Do Graphic Design Jobs Still Exist?

Traditionally, the role of graphic designer involved using design skills and printmaking knowledge to create designs for printed materials. When I first entered the industry twenty odd years ago graphic designers were mostly designing ads, brochures, posters and that type of thing. It was a skilled job but one that was quite simple to define.

With the rise of digital media, the graphic designer’s job quickly began to change and things got complicated. Suddenly graphic designers were expected to design websites, EDMs, flash animations and even mobile apps. But, as each of these areas became more and more proliferate in their own right, specialised industries began to emerge. The role of graphic designer starting splitting into multiple roles.

UX and UI designers now do a lot of the web and mobile design work. Motion graphics designers handle the animated stuff and much of the EDM and web banner tasks are handled by digital designers. So the question is:

Do graphic design jobs still exist?

The simple answer is a yes. In fact, at the time of writing this article we currently have 57 graphic design jobs listed on DesignJobs.com.au. The traditional role of graphic designer may have changed over the last couple of decades, but it is still an important job in many companies today. While the definition of the role was blurred in the 2000s, a degree of clarity has since returned to the graphic design job title.

That said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the US, expects below average industry growth at just 3% from 2018 to 2028. This is tied to the graphic designer’s dependance on a shrinking print media industry. What does this mean for graphic designers? Be prepared to adapt.

So, let’s break this down a little for those in the graphic design field and those looking to enter it.

What is a graphic design job in 2022?

Today, graphic designers do much of what the other, more specialised design roles don’t do and a little bit of what they do do. Graphic designers still take care of all print design tasks, but they also dabble in digital. This can include everything from simple websites to social media content creation.

How does a graphic design role differ from a digital design role?

The key difference between a graphic design job and a digital design job is the level of interactivity. While a graphic design job focus mainly on static content, digital designers are adept at creating designs that users will interact with. This might include anything from interactive ad banners to mobile mini-games.

A quick look at the kinds of deliverables each roles produces, illustrates the differences between the roles.

Graphic designers produce:

• Business cards and stationary
• Catalogues and flyers
• Newspaper and magazine layouts
• Simple web landing pages
• Logos and basic branding elements

In contrast, digital designers commonly deliver:

• Web banner ads
• UX wireframes
• Animated interactions
• Interactive websites
• Video content

What this also shows is that the role of digital designer also crosses over into many other more specialised roles, but that’s a topic for another article.

Use this graphic designer salary calculator to find out how much graphic designers get paid in Australia.

Where do you commonly find graphic design jobs?

Graphic designers are found in a wide range of industries, from advertising and marketing to publishing and web development.

At an advertising agency, a graphic designer’s job will be to support the creative team in developing concepts and visuals for ad campaigns. This might include anything from coming up with an initial idea for an ad, to designing the finished product and variations thereof.

In a publishing company, a graphic designer’s job will be to design the layout of books, magazines and other printed materials. This includes everything from choosing the right font and typeface, to laying out the text and images in an engaging and easy-to-read way.

And in a web development company, a graphic designer’s job will be to support the UX and UI design team by designing content, such as banners, icons and other graphics that make a website complete.

Who’s hiring for graphic design jobs in Australia?

Based on the job listings we typically see on DesignJobs.com.au, some of the biggest employers of graphic designers include the various state governments, media groups like Seven West Media, retailers like Sportsgirl and Country Road, as well as advertising and marketing agencies such The Agency and Dentsu Aegis.

Here are some of the current graphic design job listings around Australia: