Find your perfect college degree
In this article, we will be covering...
Are you ready for a comprehensive Design Career Guide about all types of creative industry options? This ultimate guide will discuss the degree information and salaries you need to make an informed decision about your design career path.
The field of design is broad and complex, with several branches of specialization. The majority of students choose to start their design degree with a core curriculum as they mold and aim for their career paths and academic goals.
Design is present everywhere – physical forms, photographs, illustrations, virtual spaces, and graphics are evident in our daily lives. Design degrees explore the diversity of the creative field or industry and enable students to develop strong artistic capabilities and knowledge while discovering their expertise.
Overview
If you are the creative type, a career path directed toward design should be a great career for you! Design projects are a great way to express yourself, be a part of something positive, and earn a living. What’s better than that?
Enrolling in a design-related degree program is challenging but rewarding. It takes three to five years to finish the program. The coursework found in the design degree equips students with an ideal combination of theoretical and practical background and skills essential to the field of design.
Design majors enroll in courses in different areas of study, such as studio art, modeling, typography, art history, computer programming, drafting, and many more things.
For students who have a creative flair, a design degree could open up several career opportunities to put their musical knowledge and skills to use commercially. There are a variety of disciplines to choose from – graphic design, fashion design, game design, interior design, or web design.
Design degrees tend to have fewer discussions or lectures compared to other academic degrees such as History, English, and Science.
Students need to attend plenty of workshops, design conferences, and seminars where they will be taught in an exclusive group, discover new skills, and collaborate with other design majors, integrating a much more practical and hands-on approach to learning.
Design as a Degree
Design degree programs can either be wide, narrow, or a combination of both when it comes to their concept of learning.
There are several specializations to choose from, including animation, computer game design, furniture design, theatre design, graphic design, product design, textiles, fashion design, and jewelry design, among others.
Each college and university has a different approach to its design programs. Key components of the bachelor’s degree program include graphic layout, computer-aided design, 3D materials and technologies, typography, and filmmaking.
Design degree programs teach students the fundamentals of design, from learning how to draw accurately through the computer or by hand to designing theories. To be truly successful in design, you must be willing to be a part of a creative team!
Some schools concentrate on a detailed understanding of design theories, while others emphasize the practical elements of design. Depending on your career path, choose one that fits your goals!
Types of Design Degree Programs
Associate’s Degree in Design
Most vocational schools and community colleges offer 60-credit-hour programs in Design. Depending on the student’s pace of learning, they can complete this degree in two years. This degree can help students prepare for an immediate career in the design industry or prepare them for a bachelor’s degree.
Students will learn introductory foundational background in essential visual art techniques, and they will gain in-depth knowledge of art history and concepts. The coursework typically consists of liberal arts and humanities areas of study.
Some schools offer advanced studies in a variety of design fields such as graphic design, fine arts, and multimedia. As a result, students will have the chance to build their portfolios, which are key to landing careers.
With an associate’s degree, students who finish this degree program are qualified to work as freelance graphic artists, printing technicians, multimedia animators, or photographer’s assistants.
The courses that will be taken in the associate’s degree program include computer-aided drafting, introduction to art history, drawing and illustration, design principles, sculpture, and painting, among others.
Bachelor’s Degree in Design
A Bachelor’s in Design provides an introductory background in visual media, art techniques, and art history, as well as more extensive learning of the student’s chosen area of specialization.
This degree program is typically completed in a minimum of four years, depending on the student’s education timeline, with 120 credit hours required for completion.
Fine Arts majors will have the opportunity to refine their techniques, familiarity with human anatomy and inanimate things, and an appreciation for art history in watershed format. Graphic Arts majors will learn creative and professional ways in technology, best practices, and concepts.
A similar setup is applicable for students majoring in photography, fashion design, animation, video game design, publication layout, interior decorating, or any other subdiscipline in the design field.
The majority of subdisciplines provide practical skills and theoretical knowledge to develop student’s skills and capabilities. Students will build portfolios of their works that will ultimately be shown to potential employers for a thriving career in the field of design.
A bachelor’s degree in Design is a practical choice that will provide students with immediate access to several career opportunities.
Sample courses under this degree program include 3D drawing, art and new media, sculptures and ceramics, color and design, basics of design computer, integration of art and design, and foundation in art history, among others.
Master’s Degree in Design
A master’s degree program in Design is a suitable option for students who want to become art directors, art historians, art therapists, restoration specialists, or museum curators.
It is also the right choice for students who wish to become professors at a university or an art instructor. These one to two-year programs will immerse students to become fully equipped with the knowledge and skills in the chosen area of concentration.
A master’s degree program prepares students for the way to becoming Ph.D. students in Design. Courses under this level include critical theory, contemporary issues in art, advanced studies in art history, typographic methods, and digital marketing and photography editing, to name a few.
Doctorate in Design
Students who wish to work in the research field or become educators in universities or colleges have the option to earn a Ph.D. in Design.
Also, it is valuable for people who are interested in working in advanced institutions such as foundations, museum administrative offices, reputable art associations, societies, or art collectives. They can also become advisers to a mentor to complete research or dissertation work on a specific topic.
Difference Between a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Design
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design is solely intended for students who want to become art professionals. This degree is integrated with a range of humanities and liberal arts studies.
The Bachelor of Science in Design is suitable for students who intend to combine design and drafting skills for a career in the architecture field. Moreover, it provides educational preparation for advanced studies.
Design Specialization
Design is a vast field in which choosing a concentration can be challenging. The array of choices for design is immense, and while design degree programs offer opportunities in the future, it can be tough to choose which is best for you.
Typography and Calligraphy
Students who love typography are ideal people who choose this type of specialization.
They can earn an excellent income by selling customized pieces or fonts and creating small print projects such as greeting cards, wall decors, and other print businesses. Also, they can design typefaces for applications and websites.
Take as many courses related to this design medium as possible and sharpen your skills with constant practice. Students can even earn income while they are still studying by making custom work for friends, families, or clients.
Mobile Application Design
Today, technology has undergone tremendous changes in the last 20 years. Several mobile applications are developed daily. This is an excellent specialization to consider for designers who want to earn a good income from this industry and have an in-depth interest in mobile applications.
There is no need to program these designs through complex algorithms or code; however, students must only learn user interface design to venture into this field.
There are several online tutorials to help students improve their craft for a career in mobile app design and to keep them updated with the latest trends in mobile application design.
Print Media and Publication
Print designs, marketing, and digital artwork are still popular nowadays despite the world going digital. They come from numerous applications such as marketing campaigns, newspapers, print advertisements, flyers, and magazine layouts.
Students who earn this specialization can work either as freelance print designers or in a publication company.
Film and Video
Students who have a passion for video editing, filmmaking, or even artistic productions can significantly benefit from a concentration in film and video. They learn how to use technical software applications to create promotional content from video footage.
Furthermore, they hone their skills in editing clips or videos that trim down footage into segments and frames for audio and organizing raw content into a masterpiece.
Iconography
With the increasing demand for online presence, iconography can be a challenging yet lucrative field. Icon design is essential for mobile applications, products, and website applications; therefore, the high demand for such specialization makes it an excellent option to consider.
It requires expertise in photography and fine art, integrating the authenticity and creativity of icon designs.
User Interface Animation
Students who love animation and user interface animation can consider this type of specialization. It is one of the most challenging specializations of design that requires constant upkeep and creativity.
However, working with movie production or even with mobile application user interface design can help students land lucrative career opportunities.
Interior Design
Furniture, color schemes, functionality, aesthetics, lighting, or even flooring, revolves around the career of students who choose this concentration.
Their work mostly consists of all the elements that make up a room or a building. Students learn how to sketch their ideas or use design software applications and later on work with engineers, builders, and architects who bring their masterpieces to life.
Fashion Design
Students who love to design accessories and new clothing choose fashion design as their primary area of study. They learn how to sketch their designs on paper. Also, they know the textiles, color combinations, and raw materials to determine the final product of their collection.
They study fashion trends by attending fashion shows and designer events as well as reviewing magazines to gain inspiration. A Fashion Designer entrepreneur often eventually owns their own design business.
Design Degree Program: Online or Traditional?
There are several associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in design online, which you can enroll in, whether full-time or part-time.
Online design colleges or universities are popular options for working professionals since it is more convenient to fit their coursework around their tight schedules.
Programs like multimedia design, animation, and web design can be completed 100% online because of the nature of the coursework.
As such, learning materials and design assignments can be completed online. On the other hand, some specializations involving lithography, woodworking, fashion design, and painting require on-campus attendance since there is a need to access design studios and materials to get the most out of this degree.
Enrolling in the traditional on-campus learning setup is advised for students who need more guidance and structure while making the most out of the resources found in academic institutions.
Online design degree programs are suitable for individuals who are independent self-starters and motivate themselves despite handling additional responsibilities to earn their degrees on their own.
Another advantage of taking the design degree in a completely online format is students will likely save money by eliminating additional expenses from transportation, housing, art studio fees, parking, and meals from their budget.
Financing Your Design Education
Earning a Design degree does not have to be impossible and scary, especially if there are several opportunities to finance students’ design education.
The first step towards searching for financial aid assistance should be applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or known as FAFSA. Design students can ask for financial help through FFEL Loans, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Direct Loans, and other private companies that offer loan services for education assistance.
These loans must be settled within six months after earning the degree with interest and as such, settling these accounts will immediately save students the inconvenience of paying heavily rated fees.
On the other hand, numerous financial aid support opportunities do not require repayment. The U.S. federal government offers more than 1,000 federal grant programs such as FSEOG, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, and PELL.
Students may consider a federal work-study program (FWS) to earn income for on-campus job opportunities and pay their education expenses. Each academic institution has dedicated Financial Aid Support Systems that readily help students with their tuition fees and education expenses.
Money-saving scholarships, whether merit-based or need-based, are commonly recognized as gift aid or grants for providing free tuition assistance that doesn’t require to be repaid. They are one of the major tuition resources funding that offers millions of dollars to deserving students each year.
Several organizations offer them; ask your school’s financial aid office for design-related scholarships for you.
Design Career Pathways, Information, and Outlook
Choosing a design degree can open several opportunities for different creative career pathways with a lucrative income. The majority of people associate design degree holders with sketch artists, painters, furniture makers, printmakers, sculptors, graphic designers, musicians, and jewelry makers.
However, the options are not limited to these fields as there are other high-paying careers such as web designers, interior designers, multimedia artists, industrial designers, art directors, and screenwriters.
Therefore, a design-related degree is a wise investment for anyone looking to unleash their creative capacity. If you’d like to be a part of a team, a career in design is for you!
Graphic Designer
A highly popular design-related career is that of Graphic Design. Graphic Designers have the talent to create designs for product illustrations, websites, marketing materials, and brand identities using computer software applications such as Adobe Creative Suite.
In addition, Graphic Designers work independently as freelancers, for a company, or in an agency. Graphic Designers earn a median pay of $57,990 per year or $27.88 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Senior Graphic Designers can earn upwards of $100,920 annually. Many Graphic Designers are self-employed and work accordingly to meet deadlines.
Interior Designer
Interior designers work with interior spaces in rooms, residential homes, corporate buildings, condominiums, coffee shops, restaurants, and other establishments. Their work mainly revolves around the flooring, lighting, color schemes, furniture, interiors, and other elements of design that make up a room or building.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, interior designers earn $61,590 per year or $29.61 per hour.
Art Directors
Art directors communicate and manage a team of design professionals who work in various settings such as public relations agencies, magazines, advertising, or internet-based publications. They earn $105,180 per year or $50.57 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Fashion Designer
People who love the fashion industry and love to make their collections enjoy working as fashion designers. They provide sample garments to agents, stylists, and creative directors in the hopes of showcasing their collections in magazines and publications.
A fashion designer works in apparel companies, design firms, wholesale, retail manufacturing establishments, or their clothing line. Fashion designers earn $76,700 per year or $36.87 per hour.
Multimedia Artists/Animators
People who work as animators create animations and special effects for video games, movies, series, and other forms of 2D or 3D media. They work with a team of artists and animators to bring their ideas to reality using computer software applications.
Multimedia Artists and Animators earn an average salary of $98,950 per year or $47.57 per hour.
Various design-related degrees could establish a career in the following industries:
- Craft/Fine Arts
- Industrial Design
- Floral Design
- Game Design
- Web Design
- Advertising
- Marketing and Branding
- Animation
- Film & Television Production
In this era of computers, these top modern-day Design specializations are in high demand:
- UX (User Experience) Design
- Product Design
- Graphic Design
- UI (User Interface) Design
- Video Game Design
- Multimedia Art & Animation
- Web Design
- Exhibit Design
10 Common Design Occupations
Graphic Designer
Salary: $57,990 per year
Education Requirement: In the past, becoming a graphic designer required a unique portfolio only. Nowadays, clients and employers look for candidates who are well-educated and hold at least a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design programs.
However, those with a bachelor’s degree in a different field may gain graphic design skills by enrolling in courses in art and design.
A creative portfolio is still expected and will help you get hired for the job. To keep up with the fast-changing technology and keep a well-rounded skill set, graphic designers acquire certifications and training as well.
Interior Designer
Salary: $61,590 per year
Education Requirement: While a degree is not a strong need to become an interior designer, most interior design companies prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree.
Degree programs in interior design or a program in a related field with coursework in computer-aided design (CAD), drawing, lighting design, and visual design are acceptable.
Prospective interior design students may consult with either the Council for Interior Design Accreditation or the National Association of Schools of Art and Design for accredited design schools and institutions.
Fashion Designer
Salary: $76,700 per year
Education Requirement: The competitive world of the fashion industry now typically requires a minimum of an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in fashion design. Graduate degrees in fashion design are also required at times. These programs may be combined with other majors, such as marketing, business, or fashion merchandising.
Fashion designers are expected to be well-versed with textiles, fabrics, ornamentation, and keep abreast with fashion trends.
Hands-on training and internships are essential in learning skills and acquiring valuable experiences. Aspirant fashion designers looking for accredited schools and institutions with top-tier fashion design programs may see them on the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) list.
Film/Video Editor
Salary: $62,420 per year
Education Requirement: The education needed to be a film or video editor starts with a bachelor’s degree. Aside from experience and industry connections, film or video editors get into the industry because they have a bachelor’s degree in film studies, video production, communications technology, or audiovisual communication.
They begin their careers as assistants or apprentice editors and work through many experiences to become a lead editor. A master’s degree helps them prepare for more job prospects and stay atop the industry.
Multimedia Artists and Animators
Salary: $98,950 per year
Education Requirement: According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, most employers prefer multimedia artists and animators who hold a bachelor’s degree in any program that offers coursework on two- or three-dimensional designs, new media, digital arts, computer animation, and graphic design.
These programs may be computer graphics, art, and design. Multimedia artists and animators work to increase their accomplishments and typically earn a master’s degree to move to a higher position in the company.
Advertising Designer
Salary: $53,570 per year
Education Requirement: Typically, advertising designers hold a bachelor’s degree in Graphic or Advertising Design, Advertising, or Marketing. Some advertising designers begin their career with an associate’s degree, but earning a bachelor’s degree helps them land jobs and develop more portfolios of their work.
You can obtain a good list of high-quality art schools and institutions with good advertising programs from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) site.
Photographer
Salary: $40,170 per year
Education Requirement: Education programs for prospective photographers would depend on their career goals. Some employers take a high school diploma, but some industries require higher education. If you want to work in photojournalism or the forensic photography industry, then an associate’s degree in photography might be enough for some companies or clients.
A bachelor’s degree in Photography provides you with more workshops and lets you explore the logistical and technical aspects of the field. For the reason that technology is continuously upgrading especially in photography, one must be able to advance by learning new skills and techniques.
Professional certificate programs are available to help you, and these are offered by the Professional Photographers of America.
Industrial/Commercial Designer
Salary: $75,910 per year
Education Requirement: Aspiring industrial designers may be required to have a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Product Design, Engineering, Advertising Art, Packaging Science, Visual Design, and related fields. Coursework should have either computer-aided design (CAD) or computer-aided industrial design.
Additionally, earning a master’s degree will help build a strong professional portfolio of designs that will demonstrate skills and help bid contracts for work.
User Experience Designer
Salary: $116,207 per year
Education Requirement: The least degree you can earn to get a job as a UX designer is an associate’s degree in the fields of Visual Design, Communications, Computer Science, and even Psychology. There is no specific degree for an interaction designer and/or UI/UX designer.
However, many employers prefer their candidates to have a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in a related field for their UX designer positions.
So, developing advanced skills still brings more significant benefits for the interaction designer. You can also further build your knowledge and skills by getting into certificate programs.
The Interaction Design Foundation offers excellent certificate programs targeting web presence, interaction design, computer science, information architecture, user experience, and design.
Craft and Fine Artist
Salary: $53,140 per year
Education Requirement: High school classes in the arts may help you with essential skills such as drawing, sewing, painting, and woodworking but to acquire sufficient skills, you need either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fine arts.
These degrees should be obtained from accredited colleges and universities. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) has a complete list of accredited schools and institutions that offer art and design programs. Independent academies of art and design also offer art programs, certifications, and training.
Part-time Design Jobs
Photo Retoucher
Photo retouching refers to making some changes to the photos that need to be improved, and they manipulate the looks of the subject of the picture. Some photo retouchers are hired to work flexible or short periods of hours, depending on the number of tasks assigned in one project or photo.
They are expected to provide support or assist the senior photographer or editor, contributing their expertise in innovating image flow processes.
Floral Designer
Floral designers can design a wide variety of floral arrangements, recommend flowers and greenery based on the customer’s budget and collaborate with other floral artists to determine which type of arrangement is appropriate for the occasion, event, or location.
They may work flexible hours, such as creating a single arrangement for special occasions or providing floral displays for rooms or office spaces. Some floral designers are hired with long-term contracts, with companies having to call for their services weekly or monthly.
Ceramics Designer
Ceramics designers, also known as ceramicists, work with clay, porcelain, and bone china to create designs for pottery items, wall and floor tiles, figurines, sculpture, homeware, tableware, and cookware.
They research and find new materials for their designs, decide on decorative techniques, prepare for sales or exhibitions, and develop artistic business plans. They may work for manufacturing companies or work independently as freelancers.
Some part-time ceramics designers work for art schools and universities to teach a few courses on ceramic art.
Cake Decorator
Cake decorators are craft artists who work to make cakes, tarts, pastries, and other baking orders look deliciously appealing. Attention to detail and steady hands are necessary skills they must possess.
They have to assist the pastry chefs in shaping dough portions, preparing ingredients, managing the mixing of icing and sugar ornaments, and performing all finishing touches and labeling of the products. Some companies hire them for part-time positions or work only on weekends.
Furniture Designer
Furniture designers create and develop design concepts for various furniture and fixtures at home or in an office. Creative and commercial skills in marketing, finance, and sales are crucial for this type of job. These designers sketch and create prototypes, 2D or 3D models using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
They also have to spend a lot of time experimenting with different materials, techniques, and software to produce innovative designs for furniture. Most of their time, they work in a studio or workshop and attend client meetings and trade shows.
Some may work for established designers and work irregular and flexible times, with work in the evenings or on the weekends.
Stained Glass Artist
Stained glass artists create weatherproof artwork on glass-like windows of religious buildings, glass domes of art institute buildings, libraries, homes, and more.
They draw cartoons, prepare glass fabrication, research stresses, symbolism, and history of their design concepts, possess knowledge and skills in glass cutting, assemble wax pieces, paint, stain, and fire glass to fuse and stabilize colors.
They may also need to install the finished product and restore damaged glass objects. Most stained-glass artists are self-employed and get to work on a project depending on the client’s timescale.
Product Designer
In addition to the abovementioned responsibilities of product designers, they have to consider factors about products such as buyers, quality and safety features, reliability, and environmental-friendly features.
Some may work from nine to five with extra hours to meet deadlines, but some work as freelancers or with contract work, so opportunities for part-time positions are available.
10 Unique Design Careers
Picture Framer/Picture Frame Designer
A picture frame designer works to design and make frames by cutting out or assembling moldings. He/she discusses the design with clients, advises on the materials needed, works out the cost, sets up woodworking machines, fixes artwork, documentation, memorabilia, and photos into the frame, and packages the finished product.
