges Choice
The judges choice winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize
Other Information
For the complete rules to this contest, click here. The contest deadline is March 15, 2010. The winner will be announced on April 19, 2010. See the video below for more information:
All Digital Artists Welcome
SlowArt Productions is calling for all computer digital artists, digital image compositors, and digital photographers to enter its Digital Art Extravaganza Exhibition.
Who Is Eligible?
According to SlowArt Productions, the exhibition/competition will be open to:
“…all artists working in any aspect of computer digital print media. This exhibition will include all aspects of digital art. Computer generated art, computer altered photography and collage and digital photography will all be considered. All computer printing formats are eligible.”
What the Contest Is For
The Digital Art Extravaganza serves several purposes–to act as a forum for digital artists to display their work at the Limner Art Gallery, located in New York, to provide an avenue for digital artists to sell their creations, and to give exposure to the winners in Digital Art magazine.
What to Submit
Entries may be uploaded or sent via standard mail. If you are sending your entries through regular mail services your prints should be 8.5″ by 11″. If your original print is larger, the 8.5 x 11 print should be an accurate representation of the full-sized artwork. The actual dimensions of the piece should be indicated on the back of your prints.
If you are submitting via email use the official entry form by clicking here. Files should be uploaded in JPG format, have a resolution of 72 dpi, and be no larger than 10″ in height or width.
Awards
Three winners will be featured in Direct Art magazine volume #17. One artist will be selected for a two page spread in the magazine.
The other two winners will be featured in a single page spread.
If you are accepted into the exhibition, your art will be displayed at the Limner Art Gallery with the provision that your artwork will be available for sale to the public.
There is a 30% commission fee on all art sold. The final sale price is determined by the artist.
Other Information and Details
There is an entry fee of $35 for up to four prints. Additional entries will be charged $5 for each additional entry. The deadline for submissions is January 30, 2010. For full details, entry forms, and contest guidelines click here.
. The Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) is a graphic design competition and computer application competition that seeks the best and the brightest student talent in the fields of graphic design, illustration, photography, animation, digital film, computer art, and computer applications.
If you are currently enrolled as a full-time student you are eligible to enter this contest for a chance to win cash prizes and Adobe software products. . Entry Categories
There are three major categories in this contest with several linked subcategories:
Interactive Media
* Browser-Based Design
* Non-Browser Based Design
* Application Development
* Mobile Design
* Installation Design
Video and Motion
* Animation
* Live Action
* Motion Graphics
Traditional Media
* Illustration
* Packaging
* Photography
* Print Communication
Full detailed descriptions for these classes can be found by clicking here.
Contest Guidelines
The contest is open to individuals 18 years or older that are enrolled as full-time students. (See full contest rules for restrictions)
Submitted entries may be reclassified from one category to another at the judges discretion.
Entries must be the original work of the submitter.
Deadline for entries is June 4, 2010.
Submitted entries must be created with at least 50% or more with Adobe tools in Adobe software formats.
The complete rules and guidelines for this graphic design contest can be obtained by clicking here. . Judging
Adobe states on its website:
“The entries, whether submitted by an individual or a group, shall be judged together in each category on a points system, based on originality, effectiveness in meeting the communication objective, and contestant(s) skills in applying Adobe products as specified in their entry forms.”
The Awards
A $3000 cash prize will be awarded to the winners in addition to various Adobe software program packages such as Adobe design suites, web design applications, and other Adobe products.
Other Information
The deadline for this contest isJune 4, 2010. Complete details and entry instructions can be found by clicking here.
Jobs
Until the advent of the personal computer, graphic design remained relatively static as far as technological advances –if you had good talent, design skills and a good grasp of aesthetics as your foundation, a career in graphic design was accessible.
Presentation
Experience
