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Online Graphic Design Degrees

Professional graphic designers help make advertising and messaging catch your eye. You see their work on billboards, in newspapers and magazines and also on book covers, logos, graphics, maps, wedding announcements and more. On the Internet, they help with website development and use a number of effects, from color to object placement, to make sites pop. They work in many different mediums and can create the difference between an ad or message that sizzles and one that fizzles.

Gaining graphic design skills

Those interested in the field can gain training through online degrees in graphic design. Training is available at the following levels:

Certificate: This type of program is usually completed in nine months or less and gives you skills in color, graphic design concepts, software and typography. You could also learn about programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
Associate degree: Considered the basic level of training for low-level technical and assistant graphic design positions, a two-year program introduces you to subjects such as imagining fundamentals, information design, web animation and more.
Bachelor's degree: A popular choice for most entry-level design careers in the field, this four-year program typically emphasizes all the basics such as commercial graphics production, computerized design, web design and more as well as coursework in liberal arts such as art history, business, cultural studies and more.
Master's degree: A less-popular option than the bachelor's degree, the master's degree in graphic design is favored by students lacking a previous design degree or who want to grow their skills through critique and professor feedback.

Benefits of online degrees in graphic design

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that an increasing number of graphic designers are being called to create content for multimedia projects and websites. Students who pursue graphic design career training online are studying in a medium they may soon be called to work in. Because so much of graphic design work is actually done on a computer, an online degree could facilitate the type of computer familiarity and comfort that needs to be obtained for success.

Careers in graphic design

Combining critical thought and technical prowess, graphic designers need to be fluent in both artistic and business worlds. Graphic designers should be knowledgeable in the tools of the trade--including Adobe FrameMaker, InDesign and PageMaker--and web platform development software like CSS and ColdFusion

More than 192,000 graphic designers were employed in the U.S. in 2010, according to the BLS. Industries with high levels of employment included specialized design services; advertising, public relations, and related services; and newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers.

Upon completion of an education, designers can look for opportunities with large design houses or with small companies. They can launch their own business or do freelance work. Some even pursue an advanced education to be able to teach others graphic design skills.

Graphic design at a glance

Associations to join: Society for Environmental Graphic Design, the Society of Illustrators, Artists and Designers
Growth projection, 2008-2018: 13 percent
Mean annual wages: $48,140 (BLS, 2010)
Popular software: Adobe Fireworks, FrameMaker, InDesign, FreeHand, Illustrator
Recommended education: bachelor's degree
Top paying industry: federal government ($75,810)

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