These designers combine their technical and craft skills to do the job.
Inker and Opaquer
An inker and opaquer mainly trace drawings and sketches prepared by cartoonists. He/she reverses celluloid (film) and brushes a thin coat of special paint on the reverse sides to render the drawing opaque.
Also, preparing the artwork for heavy screen toning using pen techniques and painting on the opposite side of the celluloid using specified colors are parts of their duties. Inking can be done traditionally or with the use of computers. Using technology in inking makes the job easier and faster.
Kinetic Sculpture Artist
A kinetic sculpture artist creates sculptures that involve motion. The artwork may sway in the breeze, swing from side to side, move by powered magnets, or vibrate with a motor. He or she comes up with an innovative idea to put up a unique kind of sculpture or masterpiece.
Some pieces are installed outside of a building, in parks, or in particularly famous spots.
Art Repairer/Conservator
An art repairer or conservator is responsible for repairing damaged artworks like paintings, textiles, ceramics, cultural objects, and historical artifacts. This job involves not only repairs but also a lot of research on the appropriate techniques to use when repairing objects, especially antiques, where the original art form should not be altered.
Examination of the art object’s condition, authenticity, and method of preservation, as well as working with the repair team, are some of the responsibilities of an art repairer.
Body Paint Artist
Body paint artist creates designs and uses human skin as their canvas for artistic expression. He or she uses water-based paints to create or draw images. The color lasts for about a few hours to a day. A body paint artist may work in the film or entertainment industry.
He or she may work in a science fiction film or television program to transform actors into different characters. Some may work in the professional modeling or photography industry. Spray tanners and makeup artists are also types of body paint artists.
Color Expert
A color expert specializes in choosing color themes and color combinations on paper, paint, floor coverings, furnishings, and draperies of homes, offices, and other establishments. He or she has to check the client’s home or building from room to room, discuss color options, and provide the client with the required color information or chips.
A color expert who holds a degree in art or design embraces more opportunities in the industry.
Landscape Designer
A landscape designer is responsible for maintaining the outdoor aesthetics of properties such as buildings, houses, and schools.
He or she uses creativity to design a pleasing and functional outdoor area, plan and sketch details, performs an assessment on plants, soil’s current condition, lighting, view, and the architectural style of the building, works out fees, ensures the projected designs match with the client’s needs, and prepares specifications for garden contractors.
A landscape designer usually works with flexible hours that include weekends and evenings, depending on the client’s timescale.
Professional Food Photographer
A professional food photographer captures appetizing food images for restaurants, catering companies, and food producers. Some of them work with food stylists or are part of a team for food organizations. He or she must not only possess excellent photography skills but also have to hold a culinary background.
A food photographer has to pick the freshest and the best-looking food items. The challenge is to reveal the visual elements of the food as a means to stir the senses of smell and taste of viewers. Some food photographers work with art directors as well.
Font Designer
A font designer designs, develops, and creates fonts to meet a client’s needs. Some work as freelancers and some work for font design companies.
He or she may also redesign and recreate character sets within the company, maintain high-quality typography, support digital designers and advertising teams in matters of design elements, and ensure every letter or character is tweaked individually until it is developed.
One must be well-versed with font software such as Adobe Illustrator, FontLab, FontCreator, Glyphs, and InDesign as these will help in building a vast portfolio.
Glass Blower
Glass blowing is an ancient form of art that uses equipment such as blowpipes, furnaces, baking kilns, engraving plates, stencils, and needles. It is labor-intensive and is best for individuals who can work in a potentially hazardous environment.
A glass blower uses blowing techniques in handling molten glass and other tools or materials like metals to obtain final shapes. This job requires a specific skill set which can be acquired by getting into fine arts programs that offer a concentration in glass and glass blowing techniques.
Top Travel Design Careers
Traveling Body Paint Artist
Most body paint artists travel to the location of the event or production. If you work in the entertainment industry, your job may involve traveling to the film location. When you work for a magazine and advertising agency, you join photo shoots on-site.
