Tips on how to write a job description of an interior designer

Interior designer job description sample templates

Let’s face it, without interior designers, our places of residence and workspaces would be very much boring and dull. An interior designer works to bring to life an artistic vision for such spaces, with a keen focus on the safety measures and functionality requirements of the place.

Furthermore, these individuals ensure to adhere to building codes and regulatory standards when planning out the design of a space. Interior designers also work to make these places more beautiful and appealing by determining the right decorative items to use, such as lighting, colors, and the materials to place.

In as much as this sounds like a task anyone can do, you may need to have a knack for creativity backed with proper training before becoming a qualified interior designer. This is because for you to become one of the best, you ought to know how to draw, read, and even edit blueprints. Furthermore, you also need to undergo training to understand the various building codes, inspection regulations, accessibility standards, and many more.

This article is intended for both employers who are actively looking to employ top-notch designers and interior designers looking for ways to boost their portfolios.

Career paths in interior design

The interior design field is a wide one, and you can choose which career path you wish to take. In the creative industry, every individual has a unique aesthetic sense, and you can utilize such an opportunity to venture into the field you are more comfortable with.

Before calling out for applications or applying for an interior designer job, it would be prudent to first understand the major types of interior designers to help you narrow down to what exactly you want. The types of interior designer jobs that are directly related to a degree in interior design include:

Interior and spatial designer

Interior and spatial engineers must have a little or basic architectural knowledge that will come in handy in their daily operations. These individuals also have to know about project management as well as having creative design skills.

Both interior and spatial designers work on renovating internal spaces. Their main area of specialization is lighting, fittings, color schemes, furnishings, and structural alterations. Such individuals can also work on commercial projects, as well as domestic and leisure settings.

At the end of it all, interior and spatial designers ensure that the spaces they work on appear attractive and are functionally relevant. Some of the most popular types of interior designers you can come across are:

• Furniture designers 

Did you know that the furniture you see at high-end places were all selected by professionals? Furniture design is a more specialized area of interior design. When you become one, your main job will be twofold – you’ll have to work directly with the clients as well as the suppliers.

The suppliers are people like the carpenters, so you have to guide them on the required designs of the furniture and what types of decorations to include in them – if need be or according to the client’s taste. When working with a client, you’ll be tasked with how the furniture will be arranged while incorporating functionality, accessibility, and optimal use of space.

• Exhibition designers 

There are hundreds and thousands of exhibitions occurring every other month, regardless of the industry. To attract more people and eventually convince them to buy their products, brands hire interior designers to help them provide the layout and pick the decor to be used in their exhibition halls (or stalls).

Exhibition designers are more knowledgeable in modular stand design, museum designs, floor management, custom build designs, etc. To become a successful exhibition interior designer, you need to be skilled in CAD (computer-aided design) and 3D packages such as Vectorworks and Adobe Suites.

Since exhibition halls might not be permanent structures, these designers consider other factors such as the traffic expected and the items to be showcased. Moreover, they also factor in the general theme of the exhibition.

• Lighting designers

Just as the name suggests, lighting designers come in handy when working to ensure that there’s adequate lighting (and the right type of lights) in a particular space. Such professionals should have basic knowledge of wiring, or they work side-by-side with a qualified electrician to bring out the best effects depending on the lighting needs and nature of a project.

Apart from deciding where the lights are to be placed and what types of lights to use, lighting designers are also involved in schematic design and are knowledgeable of the various decorative products.

• Kitchen designers 

Kitchen designers are mostly involved with coming up with kitchen designs that fit the client’s taste and aesthetics and are useful to them. A lot is taken into consideration, from the floor plan to the aesthetics and materials used.

Kitchen designers are basically tasked with ensuring that the kitchen balances both in design and functionality. Apart from knowing which decorations to use, they also need to understand general replacement procedures and the maintenance required for all the add-ons they go for.

Production designer

The other career path you can choose with a degree in interior design is becoming a production designer. Here, you must have an excellent flair for visual arts. Production designers are mostly employed in theatre arts, film, and television productions.

Such individuals are tasked with designing almost everything that pertains to a film: props, lighting, costumes, camera angles, graphics, sets, etc. In theatre plays, a production designer may also be known as a stage designer, as they are required to pin-point everything out and how they want them to be placed.

