With the expansion of technology and the adoption of remote work in the COVID-19 pandemic, sectors that work with creativity are in high demand. 

In addition, based on the Workana Report: Mercado Freelancer 2020, the post-pandemic demand projection tends to increase by 67,7%, mainly in the online environment. 

Therefore, if you want to break free from traditional work, have freedom and quality of life, working as a graphic designer can be an excellent opportunity. 

However, it is necessary to understand the particularities of this profession to achieve a good placement in the professional field. 

Do you want to know more about the profession of graphic designer? Continue reading to find out:

  • what does this professional do
  • which niches can act
  • what are the compensation opportunities
  • how is the job market?
  • what courses can you take to improve  

What does a graphic designer do

What does a graphic designer do

A graphic designer is a professional who creates visual concepts, arts and graphic projects for print and digital media. 

Thus, it is responsible for the entire graphic part of the products and services, in order to build the visual identity of the company or brand.

This type of work consists of producing banners, posters, business cards, stickers, folders, flyers, billboards, packaging, prints, labels, arts for social networks, website layouts, among others.

Working with colors, typography, images, formats and textures is also part of the specialist's day-to-day work in this line of work.

Therefore, the area demands knowledge of creation and editing programs, such as: Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDraw, Canva, etc. 

Before we know what types of designers and what materials they produce, it is important to understand and learn what this professional it is not necessary:

  • Having a university degree in the area, as it is not yet a regulated profession.
  • Knowing how to draw extremely well to be a good designer.
  • Know programming.

However, the professional can take advantage of these characteristics as a way to expand their activities in the labor market. 

Another possibility of expanding graphic design is to become or work as a digital graphic designer.

Despite acting in different ways — the latter exclusively for digital projects — there is knowledge and tools that are used in both professions. 

Do you want to know the differences and types of designers right away? Don't worry! Let's break it all down now. 

Types of Designer

Types of Designer

Because it is a profession in constant expansion, mainly in the area of Digital marketing, designers tend to specialize in specific niches. 

However, there are also designers who do a little of everything and move between different segments. 

Next, discover the types of graphic designers and the materials these professionals produce.

Digital Graphic Designer

In this niche, unlike “traditional” Graphic Design, as the name implies, the digital graphic designer creates projects and products for any digital media.

Images and designs to integrate the layout of websites and blogs, logos, digital interfaces, animations and social media are recurring works of this professional in the digital world. 

Furthermore, it is clear that the digital graphic designer can also work in print media. You just need to want and be available for it. 

UI Designer

Do you know what the acronym UI means? She means: User Interface, that is, the user interface. 

This area of ​​design is concerned with how users interact with the layout produced. Aesthetics and functionality are the keywords.

To be a good UI Designer, the professional needs to relate the elements in a simple and intuitive way, leading the user to the objective in a natural way. 

There are some sites, blogs or applications that are not intuitive, making user actions difficult. Therefore, the work of the UI Designer is important. 

UX Designer

UX Design — User Experience — focuses on the user experience when using a particular product or service. 

The best experience designs give the user not only what they need, but what they don't even think they need. 

This care with the user experience is essential, as the objective is to create an emotional connection with the product, service or brand. 

Packaging Designer

You know those packages we see in markets, malls and e-commerce sites? 

So, it is this designer who develops the most diverse types of packaging for the products we buy on a daily basis.

He creates the labels observing the colors, the size of the letters and the layout, making the product attractive in the eyes of the consumer. 

Thus, many packaging designers must also take the user experience into account to create the best possible aesthetic. 

Editorial Designer

This other type of designer works to make the client's or company's paperwork harmonic and intuitive to read. 

Sometimes folders, flyers or catalogs — which we read around — have many colors or extremely small letters that make it difficult for the customer to read. 

In this way, the editorial designer arranges the layout, even of electronic presentations, to create a balanced and pleasing pattern. 

Not only that, but also e-book covers, magazines and newspapers are part of this professional's niche.

Motion designer

From the technological progress In recent years, a new area, Motion Design — Design in motion — has begun to gain a lot of space. 

But what does this professional do?

The motion design professional works with animation, images, icons and graphics that are in motion and relate proportionally to the video.

All of this is done with the aim of engaging the user, captivating their attention and providing understanding of a complex topic in a didactic way.     

Art director

And finally, the graphic designer can also work in an advertising agency, on TV and in the cinema. 

Like this? That's right! 

In this case, he creates and monitors projects for social networks, print media, television vignettes and logos, in addition to being responsible for the creative team. 

Usually, this professional works side by side with the writing team. 

How much does a Graphic Designer make?

How much does a Graphic Designer make?

Now that you've understood what a graphic designer does and the different niches he works in, let's find out how much he can earn?

For this, we can consider 3 fundamental aspects that will define the salary of this professional: hiring model, experience and niche. 

The remuneration of the graphic designer will depend on the hiring model you choose. 

No CLT model (signed portfolio), according to the Vagas website, those who work as Graphic Designer receive an average salary of R$ 2.005,00.

Now at model CNPJ (National Register of Legal Entities), the freelance graphic designer can start earning R$ 1.272,00.

But, depending on your experience level, the earning range can reach R$ 3.113,00 or more. Thus, the more experienced in performing the function, the more the professional can profit. 

In addition, find other job opportunities that exceed these salaries is relatively common. 

Another point that integrates the remuneration of this professional is the niche of performance. The more specific and sought after the industry — for example, motion design — the better the earnings. 

It is also worth mentioning that the highest paid graphic designer is the one who never separates strategy from execution. 

Therefore, in addition to training yourself to produce excellent projects, it is worth learning to develop a strategic view of your work.

This helps you serve customers better and advances in your career faster. 

Job market for Graphic Designer

Job market for Graphic Designer

The use of the internet as a work tool has been expanding more and more, especially after the emergence of COVID-19. 

Linked to this, digital marketing and e-commerce are growing fast and the demand for professionals working in this field is very competitive.

Therefore, both remote CLT work and freelancing online, have been standing out, according to the Workana Report: Freelancer Market 2020. 

Thus, what both professionals seek is freedom. This freedom is linked to the fact of managing work time and being close to the family. This not only increases productivity but also job satisfaction. 

Therefore, observing the most common opportunities for graphic designers (CLT or CNPJ) can help you stand out from the competition. 

To work as a CLT, the most common positions on the Catho website are: Graphic Designer, UX Designer and UI Designer. 

The main opportunities with CNPJ on online platforms are: Graphic Designer, Digital Graphic Designer and Motion Designer.

Skills and Competencies for the Graphic Designer

Skills and Competencies for the Graphic Designer

We already know that the graphic design market is very competitive. Therefore, it is essential that the professional has skills and competencies compatible with the positions offered. 

Skills

Therefore, to succeed in job opportunities, the Graphic Designer needs to be able to: 

  • Adobe Creative Cloud Bundle (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator).
  • Creation of logos, designs, print media and digital media.
  • Production and editing of videos for social networks and YouTube.
  • Creation and/or updating of layout of institutional materials.
  • Creative processes.
  • Challenges, deadlines and professional improvement.

An important highlight: it is essential to master a second language, especially English. 

Currently, English is already considered the second language of any profession. Therefore, having an advanced or fluent level in that language — and in others as well — can be a huge differential when hiring. 

Competencies

The professional who works in the job market must always take into account one question: “Am I making the client’s life easier, at the same time that I make him look good on tape?”

From this perspective, developing and maintaining some skills is essential to stand out in the area in which you operate, for example:

  • Transparency: be punctual and act clearly.
  • Organization: taking care of deadlines and deliveries in the correct format, in addition to maintaining a routine for checking and revising individual and group work.
  • Initiative: have an attitude, take the lead and take a stand, when necessary.
  • Adaptation: be flexible and respond quickly to changes, as well as bring new ideas and be creative.
  • Prediction: anticipate the facts in order to prevent risks and visualize the problem before it happens.
  • Feedback: listen to the praise and learn from mistakes.  

Graphic Designer courses and certifications

Graphic Designer courses and certifications

Knowing that this job market also values ​​a lot of knowledge, nothing better than looking for courses with certifications in the area.

So, check out some options for free and paid courses to become a graphic designer or to improve yourself:

It is important to point out that there are also other free courses in this field, for example, the 13 free graphic design courses to learn from home.  

Also check out this free mini-course on Crowd Academy:

How to get Graphic Designer jobs

How to get Graphic Designer jobs

For those who want to work in the CLT format, job sites like Catho, Vagas, Indeed and LinkedIn regularly offer new opportunities.  

As for online freelance work, professionals can opt for business platforms such as the Crowd Community. 

Whether CLT or freelancer, a portfolio is essential to guarantee job possibilities and generate ROI (return on investment) as a graphic designer. 

Thus, content that actively demonstrates your expertise — concept projects or successful cases — facilitates the potential client's decision. 

Did you like this profession and want to become a graphic designer? Register for free as a graphic designer and come be a professional freelancer on the Crowd platform! 

Picture of Gabriel Matias

gabriel matias

Co Founder and CEO of CROWD.
I connect you to the best tech and marketing professionals with AI, instantly.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamatias/

Hire professionals