Graphic Artist

Explore employment trends, required job duties and skills for this career. ASU offers a variety of degrees that can help you prepare for and meet your career goals. Visit ASU's Career and Professional Development Services to learn how to develop your career plan.

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Potential job titles in this career

Advertising Associate, Compositor, Computer Typesetter, Design Editor, Desktop Operator, Desktop Publishing Specialist, Electronic Console Display Operator, Electronic Imager, Electronic Publishing Specialist, Publisher

* Additional schooling, certification, or degrees maybe be required for some of the potential careers that are listed.

What will I do?

Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.

Position text and art elements from a variety of databases in a visually appealing way to design print or web pages, using knowledge of type styles and size and layout patterns.

Check preliminary and final proofs for errors and make necessary corrections.

View monitors for visual representation of work in progress and for instructions and feedback throughout process, making modifications as necessary.

Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials.

Prepare sample layouts for approval, using computer software.

Import text and art elements, such as electronic clip art or electronic files from photographs that have been scanned or produced with a digital camera, using computer software.

Study layout or other design instructions to determine work to be done and sequence of operations.

Select number of colors and determine color separations.

Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software.

In this career, it is important to know

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

It's useful to be good at

Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Employment trends

Location	Pay period	2022
Location	Pay period	10%	25%	Median%	75%	90%
United States	Hourly	$14.12	$16.21	$23.04	$32.69	$41.74
United States	Yearly	$29,370	$33,720	$47,910	$68,000	$86,820
Arizona	Hourly	$17.58	$18.92	$23.54	$23.54	$25.11
Arizona	Yearly	$36,570	$39,350	$48,960	$48,960	$52,220

2022 Median%
United States	$23.04 Hourly	$47,910 Yearly
Arizona	$23.54 Hourly	$48,960 Yearly

Employment (2022)

8,500 employees

Projected growth (2022 - 2032)

Decline (-2% or lower)

Projected job openings (2022 - 2032)

700

* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

What are accelerated programs?

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

What are concurrent programs?

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

What are joint programs?

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.

What are online programs?

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.