Visual merchandiser

A visual merchandiser uses their design skills and techniques to boost the image, products, and services of a brand. These professionals create eye-catching product displays and store layouts that attract customers in a way that encourages them to purchase it.

You’re best suited for this position if you have a flair for brands and fashion. You can work as part of the display team in a retail company to develop, deliver, and communicate visual strategies and concepts to promote the brand’s products. Apart from organizing physical displays, a visual merchandiser can also promote products online or in catalogs. Such individuals are also capable of landing jobs at museums or art galleries.

Corporate designers

Corporate designers create professional designs for workplaces, focusing on various settings, regardless of the size of the building or space. The spaces created have to be efficient, functional, and that both the employees’ and visitors’ safety is considered. Furthermore, corporate designers are often tasked with incorporating the company’s brand into the design.

Healthcare designers

Healthcare designers focus their work on planning and renovation of healthcare centers such as hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, residential care facilities, etc. Healthcare designers put into perspective the data and research they get to create a positive environment for the patients and the staff.

Roles and responsibilities

An interior designer’s primary role is to listen to the clients and put their suggestions into perspective by creating safe, functional, and standard layouts. Besides advising their clients, interior designers also work closely with other professionals to ensure a project comes out successfully.

They might have to work hand in hand with quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, etc. Regardless of the field that they operate in, here are some of the general roles and responsibilities that an interior designer handles:

• Creating a brief to be used and finding out what the client’s personal suggestions and requirements are.
  
• Inspecting and surveying buildings
  
• Building a rapport with suppliers and negotiating fees
  
• Setting a strategy and timeline for the project.
  
• Ensuring that plans are technically feasible
  
• Developing detailed designs, often using computer-aided design (CAD) software
  
• Picking the most appropriate materials for the design
  
• Advising clients on progress
  
• Supervising the work
  
• Search for and bid on new projects
  
• Consider how space will be used and how people will move through it.
  
• Sketch preliminary design plans, including electrical and partition layouts
  
• Create a timeline for the interior design project and estimate project costs
  
• Place orders for materials and oversee the installation of the design elements.
  
• To ensure client satisfaction.

Work environment

Much of the work by interior designers is done in design studios. However, this is mostly so when designing the layouts or rendering of the spaces. Much of an interior designer’s time is spent at the client’s location, as they need to have hands-on experience during the design process.

Furthermore, interior designers work not only with the clients but also with suppliers. This means they will spend much of their time directing the entire process until the final piece is completed.

However, the advancements in technology have enabled designers to use software to create designs remotely that can be used in a different area, even if they cannot physically be there.

Training and education

When writing an interior designer’s job description, it would be prudent to consider someone with a bachelor’s degree in interior design. The coursework that someone took should focus more on drawing, computer-aided design (CAD), and interior design. A diploma on the same is also acceptable, and added training would be an added advantage.

Some people get into the interior design industry by taking a related course in 3D design, architecture,  fashion, graphic, and textile design. All these questions are available for study at various colleges or by taking online lessons.

In some rare cases, architectural practice or a design consultancy might offer a trainee position to a candidate that showcases a high level of enthusiasm, flair, or relevant experience, even to someone without a degree.

However, it is essential to have a portfolio of varied designs that one can present to potential employers or clients. As done by many students, one way to get yourself going is to take up a one-year Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. This is done before applying for a diploma or degree course. If you wish to be a little more specific, there’s also a Foundation Degree in Interior Design, which often takes two years to complete.

Licenses and certifications

Getting licensed and certified to work as an interior designer might vary from one state or country to another. In some of them, only duly registered and certified interior designers might do the work. In some others, only licensed designers are permitted to carry the title of “interior designer.”

In some other states or countries, both a licensed and an unlicensed designer can call themselves the title of “interior designer” and are permitted to carry out the work. Before hiring a candidate, ensure to go through your workplace requirements to not get into conflict with the authorities.

For instance, some states that might restrict the usage of the title “interior designer” might need someone to have passed a state-approved exam or test.

In some cases, the most common one is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam, which prospective candidates have to undergo before they actually become registered as interior designers. For you to take an NCIDQ exam, the minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree in interior design and at least two years of work experience.