Some of these artists travel across the globe to participate in competitions and to discover more inspiration for their art.
Professional Sandcastle Sculptor
Sand sculpture is the practice of creating visual art by using wet sand and compaction. Sand artists or sculptors make use of buckets to fill with water, barber’s brush, paintbrushes, leveling tools, and more for sandcastle success. Most of these sculptors produce significant kinds of statues or reliefs and typically work at the beach.
This profession may involve a lot of traveling since there are a lot of places to discover and share sand sculpting traditions with. Some sand sculptors are hired for special events, and some are invited to showcase their talent and skills in competitions and art galleries.
Fashion Designer
Fashion designers, especially famous fashion flagbearers, travel a lot. They have to attend fashion runway shows, fashion week, and exhibits held in other countries. Traveling is also essential to keeping up with the trends in style.
Some designers travel to source supplies and materials for their designs. They do promotions at local and international events. It’s one of the perks of being a fashion designer.
Art Director
Art directors work for television and movie production, magazines, and multimedia companies. They may have to travel to the location of production where they can do the filming and editing. For print production, they may have to be on-site to oversee and support photo shoots.
Fashion and Textile Curator
Fashion and textile curators learn from other people’s clothes, accessories, and textiles. Their goal is to present different perspectives from around the world and expand the historical narratives of these collections. They collect and care for these items in storage or in a museum.
Liaising between museums, external agencies, collectors, donors, and artists is a big responsibility that curators have as they have to ensure that their objective aligns with others’.
Traveling to different countries to find particular collections and holdings completes the exhibition and research programs of curators.
Travel Videographer
Most travel videographers cover and create incredible content for travel, travel agency promotions, and even for government tourism agencies. They are paid to travel and make the best videos and produce them for distribution in social media, television, and films.
The travel videographer’s lifestyle is about living in different countries, places, or destinations. They get to immerse themselves in different cultures, which contribute to their concepts and innovative ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the skills you gain with a Design degree?
Students gain a wealth of skills and capabilities pertaining to the design process due to the technical nature and characteristics of the design degrees, which are preferred by numerous employers within the design industry.
Design majors develop skills in illustration, animation, interaction design, the use of 3D modeling software applications, creating designs, and other production techniques that are essential to many career opportunities.
Whether you apply for a job prospect in your specialization or try your luck in other areas of discipline in the design industry, several of the skills you acquire will be useful, marketable, and transferable.
The valuable skills you will develop as you progress within the design studies include:
- Communication
- Design Team Participation
- Researching
- Creativity
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Web Development
- Computer Skills
- Emotional Intelligence
- Project Management
- Critiquing
- Color Theory & Color Palettes
- Presentation Skills
What will I study in my Design degree program?
The majority of the student’s time will be spent on learning a variety of technical skills. Depending on the chosen concentration or specialization, such capabilities could range from practicing technical drawing to developing their craft on several game development applications.
Students will learn several theories varying from one degree to another; however, they will have an in-depth understanding of contemporary practices in the design field or art history, whether it revolves around learning about the development of printing techniques or critical processes of furniture design.
The modules will depend on the degree of the chosen design. Typically, students will study the following areas of study:
- Design for Online and Print
- Graphic Design Theory
- Introduction To Art and Media
- Typography
- Basic Moving Image
- Illustration
- Principles of Visual Communication
- Photography
However, on a different design-related degree, such as a product design degree, students will likely study the following:
- Manufacturing Process
- 2D and 3D Media
- Applications, Properties, and Limitations of Materials
- Design Communication Theory
Despite there being several educational institutions that offer the same type of design degree program, it is most likely that the set of coursework they offer are different.
What kind of Accreditation should my Design degree have?
Students must never waste their time and financial resources on a Design degree that will not be considered by potential employers. It is vital to make sure the college or university chosen must have the proper accreditation and reputation before they will proceed.
The majority of higher education disciplines have accreditation status, which makes it critical to determine where to earn your design degree.
Another essential factor of enrolling in an accredited academic institution is the eligibility for financial aid. These schools must be certified by an association recognized by the Department of Education to be able to qualify to provide financial assistance to their students.
