Getting familiar with graphics and ready to deploy, the next question in your mind would be ‘how to get graphics design jobs near me’. As a skilled person going through this guide, it is designed to help you get started on a more profitable note.
In this post, you will be learning the following
- Digital tools for graphics designers
- Best platforms to land graphics design jobs
- How to get started
- Key market trends
You cannot overwrite the importance of graphic design in today’s competitive global space concerning the fact that companies with the help of graphic design professionals use graphic designs to bring ideas into reality.
Graphics create the virtual impression such as taste, quantity, quality of the product, level of service, and performance rate in the minds of their potential clients or customers.
Let us look at some of the cutting edge tools for graphics designers, as we dig into the trends.
Read Also: 2024 Graphic Design Scholarships (Worth $5,000 Plus)
Best Tools for Graphic Designing
Graphic designers rely on a variety of tools to bring their creative visions to life. Here are some of the best tools commonly used by graphic designers:
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Adobe’s suite of design software is industry-standard for graphic designers. It includes popular applications like Photoshop for image editing and compositing, Illustrator for vector graphics, InDesign for layout design, and Adobe XD for UI/UX design and prototyping.
- Sketch: Sketch is a vector graphics editor specifically tailored for UI/UX design. It’s known for its intuitive interface, robust features for designing interfaces and prototypes, and extensive plugin ecosystem.
- Figma: Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that enables real-time collaboration between designers and stakeholders. It’s web-based, making it platform-agnostic, and offers features for designing, prototyping, and sharing designs seamlessly.
- Procreate: Procreate is a powerful digital painting app designed for iPad. It’s popular among illustrators and concept artists for its vast array of brushes, intuitive interface, and advanced features for creating digital artwork.
- Affinity Designer: Affinity Designer is a professional-grade vector graphics editor available for both Mac and Windows. It offers a wide range of tools for creating illustrations, logos, icons, and other vector-based artwork, with a focus on performance and affordability.
- Canva: Canva is a user-friendly online design platform that caters to both beginners and professionals. It provides templates, stock photos, illustrations, and a drag-and-drop interface for creating a wide range of design projects, from social media graphics to presentations.
- Cinema 4D: Cinema 4D is a 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software widely used in the motion graphics industry. It’s known for its ease of use, powerful toolset, and integration with other software like Adobe After Effects.
- Adobe After Effects: After Effects is a compositing and motion graphics software used for creating visual effects, animations, and motion graphics for film, video, and web projects. It works seamlessly with other Adobe software like Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Wacom Tablets: Wacom tablets are essential tools for digital artists and designers, offering precision and control when creating digital artwork. They come in various sizes and configurations, from entry-level models to professional-grade tablets with advanced features like tilt sensitivity and customizable buttons.
- Pantone Color Guides: Pantone color guides are indispensable for graphic designers working with print materials. They provide standardized color swatches and formulas for accurate color reproduction in print projects.
These are just a few of the many tools available to graphic designers, each offering unique features and capabilities to support various aspects of the design process.
Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you may find certain tools more suitable for your workflow than others.
How to Get Paying Graphic Design Jobs
As a rule, experts on graphic designers who understand the game have little or nothing to worry about in getting a new graphic design job for more prominent brands as long as they are in tandem with the graphical objectives of big brands.
It is unarguable that most companies only require the services of graphic designers temporarily; this is why most of the graphic designers work as freelancers, unlike in other careers.
Though there are still companies who hire designers to work continuously with them, when it comes to income generation, professional freelancers earn double or more of what employed graphic designers get in a month on average measure.
And most of the areas where they are employed are in companies that specialize in designing services, advertising, and public relations, printing and publishers of magazines, newspapers, books, and other print materials.
There are different ways to get the hit; to secure excellent graphic jobs and earn huge in every of the deal:
Social Media Outreach
Some smart graphic designers are already using different social media platforms to show their potential customers their portfolios (design samples, and links to their previous graphic jobs).
And there are many ways in which they can achieve this on different social media platforms such as Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.
Facebook Inc
Let us look at how this can be achieved using Facebook as Facebook Inc covers WhatsApp and Instagram.
Some designers who have a good fan base use their respective Facebook timeline to show their followers captivating samples of their previous jobs and leave a call to action button for the viewers to be contacted by those who found their jobs interesting.
Mega Brands
b. More prominent brands also create Facebook business pages and post consistently on it after they might have built a good number of followers on the page and also advertise some of the posts on the page to reach out to more clients. With $1, the brand can get their ads in front screens of over 1,500 potential clients of the targeted audience.
The good thing about this medium is that it is efficient and effective; that is to say, if you know how to go around running an active social media campaign, you could reach more people, get more leads and prospects that can be made to dispense cash in your favour.
Marketing on Facebook sounds easy, but it is not as easy as “ABC.” It requires some skills in content creation, effective use of some marketing tools and basic knowledge on social media marketing.
Unfortunately, you could have the best designs and have mastered the art but if you do not understand the tactics of social media marketing you may not achieve a good result by running paid ads.
However, the good news is that if you don’t know how to go about it, there are still freelancers who specialize in social media marketing management and with a proper negotiation they will help you get your ads to their right audience and you will make huge amount of money from the campaign.
One key feature here, is that once your Facebook page linked to your Instagram business or personal account, once you run an ad on the page, it also appears on Instagram as a “Sponsored” post maintaining the same criteria of the targeted audience.
Marketing Groups
c. Apart from running paid ads and posting regularly on your timeline on Facebook, you could join some popular “Market Group” on Facebook or create one by yourself (though it needs time to grow members) and start posting your jobs there to get more leads and prospects.
Though digital technologies are encroaching the territories of traditional means of doing things there are still some critical aspects of traditional media that one can harness to make a living; so many companies who publish books, magazines, newspapers and other print materials pay graphic designers handsomely to do their jobs for them timely and professionally.
However, just like in the business world where if you don’t say, “Here I am,” no one will know that you are there.
Most often, you will need to write this company an official letter informing them of your interest in working with them and with some printed copies of your previous works attached to them.
The truth is that 60% of the time, two factors determine if you get the job or not, and these factors are interwoven.
What you Must Do
First, you must have done a thorough investigation to ascertain if the company needs a graphic designer and if there are loopholes in most of their design works that you feel you can come in and correct and make the company shoot up in their profits level.
Secondly, you must be competent and ensure that the copies you attached to your proposal letter are among the best jobs you have done in the past, and the design must also be related to the field that the companies you are applying in a deal with.
The fact is that no company employs a half-baked designer; they all want experts who will give them the best to scale their earnings.
As a yardstick, you must have acquired the needed graphic designing skills before approaching any company, and also, you must ensure that the companies require a professional designer or that you have discovered a gap that needs to be filled in terms of their already employed designers’ incompetence.
Once you’re sure of this, your inability decided whether or not you are taken or not. There are more ways more prominent brands can get huge graphic jobs, and that will be discussed in our subsequent series.
Required Skillets For Designers
Landing paying graphic design jobs requires a combination of skills, networking, and a strong portfolio. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you:
- Develop Your Skills: Continuously hone your graphic design skills by practicing regularly. Learn new techniques, software, and keep up with industry trends.
- Build a Portfolio: Create a strong portfolio showcasing your best work. Include a variety of projects to demonstrate your range and expertise. Make sure your portfolio is well-organized and easy to navigate.
- Create a Professional Brand: Develop a professional brand identity for yourself as a graphic designer. This includes having a professional logo, website, and social media presence that showcases your work and personality.
- Network: Networking is crucial in the design industry. Attend industry events, join online design communities, and connect with other professionals in the field. Building relationships can lead to job opportunities and referrals.
- Freelance Platforms: Sign up for freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr to find graphic design gigs. Make sure your profile is complete and showcases your skills and experience effectively.
- Job Boards: Keep an eye on job boards for graphic design opportunities. Websites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Behance often list design jobs from companies and agencies looking to hire.
- Cold Pitching: Research companies or businesses that may need graphic design services and reach out to them directly with a personalized pitch. Highlight how your skills can benefit their projects or improve their branding.
- Internships or Entry-level Positions: Consider applying for internships or entry-level positions at design agencies or companies to gain experience and build your portfolio. These positions can often lead to full-time roles or freelance opportunities.
- Continuing Education: Stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in graphic design by taking online courses, attending workshops, or pursuing certifications. This not only enhances your skills but also makes you more marketable to potential clients.
- Provide Excellent Service: Once you land a job, deliver high-quality work and excellent customer service. Satisfied clients are more likely to hire you again or refer you to others.
Remember, landing paying graphic design jobs may take time and persistence. Keep refining your skills, expanding your network, and showcasing your best work to increase your chances of success.
