Graphic Design Courses - Careers, Salary, Jobs, Scope

Why Graphic Design?

Graphic design is the skill of projecting ideas through text and pictures in advertisements, books or magazines. It is a profession of visual communication and an important aspect of communication design. Students taking this course learn various skills such as image-making, print design, animation, type design, typography and film shooting. These skills are then required to be applied in the completion of various designing projects.

These courses are suitable for candidates who are creative and good in visual communication. Candidates are equipped with the required skill set making them capable professionals in graphic design. The students opting for this course may find work in advertising agencies, marketing firms, design studios, educational institutes, gaming, and entertainment industry.

Graphic designers generally work in office or studio space depending upon their employer and are also open to work from home. There may be travel involved in these jobs but most of the work is done on computers and the work environment should have excellent lighting. A graphic designer works for 40 hours a week but he may have to work long hours to meet the deadlines.

Graphic Design Courses

Below are the different degrees offered in graphic design courses:

Jobs and career opportunities in Graphic Industry

The most popular jobs for graphic designers are mentioned below:

Computer Graphics Artist

The job of a computer artist is to create special effects, animations and creative content for the web and games by using audio, video and written materials. A computer artist may be required in an advertising agency or web production company or can be hired independently if they possess the desired skills.

The salary of a computer artist starts from Rs 1,20,000 per year.

Web Designer

A web designer is someone who creates web content through features such as styling and layout of pages including text and images. They use their creativity and technical expertise to build or redesign websites. They are responsible for making a website visually appealing as well as user-friendly.

The average salary of a web designer is Rs 2,33,538 in a year.

Visual Designer

They are professionals who create visual concepts by hand or by using computer software. They may be involved in jobs such as creating web banner ads, email templates or landing pages and establish the look and feel for various websites, games, kiosks, apps and mobile devices. Their roles are oriented towards what a user sees on screen rather than behind the screen job.

The average salary of a visual designer is Rs 6,00,000 in a year.

Photo Editor

Photo editors are professionals responsible for collecting, reviewing, selecting, editing, positioning and publishing photographs and/or illustrations for accompanying the published text in websites, magazines, books or newspapers. They generally do not shoot pictures but need to have basic knowledge about photography. The average salary of a photo editor is Rs 2,35,518 in a year.

Video and Film Editor

The main job of these professionals is editing movies or videos but they are also responsible for studying the script and collaborating with directors, producers, film staff, sound & lighting technicians and other artists to have a smooth storyline. They use digital equipment and computer software to aid in the film-making process.

The average salary of a video/film editor is Rs 2,78,959 in a year.

Other Job Roles-

• Multimedia Artist
• Art Designer
• Graphic Design Instructor
• Creative Director
• Publications Designer

Salary in Graphic Industry

The average salary of a graphic designer is Rs 2,58,560 in a year. The salary increases with experience. A professional with less than 5-year experience earns around Rs 2,39,000 whereas someone with 5-10 year experience would earn Rs 3,48,000 on an average in a year. Employees with 10-20 year experience are offered lucrative packages and additional benefits.

The students studying this course are very much in demand because every organization needs some basic graphics starting from a logo, business cards, and brochures to skilled graphic designers in the areas of imagination, creativity, visualization, and design. Hence the opportunities for graphic designers are increasing rapidly in India.

The salaries of graphic designers are expected to be on the rise due to growing demand. As per the market reports, the salary is expected to increase to Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per month. Extra income can also be earned by doing freelancing projects.

Recruiters Graphic Design Recruiters

Among the top recruiters are in the areas of films, advertisements, websites, logos, and documents. Some of the top recruiters hiring graphic designers are:

• Wipro Technology
• ITC Limited
• Flipkart
• HCL
• BCG
• Amazon
• Tata Consultancy Services
• Zomato
• Microsoft India
• Asian Paints