Having an accreditation means the school has the initiative to maintain its standards as well as look for ways to improve and advance its status within the current field.
Regional Accrediting Institutions
The accrediting sectors are categorized into regional and national accrediting bodies. Regional accrediting organizations indicate greater credibility, reputation, and merit.
When you are searching for a potential college or university to obtain a design degree, you must consider the ones that have verified status from the following regional accrediting institutions:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- The Higher Learning Commission
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Program-specific Accreditation
Aside from regional or national accrediting agencies, there are program-specific accreditations that add more value and credentials to your design degree. Some companies will require that your design degree is earned with a set of coursework that is accredited by program-specific agencies.
The good news is that accreditation is not strictly a requirement for your Design degree. In some cases, the regional accreditation from the school is more than enough.
As such, the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) maintains national design-related undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The association has awarded more than 350 academic institutions, indicating that these institutions maintain the standards of quality and curriculum set by NASAD. As such, it suggests the program’s credibility with the school.
The absence of this program-specific accreditation is not a big deal. If your chosen school has regional certifications from one of the six agencies listed above, it is considered legitimate, and future employers will take your earned design degree seriously.
Is there a need for a Design foundation course?
A unique way to enhance your portfolio is to obtain a certification in Design. Some certifications or courses typically last one year and allow students to try different areas of design before ultimately choosing a concentration or specialization.
These foundational courses will enable you to weigh down your options and discover which field of design you are interested in studying.
These Design disciplines include:
- Fashion and Textiles – Make-up, Fashion Design, Costume Design
- Fine Arts – Sculpture, Painting
- Graphics and Illustration – Game Design, Animation
- 3D Design – Architecture, Interior Design
Taking such foundational courses allows you to build a strong portfolio that will help you in your future job prospects. As such, it is one of the great ways to try out different design disciplines, discover what you are passionate about and create a range of work and art pieces.
However, it is not mandatory to have one if you are already determined about your interest and the quality of your portfolio.
Who is suitable for a Design Degree?
Students who are searching for ways to enhance or spark their creative interest while getting a Design education are best suited to pursue a Design degree.
There are several areas of concentration to showcase their creative talents as printmakers, photographers, animators, UI UX designers, and illustrators to name just a few of several design-related positions.
As a design major, you will explore a variety of visual media, such as sculpting and painting. You will also obtain a comprehensive understanding of various shading techniques. Finally, you will be immersed in art history and learn the eras and movements that brought world-class artists and masterpieces to life.
Therefore, a Design degree is suitable for people who have an in-depth passion, interest, and appreciation for creative endeavors. It is one of the practical choices of degree programs in today’s job market.
There is an increasing demand for multimedia artists, video creators, illustrators, visual storytellers, animators, web designers, and many others.
Alternative Options for a Design Degree
Students who consider a Design degree but are more inclined to art as a form of greater self-expression and experimentation can pursue Art as a degree. If the entertainment side of it interests you, filmmaking and broadcasting, audio and music technology, film and television production, and animation are viable options.
If students are more interested in the modern elements of design as well as the structural aspects, they can find choices in an engineering-related degree.
However, if students have a combined interest in structure and aesthetics, an architecture-related degree program may be an appropriate choice for them.
Key Takeaways
Take control of your creative abilities and enter the field of design. As you can see from our Design Career guide above, there are numerous career paths that allow you to sharpen your skills while exhibiting your creativity allowing you to make money at what you love doing!
Consider these points:
- Choosing a career path in design promotes your desire to be creative, use your imagination, and put your design principles to use.
- As a designer, you can use your talents to help others in many ways. Product designers create useful tools or products to improve others’ lives. Your professional experience can speak to others through filmmaking, website design and social media, interior design, crafting, and much more.
- For a designer, the sky’s the limit! You can learn graphic design, sew your fashion designs, do hair and make-up, learn about photography, make travel vlogs, and everything in between.
- Through your training, you will create a strong portfolio of your product designs, become a part of a design team, get to know other designers and more. You will also learn about marketing and human behavior, branding, business, communication, and writing.
- Would you like to be your own boss? Become a freelancer!
- So, check out this ultimate guide to finding a creative design career for you!
Additional Resources:
