There are many opportunities for talented and creative commercial artists to pursue career opportunities with graphic design firms. Breaking into this field can be challenging, but is certainly possible for those with talent, motivation, and a strong drive to succeed. 

Individuals who are interested in working in the rewarding, but competitive, field of graphic design often find it very beneficial to complete internships with graphic design firms while completing their formal training in the field. Internship programs can provide valuable insight into what it is really like to work in graphic design firms, and they can also open the door to employment opportunities to other possitions in Web Developement.

Although there may be some that make it to the industry just by talent alone, most, if not all of us (I'm talking you and me here) need some sort of certificate or degree to land a job as a graphic designer. Employers won't even bother to look at you if you lack the piece of paper that shows that you have been trained and seasoned by some sort of graphic design related program. 

Getting a degree or certificate doesn't reflect your talent, but it does show that you have a good firm base of knowledge and you take the industry seriously. So what are your training options? There are many graphic design schools and colleges across North America, Europe, and abroad that offers graphic design related degrees and programs.

The range and scope of these programs all depend on what you want, and where you want to go. There are programs in multimedia, graphic design, visual communication, advertising, animation, web development, and so on. 

All have much of the same principles and structure at work, but they all can have a different slant. Often people lump these categories together into "graphic design". A multimedia program for example may focus more on the TV industry. Other programs may focus more on print or website development. Often there is some overlap with all of these kinds of programs, but they can be quite different. It's important though to know what slant the program has, and if you're happy with that slant. 

Creative Directors. A Closer Look Art directors, or creative directors are in charge of a creative team that produces artwork to be displayed in magazines, on television, on billboards, on the web, or on products. A creative team can consist of artists, graphic designers, photographers, copywriters, and a production staff. Art directors make sure that each of these workers produce and complete their work on time and to the client’s satisfaction. 

Art directors also play a major role in the development of a project by making decisions on the visual elements of the project, and by giving the final say on the selection of models, art, props, colors, and other elements. To be an art director you will need advanced training in graphic design as art directors also often do some of the artwork and designing themselves. 

If you are planning to complete an internship with a graphic design firm, it's important to keep in mind just how valuable the opportunity can be to your career. Completing an externship can be a terrific way to get practical, hands-on experience in the field of graphic design. However, this is not the only benefit. Many graphic design firms treat their internship programs as auditions for current and future job openings.

However, most of an art director’s time is spent doing supervisory and administrative work. Most art directors have a degree in advertising and design, as well as advanced training in graphic design. In an advertising and design degree program you will learn to plan, design, and direct the creation and production of print ads, as well as learn how to run a successful 360-degree ad campaign. With the creative and business skills gained by proper training in advertising and design, you will be qualified to pursue a career as an art director or creative director.

For many students, internships with a graphic design firms turn into stepping stones to full time employment as professional graphic artists. Talented individuals who take their internship programs seriously are often offered jobs once they complete school, or even before. If you conduct yourself professionally and demonstrate that you have talent and a strong work ethic, your internship may just lead to your first professional job in graphic design.

Employment opportunities for art directors can be found with advertising agencies, magazine and newspapers, public relations firms, and manufacturers. However, over half of art directors employed in the U.S. are self-employed or freelance. The average salary for and art director is about 50,000 to 80,000 dollars a year. Wages can vary by employer, area of the country, level of experience, responsibility, and size of the project. 

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