Personality and interests

Apart from having the necessary technical skills, an interior designer should also have an interest in creating and persuading areas, according to the Holland Code framework.

The creative side of it requires one to be original and imaginative when working with artistic media. The persuasive side comes through when one needs to sell ideas to others while motivating and influencing them positively.

Some of the specific qualities that an interior designer should have include:

• Creativity – anyone that wishes to join any design field must have a knack for creativity. To become an interior designer, you must have an imaginative mind when selecting the necessary fabrics, furnishings, and identifying new ways of creating spaces that serve the client’s needs and lifestyle.
  
• Artistic ability – as an interior designer, you need to have a sense of style to help you develop designs that look amazing and are aesthetically pleasing.
  
• Detail-oriented – if there is a career that also needs someone to be detail-oriented, it is interior design. You need to be precise when measuring interior spaces and even when creating layouts. This is because you have to ensure that the furniture and other furnishings fit correctly while creating a safe and functional environment.
  
• Visualization – you need a strong sense of visual awareness to understand how things will fit together in the intended environment.
  
• Problem-solving skills – you will experience many challenges as an interior designer. You may have to deal with construction delays, inflation of costs at the last minute, unavailability of selected materials while experiencing a tight deadline, difficult contractors, etc. 

To survive (and become successful) in this field, you ought to have strong problem-solving skills to help you keep things running smoothly while keeping the project on time and within the budget.

• Interpersonal skills – these are the skills needed for the interior designer to manage a project seamlessly while maintaining a good relationship with both the suppliers and clients. 

Some of the examples of interpersonal skills needed by an interior designer include:

• Effective communication
  
• Strong negotiation skills
  
• Active listening
  
• Good organizational skills
  
• Teamwork
  
• Dependability
  
• Leadership
  
• Motivation
  
• Flexibility
  
• Patience
  
• Empathy

If hiring, you should note that the designer can have numerous interests. However, to pass the bar, they need to display these two:

• The changing trends in design
  
• The processes involved in architecture and construction

Salary

The pay for interior designers varies from one region to another. However, here is a guide that will help you when creating the job description of an interior designer:

The salaries of interior designers may also vary depending on the level of experience. For instance, trainee interior designers might have a starting salary of about $24,000 a year. An experienced interior designer can earn up to $36,000 a year, while a senior designer can earn upward of $66,000 a year.

The salaries can also be dependent on the niche or industry that one works in. here’s a table to help you get started:

Niche or place of work	Average pay
Architectural, engineering, and related services	$60,910
Specialized design services	$54,710
Furniture stores	$47,310

Interior design job description template

Here is a sample template to use when writing a job description for an interior designer:

Job brief/ summary

We are looking for an artful interior designer to create beautiful, functional spaces for residential and commercial clients. You will deal with design from the conceptual stage, development, liaising with the stakeholders, and managing and executing the plan. You will join our team of top-notch designers to ensure that all our clients receive excellent customer service while exceeding their expectations.

The goal is to design practical and functional spaces that are visually pleasing. Our ideal candidate should have at least two years of work experience with an impressive portfolio of design projects.

Interior designer duties and responsibilities

• Undertake design projects from conception, execution, and  completion
  
• Define project requirements and schedules
  
• Set costs and project fees according to the allocated budget
  
• Research and decide on materials.
  
• Supervise work progress
  
• Research and follow industry changes, evolutions, and best practices
  
• Develop new client leads and provide bids for projects
  
• Discuss goals, expectations, budget, and timeline with the client
  
• Collaborate with architects, builders, mechanical and structural engineers, and other members of the project team to create and implement a design plan
  
• Create preliminary design schemes, either by hand-sketching or computer-aided design (CAD), and send to the client for approval
  
• Place orders for all supplies and materials
  
• Oversee installation of the design elements
  
• Debrief with the client after project completion to ensure that goals were met and the project was done to the customer’s satisfaction

Requirements and qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in interior design, architecture, or related field
  
• Certification in an interior design specialty (such as lighting design, universal design, or kitchen and bath design)
  
• Portfolio showcasing customized designs
  
• 2+ years of industry experience
  
• Superior artistic and creative ability
  
• Strong problem-solving skills
  
• Attention to detail and an aptitude for visualization
  
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
  
• Proven working experience in decorating interior spaces (consultations, renovations, space planning, and new constructions)
  
• Expertise in layout, color, lighting, materials selection, custom furniture, and all installations.
  
• Proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3D Max, Illustrator, or other design programs
  
• Creative talent, imaginative, and has an eye for design
  
• Project management skills

Take away

Writing an interior designer’s job description isn’t hard. However, the first thing to consider is knowing what your new hire’s roles will be. Once you know their responsibilities, it will be much easier to curate a custom job brief, which will help you filter the candidates. Besides that, you should also beware of your region’s regulations on interior designers.

Does a person need special training and licensing to apply for a post as an interior designer? Apart from working from the office (or in-house), you can also find some pretty good freelance interior designers that will help you out regardless of the location you are from.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I look for when interviewing interior designers?
A: The first thing to look for when filtering potential candidates is their level of education. The least that one should have is a diploma in interior design. However, most importantly, you should also consider their portfolio. Have they displayed their ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures well? Do they showcase creativity in their portfolio? These are the most important things to consider when hiring an interior designer.

Q: Is it worth it to get interior design advice and services for a small living space?
A: An interior designer has a vast knowledge of colors, furnishings, materials to use, etc., that will help make your small room appear larger. Using the right color and strategically placing mirrors in your house can do wonders to increase visual depth.

As more people continue moving to urban settings, living spaces become smaller and smaller. Get help from an experienced interior designer to help make your space homier and appear bigger.

Q: What questions should I expect an interior designer to ask?
A: A professional interior designer will always have questions to ask you to ensure that everything runs smoothly – not unless you prepare yourself adequately. For starters, here are a few questions that you might expect an interior designer to you:

• What is your budget?
  
• What design style do you like or have in mind?
  
• Will you want to remain in the home during the re-design?
  
• Is there anything you absolutely do not like?
  
• How soon do you want the work to be completed?
  

.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-interior-design/tips-on-how-to-write-a-job-description-of-an-interior-designer/

20 common graphic designer interview questions

What are the 20 common graphic designer interview questions?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  
• What do you think makes someone a good designer?
  
• How do you stay abreast of the latest design trends?
  
• Where do you get graphic design inspiration from?
  
• Do you prefer to work as a team or solo?
  
• How do you handle tight deadlines?
  
• How do you incorporate feedback into designs?
  
• Describe your creative process. What are the major steps involved?
  
• What kind of design projects do you love to work on?
  
• What key metrics do you use to track your design’s success?

Whether you are a seasoned designer or a fresh graduate, having studied in a college or through online graphic design courses, it’ll come to a point when you need to hit the streets to find yourself a great gig. Looking for the perfect job can be a nerve-wracking process, and to survive (and become successful), you need to go in fully prepared.

Applying for the job isn’t the most challenging part – the biggest block comes to you when you get shortlisted, and you need to impress the employers. This way, it is essential to put your best foot forward by getting prepared in advance to ace the interview. The interview provides you with the opportunity to learn more about the company as the interviewers try to learn more about you – checking whether you are the right fit in the process.

When walking into an interview, it is a no brainer that your heart begins to pound so hard as all the nervousness knocks on your doors simultaneously. Unfortunately, there is no magical cure for the anxiety you may get whenever you’re due to attend an interview. However, there are certain steps that you can to get yourself at ease and ready to ace the interview.

This post will go through some of the best tips you can follow when preparing for a graphic designer interview. You’ll also get to see 20 of the most common graphic designer interview questions and tips on how to respond to them.

Tips to help you prepare for your interview

Prepare your portfolio

As a graphic designer, it is ideal for you to have a compelling online portfolio as well as a physical copy to showcase during the interview. If you go for an online portfolio, ensure that the links are correctly working and everything is up to date. Since you can work with links, you can link out to a number of projects, even up to 20 if you need to.

However, if you’re going for a physical portfolio, you only need to showcase anywhere between 5 and 10 of your best projects. If you have worked long enough, you should ensure that the pieces are diverse and can really show off your skills.

Note that it is also okay to attach your sketches to the portfolio. Most employers would love to hear how you got your ideas and turned them into the final product.

