Graphic Designers can work in-house, where they create designs for one company or brand; at an agency, where they work with a range of clients and brands; or as a freelancer, where they run their own design business.
In-House Graphic Designers are employed by an established brand or company. They tend to have a range of general design skills to suit the various needs of a company. Their tasks will vary, and include everything from designing new marketing campaigns to compiling annual reports. Depending on the size of the creative department, In-House Graphic Designers may work with a creative team of other designers, or they may be the solo designer within a company.
With in-house graphic design, there is usually a more traditional work environment, with steady paychecks and a regular work schedule. In-House Graphic Designers need an in-depth understanding of the company and brand they work for, including the company’s style and audience. Because they work to build the brand, In-House Graphic Designers think about long-term design ideas and strategies. They continually build and improve upon their previous work.
Agency Graphic Designers work with a range of brands and clients. Because agencies are hired by outside clients, the needs of those clients will vary. In general, Agency Graphic Designers work on short-term projects geared towards specific campaigns. Agency work tends to be more fast-paced, and Agency Graphic Designers may be designing for several brands at once.
Typically, there are several Graphic Designers that work within an agency. Each may have a different area of specialization or expertise. Agency Graphic Designers work with colleagues who are very familiar and skilled in design, which means there will be a high expectation for stellar design.
Agencies are a great opportunity to work alongside other designers and get a first-hand look into their design processes. This can be particularly useful for new Designers who are eager to learn from established Designers.
Freelance Graphic Designers are self-employed and run every aspect of their business, from the actual design work to managing clients and issuing invoices. They work with a variety of clients, on a range of projects. Successful Freelance Graphic Designers are self-motivated and business-savvy.
Working as a freelancer offers great flexibility. Freelance Graphic Designers can live and work anywhere, and they create their own schedule. They can be selective about the work they take on, though it is important to grow a strong clientbase when first beginning a freelance business.
In addition to graphic design work, Freelance Graphic Designers need to devote time to marketing themselves and handling administrative tasks. Freelancers always need to seek out new clients and opportunities. At times, they will be competing with other Designers to land projects. The pay can also vary greatly depending on the type and amount of work.
So you want to become a professional graphic designer? Whether you’re looking to make a career change, or wondering whether graphic design is for you, we’re here to offer some guidance.
The good news is this: Your path is no longer only directed towards going to school, or investing in a formal education. To land a graphic design job in 2022, you need to cultivate the fundamentals—develop some experience, understand how to work with clients, and be willing to put yourself out there.
As long as you’re passionate about design, connecting with people, and ready to put in the time and effort, you’ll find that graphic design is certainly a career path worth pursuing. Follow the steps below to find out how you can become a self-taught graphic designer in 2022.
Art by Olga
While you don’t need a formal education to become a graphic designer, you do need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals. This means getting yourself primed on the principles of design, learning how to effectively use elements like color, contrast, hierarchy, balance, and proportion in your work.
Even more good news, as there’s plenty of free graphic design courses online you can use to start building your knowledge base. Dabble in a few different courses and refer back to them whenever necessary.
If there’s a specific graphic design niche you’re interested in (i.e. brand identity design, social media marketing, website design, etc.), it doesn’t hurt to find resources specific to the kind of design work you want to specialize in, too.
On top of getting primed on the basics, it’s also good practice to start developing your visual eye for design. Taking time to browse through Dribbble each day is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest design trends—as well as explore the various design styles that keep you fired up. Plus, you’ll also gather plenty of visual inspiration and ideas for your own open projects while you’re at it.
Art by Alex Davis
If you want to become a graphic designer, you’ll also need to become proficient in the graphic design software you’ll use to create your work. If you’re just starting out, consider downloading a few free graphic design softwares before investing in more robust tools. Free graphic design tools like Vecteezy, CorelDraw, or Inkscape are great options to explore among many others.
Once you’re ready to take your technical skills to the next level, we recommend investing time in mastering industry stalwarts like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. These are the most widely used tools across the industry—and are incredibly powerful.
Another viable tool to invest in at this stage is Bonsai. As a graphic designer, you’re probably going to work as a freelancer and Bonsai can help you—from managing projects, creating proposals and contracts for clients, to sending invoices and organizing your taxes. Using this early on will benefit you immensely down the road.
Learning how to use a new software can be intimidating, but don’t let that discourage you! There are plenty of free online resources to help you master all sorts of design tools, and it’s as easy as searching Google to find quality materials.
Art by Seonhwa Kim
You can’t become a professional graphic designer without building a persuasive body of work first—clients and employers will ask for work samples before deciding to hire you.
You might be wondering: how can I build a body of work without any real-world experience? As a budding graphic designer, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of options open to you. From creating your own self-initiated projects, to offering up your design services to family and friends, start putting your graphic design skills into practice and refining your design process.
"Start accumulating a body of work that directly reflects the graphic design jobs you ideally want to be hired for."
If you’re having difficulty coming up with ideas, get inspired by something that already exists and put your own spin on it. Redesign your favorite logo, a website, or create marketing materials for a brand you think needs some help—the possibilities are endless. But also be strategic: work on accumulating a body of work that directly reflects the graphic design jobs you ideally want to take on.
It’s also worth mentioning that you might not create anything you like right off the bat. Don’t let that discourage you. Some of the best designers today started out the very same way. Keep at it, hold fast, and eventually you’ll develop your own design style while uncovering your unique creative process.
“To be honest, at first I was making loads and loads of bad work. I kept putting together collections of work until the feedback finally became positive. This taught me more than I think any art program could have. Sure there was a lot of self-doubt, frustration, and uncertainty—but these lows were just part of following a passion.” — Spencer Gabor, Self-Taught Designer & Illustrator
Once you’ve built up a body of work you’re proud of, it’s time to create an online graphic design portfolio to showcase the fruits of all that hard work, and to let the world know you’re available. And, hey! Our very own Dribbble Pro is the simplest and most effective instant portfolio building tool that ensures your work gets discovered.
Unlike a traditional design portfolio, when you share your work on Dribbble, your work gets seen and is discoverable by millions of people each and every month. Hiring managers and design recruiters often scout Dribbble when looking to bring on new design talent, and they can contact you directly from your Dribbble Pro account. Be sure to update your work availability by toggling the briefcase icon in Dribbble’s main navigation when you’re logged in!
“A lot of companies and agencies scout for talent on Dribbble and a ton of the work requests I get will begin with saying they’ve found me on Dribbble.” — Jonas Mosesson, Motion Designer
There’s no single formula for cooking up a perfect design portfolio, and there’s no way to guarantee you’ll be offered every freelance or full-time job opportunity you apply to. That said, like any other design project, improving your design portfolio is an iterative process—it gets better the more you practice and hone your skills, so keep updating your portfolio as you create new work!
Art by Ryan Johnson
The work doesn’t stop at your design portfolio. Professional graphic designers should never underestimate the power of networking and community building. Building connections amongst your graphic design peers is invaluable for improving your skills, engaging in valuable conversations with industry experts, and getting new opportunities through referrals and partnerships.
Again, Dribbble is a great place to make these connections and to gather valuable feedback on your design work. Remember that feedback is an invaluable aspect of growing as a designer—embrace any and all negative design feedback and use it to propel your skills forward. In fact, learn to seek out feedback and you’ll be surprised at how fast your skills start to improve.
Art by Maya Ealey
At this point in your journey to becoming a graphic designer, it’s time to get some real-world experience under your belt. Depending on your skill level, you might want to start by searching for entry-level graphic design jobs and internships.
Start by sifting through job openings online or look for one-off freelance design jobs. If you’ve got your eye on a company you really want to work for, it never hurts to reach out and express interest, even if they’re not currently hiring. You never know what future opportunities it could bring you down the line!
The job hunt is also the perfect opportunity for you to practice all of the necessary soft skills graphic designers need to succeed, like client communication, interview best practices, and effectively selling your designs.
Check out our guide to writing a job-ready graphic design resume and cover letter for more helpful resources on getting hired!
Art by Ricardo Santos
Now that you know the steps needed to become a self-taught graphic designer, get out there and put in the work! Just remember, design is an ever-evolving industry. Keep learning, stay up to speed on new tools and processes, and continue building connections with your graphic design peers. You’ve got this!
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