Specializations offered

• Illustration- The illustrators specialize in children’s books, CD covers, vector characters and concept art. This specialization is more of an art but is combined with different forms of design. It is not a common area of specialization but with skill and persistence, one can succeed.
• Print Design- It is used to convey information to an audience through aesthetic design printed on paper or digital platform. Print designers can earn a lot of money by freelancing or working at a design agency and have applications in print advertisements and marketing campaigns.
• Interface Animation- It is a lucrative specialization but is a difficult skill to master and requires continuous upgradation. One must have love for animation or user interface components. The projects in this specialization can be for websites, mobile apps or desktop programs.
• Icon Design- Specialization in icon design requires deep knowledge of fine art and photography. Icons can be designed using digital skills through sketching out the concept in detail helps. Icon design includes website icons, branded icon sets, mobile app icons etc. It is one of the most trending designing jobs but is equally tough to master.
• Typography & Calligraphy- Candidates in this specialization are hired to work on company brand or logo, cards, signs and other small print projects. The demand for this specialization is relatively small so students taking this specialization should also learn other areas of design.

Courses & Subjects

The course content for some courses of graphic design are mentioned below:

Top colleges offering Graphic Design courses in India

Below is a list of some of the popular colleges in India offering graphic design courses–

Let’s look at some renowned colleges that provide this course in detail:

NIT (National Institute of Design), Ahmedabad

The institute was established in 1961 with a vision to provide higher education in design that meets the needs of society both in India and abroad. It aims to promote design awareness and emphasizes on learning through actual situations.

Course: B. Des, M. Des

Fees: Rs 2,70,000

Eligibility: 10+2 students for B. Des and graduates for M. Des, All India Examination, Studio test, Interview

Placement: Wipro technology, Titan Industries, Philips, eBay, Microsoft India and many more.

MAEER’S MIT Institute of Design, Pune

It is an autonomous institute established in 2006 with an aim to become a research and training institute of the highest quality. It focuses on education through three domains – skills, knowledge, and formation. It is based on the Indian philosophy of Sadhan, Sadhana, and Sadhya.

Course: B. Des, M. Des

Fees: Rs 3,15,000

Eligibility: 10+2 students for B. Des and graduates for M. Des, Qualify the Design Aptitude Test followed by studio test and interview

Placement: IBM, Asian Paints, Honda, Godrej, Microsoft India and many more.

Symbiosis Institute of Design- Pune, Maharashtra

Established in 2006, Symbiosis Institute of Design institute aims to promote international understanding by providing quality education. It aims to promote value-based learning and to make students competent, instill sensitivity towards society, nurture creativity and thus produce thought-provoking leaders for the society.

Course: B. Des

Fees: Rs 3,25,000

Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent

Placement: Infosys, Accenture India, Book my show, Deloitte, Rayden and many more.

Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology was established with a mission to be an institute of academic excellence in the field of Art, Design, and Management. It has constantly maintained its position in the top 10 institutes of art and design in India. It has designed its courses with an aim to train students with the technical advances in creative animation.

Course: B. Sc. GDM, CCGD, CCWD, GDGWD

Fees: Rs 64,012 for Certificate courses

Eligibility: 10^th for Certificate courses and 10+2 for B. Sc.

Placement: Asian Paints, Big Bazaar, Reliance Trends, Shoppers Stop, etc.

Department of Design, Guwahati

It is one of the thirteen departments of the prestigious IIT Guwahati and was set up with a vision to enkindle passion amongst the young minds for innovation in technology by a thorough understanding of the design.

Course: B. Des, M. Des, Ph.D.

Fees: Rs 60,000

Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent for B. Des and graduates for M. Des. The candidate must have a valid score in the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) for B. Des and valid score in CEED for M. Des.

Placement: Infosys, Wipro, IBM, Flipkart, TCS and many more.

Requirements for Graphic Design course

The requirements vary according to the degree courses and institutes. In most institutes, the requirements are:

• For Undergraduate courses, the candidate must have done 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board.
• Also, the candidate must have a minimum computer knowledge.
• The candidate should qualify the entrance tests conducted for admission by reputed institutes.

Scope of Graphic Design in India

Graphic design is one of the fastest growing and high paying career option in India as well as abroad. Fast pace developments in the entertainment, advertising and gaming industry have increased the demand for these professionals.

Career opportunities for a variety of graphic designers have increased due to the rise of digital media. A large number of jobs in different areas such as marketing firms, advertising agencies, design studios, educational institutes and manufacturing companies are now available.

Though Graphic design has a good scope in the coming years in India, the success of candidates primarily depends on the quality of work and skills.