Prepare your resume

Although a portfolio is an ultimate resume for a graphic designer, you also need to prepare your curriculum vitae and make at least three copies. At times, the people interviewing you for the job might be more than one, so you need to come prepared with more printed resumes, even if you’d sent it via email.

Research the company

Applying for an in-house job is a little different from applying for the same position as a freelancer. The main difference is that you need to know all that there is to know about the company before the interview day. You need to know their main tone and how they structure much of their work.

What is their most popular color code? Is there a particular pattern that their designers follow to come up with a final product? Do your due diligence by finding all that you can about the company, including their goals and vision. You never know as this might come up in your interview.

Be prepared to answer the questions.

This is an interview, so you should expect questions – and lots of them! You need to be well-knowledgeable about your field and ready to answer whatever question that comes your way.

One important thing to note is that interviewers will not just ask technical questions, but they will also ask you things to do with your personality and your understanding of trends, among other things. Fortunately, this post will take you through 20 of the most common questions with tips on how to respond to them.

Ask the interviewer questions.

It is always recommended to have at least 3 to 5 questions prepared to ask the interviewers whenever they ask you whether you have any questions. This shows them that you are proactive and a curious being.

Remember that all the questions you ask should be relevant to the company and to the role you’re applying for. Some of the questions that can help you curate custom queries can be:

• “What is an example of a client challenge that you recently faced?” Their response will help you understand the type of players in that team and how they are used to working. In your ‘thank you’ letter, you can even indicate some of the strategies or solutions you could use to solve some of those challenges.
  
• “What can make me successful in this role?” This question will make the interviewers think that you are an A-player and that you wish to ensure that you provide your best when given the position. 

Although there are many other ways you can prepare yourself for the interview, these five tips will get you moving. Remember to write a ‘thank you’ note after the interview. You can get a little personal and even thank them for giving you the opportunity to interview and for them taking their time to listen to you.

Besides sounding courteous, doing this will make the interviewers see your enthusiasm about the job, and you might end up getting the job.

To help you get prepared even better, here are the 20 questions that you can expect to answer during the interview:

Graphic design interview questions and answers

1. Tell us more about yourself.

Whenever you get asked such a question, do not start getting worried about getting the right answer. Instead, such a question is a ‘blessing’ in disguise as it presents to you a chance to make yourself shine. Here, you need to explain why you are an excellent match for the job and how your qualities will prove you to be an asset to the team.

To ensure that you stand out from the other candidates, you need to ensure that instead of only focusing on your professional experience, you can also mix it with your personal interests and the job’s expectations. You can also highlight the various accomplishments that you can quantify to align the requirements of the job. Remember to show how both your skills and personality would be a great fit for the job.

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

When asked such a question, it means that the interviewers want to evaluate your qualities and what impact they might have on your work performance. Before the interview, you need to assess your skills and note down a list of your strengths and weaknesses.

By assessing your strengths, the employer will know how you can align your skills to the needs of the role. By telling them about your weaknesses, they will find out more about your honesty, transparency, and willingness to learn. By learning this, the employers will identify specific areas for self-development to focus on when (and if) you get hired.

When you’re discussing your weaknesses, you can also explain the steps you plan to take to develop the area your skills are lacking.

3. Why did you choose graphic design as a profession?

Most graphic design employers will ask you this question because they want to have a deeper understanding of who they are working with. The key thing to talk most about is the motivation that led you to choose graphic design as a career.

Perhaps you could mention your drawing techniques which you decided to further on, or your knack for creativity or something as plain as your wish to make the world more beautiful with better designs. Moreover, you can also touch on your personal experiences and educational background, as part of the reasons you decided to become a graphic designer.

4. Why are you interested in working for our company?

For every graphic design interview, you will ever attend, be ready always to answer such a question. This question is often asked to determine your interests in the company and also why you applied for the said position. The hiring manager will determine how much you’ve researched the company and how you prove to be an asset to the team.

Before handing the job to you, the interviewers will want to find out your motivations for the job. Depending on how you respond to this question, you increase your chances of getting hired as the hiring managers will now have a deeper understanding of your career goals.

