So you want to be a Designer…
Discovering the different types of design career paths and where you fit
The field of design is broad. You can be a designer and have a completely different set of tools from another designer. You can be a designer that never touches a computer or a designer that only uses a computer. We’ll take you through some of the many different design jobs out there (this list only names a few!) and help you find your fit.
The different types of Designers:
The Graphic Designer
What they do: Graphic Designers typically design marketing assets and collateral. They use tools like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator. Graphic Designers can evolve into jobs such as Web Designer or Creative Director (see chart below).
Average Pay: $42,028
The Interior Designer
What they do: Interior Designers work in the physical space with builders to create an aesthetically pleasing home or office. Some have their own businesses, while others may work for office builders or other architecture companies.
Average Pay: $45,934
Animator
What they do: Animators typically create cartoons using stop motion, hand drawn graphics or computer software. They’re typically familiar with tools like Maya 3DSMax, Flash, and Morpheme to create 2D and 3D graphics. In addition, they probably have some experience with Adobe After Effects and Photoshop.
Average Pay: $50,516
The User Experience Designer
What they do: User Experience Designers create experiences on different applications, websites, games, or software. The cool thing about UX design is the ability to study and assess your users and design functional applications from research. This job is perfect for those who love a balance between research and creativity.
Average Pay: $72,316
Deciding on your path and pursuing it:
Out of the Design jobs listed above and the vast amount of other design-related roles, what excites you the most? Here are some resources for choosing your path and pursuing it:
- Payscale — find career paths and salary estimates based on your location
- Glassdoor — look at the current job opportunities in the field, what job descriptions stand out to you? What are the skills they’re looking for?
- If you don’t know it, learn it! If you’re interested in pursuing UX Design, Bloc’s Designer Track may be a great fit for you. See what skills you’ll need to achieve your dream design job and seek education in those areas.
