Graphic designer job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed graphic designers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed graphic designers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Creative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Imaginative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Detail-oriented
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a graphic designer
What do graphic designers do? Key tasks and responsibilities include:
- Talking to clients to understand what they want from a graphic designer
- Agreeing upon graphic design briefs
- Creating job quotes that estimates the time and costs required for contracted design work
- Advising clients on different design approaches you can take
- Formulating ideas and concepts for a design
- Presenting different design options to clients and listening to their feedback
- Using design software to make fresh designs that meet the brief
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Learning opportunities
Graphic design is a career path where you never stop learning. There’s always more to discover about different design approaches, the history and theory of graphic design, different design software, and new trends in graphic design. Your ability to learn new things will be of huge benefit to clients.
Enjoyable
The graphic design field has some of the most fun jobs around. Using your creative skill set to come up with unique concepts is immensely satisfying.
High paying
Not everyone can come up with and execute fresh design concepts. Your unique skills as a graphic designer are highly sought-after, and often well-rewarded with strong average salaries.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a graphic designer
Graphic designers can be found in a range of industries. Any organisation that needs a logo also needs a graphic designer. Broadly though, graphic design work forms part of the dynamic and growing information media and telecommunications industry. According to a PwC Australia review of the industry, there’s reason for optimism in terms of job market trends. The industry will require one million workers in Australia by 2025, meaning that almost 300,000 people will need to enter it between now and then.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
Junior
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Junior graphic designer
Most common qualification: Diploma of Graphic Design (CUA50715)
Mid
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Graphic designer
Most common qualification: Diploma of Graphic Design (CUA50715)
-
Product designer
Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Creative Product Development (CUA60420) -
Visual designer
Most common qualification: Diploma of Graphic Design (CUA50715)
Senior
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Art director
Most common qualification: Diploma of Graphic Design (CUA50715)
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Creative director
Most common qualification: Diploma of Graphic Design (CUA50715)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
Soft skills that you could already have (or can develop naturally from exploring your interests) include:
Creativity
You already likely express yourself creatively with visual media, which is a key skill for a graphic designer. You’ll impress clients with your out-of-the-box thinking, and unique approach to the design process.
Eye for detail
Graphic designers famously notice the difference between two similar typefaces or notice where kerning (the spaces between individual letters) is too wide or narrow. A great eye for detail not only helps you in design, but also for the business side of your work in making sure you deliver every aspect of a brief.
Communication
A graphic designer is a communicator, primarily using visual language. You likely have already honed these skills through your creative pursuits.
Strategy
As much as graphic design is a creative job, it also involves a business side. You can carefully think through what a design needs to achieve, and execute your design with a strategy in mind.
Problem solving
Often design briefs will have an implicit problem. How do we get people to know about our brand? How can we make our organisation seem professional, modern, or fun? What will attract customers to our sale? Graphic designers offer novel solutions to these problems. This is a skill you likely already have if you enjoy creative or lateral thinking.
Time management
When you work in graphic design, you’ll need to deliver assets to a deadline. As you hone your design skills, delivering assets quickly will become second-nature. You’ll be confident with design software so you can put together great designs in the limited time you have.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
When looking to become a graphic designer, your training will allow you to develop a toolkit of the necessary technical skills, such as:
Design principles
Graphic design has a rich history and plenty of theories about what makes designs attractive or compelling. Learning the design principles will help you think formally about how to make every one of your designs harmonious and interesting.
Ideation
Ideation is the process of generating and developing ideas. You may already be great at coming up with ideas, but formal training will help the idea generation become more deliberate. You won’t have to wait for inspiration to come to you, through ideation you have the power to come up with interesting approaches all the time.
Branding
Branding is a complex area which draws on knowledge gleaned from consumer psychology, marketing, and advertising. Branding skills will help you to think about how to make a brand feel unified, professional, and trustworthy.
Typography
Typography is the art of arranging letters so that they’re legible, clear, and attractive. Just like design principles, there’s a long history to typography. It’s important to learn the theories around using typography and how to pick out fonts to good effect.
UX/UI
User experience design and user interface design is all about making the end customer of designs feel positive about the brands they’re interacting with. Graphic design can support UX/UI in a variety of ways which can be realised through user research and adhering to user design principles.
Tech and software
Although many designers might start their process with pencil and paper sketches, almost all design work relies heavily on graphic design software. From initial wireframes to the finished product, these digital design tools support great design. Graphic designers use design programs like the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, and others). You’ll also likely use invoicing software and the Microsoft Office Suite.
How to become a graphic designer
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Study
Although no specific formal education is required to work as a graphic designer, it is common to hold a tertiary degree in graphic design or a related area. During your study there may be hands-on work experience or internship opportunities.
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Build your graphic design portfolio
When applying for graphic design jobs, potential employers will want to see what you’ve designed in the past so they can get a sense of your abilities and style as a professional graphic designer. You can build your portfolio through study, making logo designs on a volunteer basis for other organisations, or simply by creating your own briefs and designs.
Explore related qualifications
Qualifications that are relevant to future graphic designers are available throughout Australia. Relevant courses may be available for online learners or delivered in-person, or a mix. Courses cost different amounts depending on the area of study and whether you are eligible for Commonwealth government support.
Certificate IV in Design (CUA40720)
In this course you’ll learn all about design generally, including graphic design. You’ll learn about design elements and principles, typography and logotype design, branding, creative processes, critical thinking, using design software, digital media and multimedia, and work health and safety practices. You’ll also have opportunities to build a strong portfolio. The course takes six months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) to complete.
1 providers offer this course
Diploma of Graphic Design (CUA50715)
This course will give you the fundamentals of graphic design theory and practice. You’ll work to develop designs to briefs to build your portfolio. You’ll also learn about the history and theory of visual communication, 2D and 3D graphic design, and more. The qualification takes 12 months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) to complete.
1 providers offer this course
Bachelor of Design (Graphic Design)
University-level courses mix theory and practice. This allows you to build a job-ready portfolio as well as hone your research and communication skills. You’ll learn all about different design traditions, undertake workshops, and see graphic design in its cultural context. A Bachelor’s degree takes three years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) to complete.
Related subjects
If you’re interested in graphic design, you may also like to explore:
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Job cluster: The Designer
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Graphic designer jobs are suited to the career personality of The Designer.
Are you the person in your friendship group that has a serious creative streak? Are people often marvelling at your creative hobby, or asking you to create something? You may be a Designer. Designers are passionate about their craft and find it easy to lose themselves in a project. They have great ideas and a talent for visual communication make great graphic designers as they can manage both the creative and business sides of the career.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is graphic design?
Graphic design is the discipline of visual communication. It’s all about conveying ideas through visual elements like images, colour, texture, and typography.
How long is a graphic design course?
A formal graphic design course can take between a few months to study at TAFE, or up to 3-4 years at university. You may also be able to find graphic design short courses or online graphic design bootcamps if you’re interested in learning more about graphic design before committing to a formal qualification.
How do you improve your graphic design skills?
The best way to improve your skills is through practice. Make your own designs, get feedback from others, and finesse them to the best of your ability. It’s also a great idea to look at others’ designs and analyse what you like about them and why, and ways you might improve on those designs. Learning about some of the elements and principles of graphic design can also be useful to begin to apply the theories of graphic design to your own work.