Emphasize the parts of the position you feel most excited about how your role will align best with your interests and experience. You can also show how informed you are about the company by complimenting them on their work – specific areas you feel they outdid themselves.

5. What do you think makes someone a good designer?

This question seeks to identify your leadership skills and whether you are able to identify what to look for if you were in the shoes of the employer. Think about the different ways you can be a well-rounded creative.

Apart from someone having an excellent technical grasp of graphic designing, you can also mention other interpersonal skills such as time management, effective communication, good problem-solving skills, the ability to multitask, and someone always eager to learn. While emphasizing the qualities that a good designer should have, you can touch on how you compare.

6. Describe a time when you had a conflict at work and what you did

The workplace is full of conflict and misunderstandings – from uncooperative co-workers to disagreements with clients. When responding to this question, your main goal is to demonstrate your ability to navigate tricky situations and eventually come up with a good solution. In most cases, experts recommend using the S.T.A.R formula when answering such a question:

S or T (situation or task) – discuss the situation you faced either alone or as a group. Here you can also talk about a task you were working on and how you faced a difficult moment when working with it, a situation caused by a colleague or a client.

A (approach) – how did you take charge of the situation? What steps did you decide to follow as a counter-measure for the problem (conflict at hand)?

R (results) – as a result of your approach, what were the results? Did you solve the problem?

Regardless of how tight the conflict was, avoid disparaging the individual that was the cause or the team involved. Instead, you should focus more on the approach that you undertook and the steps that were involved.

7. How do you stay abreast of the latest design trends?

The graphic design space is constantly shifting, and so should the designers. Graphic designers should always stay aware of all the current trends that can help them keep their designs fresh and relevant. This question is mostly intended for the employer to understand how the candidate has a true passion and mindset for graphic design that can give their company a winning edge.

An example of an answer would be to indicate social media (following your design heroes or companies on Instagram), reading art magazines, blog articles, etc.

8. What is the latest design campaign that you’ve seen, and what do you like/or not like about it?

This is often asked in most graphic design interviews to determine how good the candidate’s critique skills are. As it is not just enough to say how well you liked or didn’t like a particular design or campaign, you should be able to offer your brief opinion on the reasons why.

You could base your rationale on how the particular campaign achieved its objectives or how ineffective it was. Some of the things to consider include the color used, the type of campaign it was used for, its imagery, copy, etc.

9. Where do you get graphic design inspiration from?

It is perfectly acceptable to mention your design heroes as where you get your inspiration from, but you should also show that you think outside the box – have a uniqueness that isn’t the stock standard. You can go ahead and mention other untraditional sources of design inspiration such as history, film, art, etc.

However, remember to only tie the source of inspiration to the needs of the business. You wouldn’t want to come out as someone who doesn’t understand brand differentiation and how the source of inspiration you put forward aligns with the needs of the business. To come up with an excellent answer to this question, you ought to be culturally aware and up to date on all the popular (and latest) design trends.

10. Do you prefer to work as a team or solo?

When asked whether you prefer working as a team or rather go solo on a project, the hirers want to find out if you are versatile enough to adapt to the needs of a particular project. You can use such an opportunity to highlight the benefits of both options and ascertain that you are comfortable working in both situations – as a team and alone.

A good way around this is to ask the employers about their team structures and how their teams collaborate towards a project. You can go ahead and provide them with examples of how you worked as a team and how you managed to ace a project as you worked on it solo. You can also add that depending on the needs of the specific task, you can work comfortably solo or as a team.

11. How do you handle tight deadlines?

Being a graphic designer entails managing projects and delivering them within short turnaround times. You can share stories on how you were able to work on a project (or projects) that was required within a short period and how you managed to submit it in time.

When talking about deadlines, you can share with the interviewers what keeps you focused and motivated throughout the entire process, from the start to the end. You can be specific on what the project entailed, the timelines you were given, and how you finally managed to meet the deadlines.

12. How do you incorporate feedback into designs?

Being a graphic designer means that you’ll be in regular communication with the client to ensure that you deliver something they would be satisfied with. When asking this question, the employers want to see if you are able to effectively work with clients and how you can incorporate their feedback into your designs.

You can take the interviewers through the process you undertake whenever you receive feedback regarding projects. You are also free to talk about a time that you did it.

13. How do you respond when a client gives you harsh criticism?

As a graphic designer, you will work with all sorts of different people. Some will offer your constructive feedback reasonably, while others will be harsh and uncaring when offering criticism. As a designer, you need to have the right skills to come to an agreement with the client without escalating the matter.

Even though you may be accustomed to working in a particular way, you should display the willingness to learn new methods by improving your adaptability. Another thing that the hirers often look for when asking this question is your appreciation for the feedback. The best way to respond to such a question is first to acknowledge that you don’t take criticism as a personal attack.

14. Describe your creative process. What are the major steps involved?

It is a rule of thumb that no good designer will just jump in and start designing a project. You should always take your time to understand the assignment, and depending on the said task, you can look through available data to determine the best course of action.

When responding to such a question, do not forget that leaving a chance for substantive feedback before submitting the final design is also a crucial step in the creative process. The main things to also include in the answer are:

• Your focus on planning
  
• Attention to detail
  
• How you manage your time

15. What kind of design projects do you love to work on?

This question seeks to help the hirers understand your passions and the type of work you love working on. By answering this, they are able to get a better understanding of your skills and experience. When telling them about what you love working on the most, be sure to include a list of examples you loved the most and why you prefer working on such projects.

You can also indicate the skills you prefer when working on such assignments, as this shows your proficiency in the field. Furthermore, if you specialize in a particular field, you can indicate that it is the area you love working on the most and that you believe you will get the chance to showcase your creative side when offered the opportunity to work in the company.

If you want to increase your chances of impressing the hirers even further, you can tie the company’s portfolio with the type of projects you love the most, and that is why you applied for a position in the said company.

16. Have you made any mistakes as a designer? Did you learn anything from the experience?

Employers are always scouting for someone that is honest and can own up to their mistakes by being accountable. Although this question seeks to also identify your weaknesses (or former weaknesses), you can use it as an opportunity to discuss a particular challenge you faced and how the experience impacted your career.

You can talk of how you learned from such a situation and what measures you put in place (or planning to put in place) to ensure that such mistakes don’t happen again. By responding to this question, you should also highlight that you always try to learn from every mistake made and using the experience to ensure such an error doesn’t occur in the future.

17. Tell me about your experience working remotely.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies now prefer working remotely. However, it would be right to say that this was the case for creatives for many years. Since one can easily be a freelance graphic designer working remotely, companies are now looking at the possibility of allowing their employees to work from home.

However, working remotely also presents its own challenges. To ace this question, you need to mention the importance of regular communication, accountability, and organizational skills.

18. What key metrics do you use to track your design’s success?

A good graphic designer doesn’t just stop at their own views or the approval of the client. They also look further than that in ensuring that they did a successful job by looking at other key metrics, more so, if the design was used for an online campaign.

A good design is able to communicate the message while attracting and engaging the audience effectively. Furthermore, your graphic design should be able to motivate people to take action. Metrics such as conversion rates and click-throughs would be a great start to offering a comprehensive answer to the question.

19. Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

The interviewers often ask this question to ascertain whether you have a clear vision planned out for your life or not. They also want to have a better understanding of your career goals as a graphic designer. Your response will also enable them to know how best you fit in the team. This might also be a trick question, as your answer must always align with the career trajectory of the role you applied for.

Your answer should also include the skills you wish to gain when hired under that role and how it would contribute to your professional development. However, ensure that you first research more on the company’s goals and values so that your response will not create conflict.

20. What are your salary expectations?

Always conduct extensive market research regarding the job you are applying for and find out the salary range prior to your interview. You can use websites such as Payscale and Glassdoor to approximate the salary range of such professionals based on your level of experience and location.

Do not set the bar too high or again too low when indicating how much you ought to be compensated. You should also factor in your skill level, and the years of experience you have.

Bonus question: What sets you apart from the other candidates?

Although you may not face this question in most interviews, it is a question that’s gradually gaining popularity in graphic design interviews. This is definitely a trick question as you may not have any prior knowledge of how your competition is like.

However, this is an opportunity that you can use to highlight your strengths and special skills that can make you stand out as the perfect candidate. Apart from mentioning your technical and personal skills, you can also note your transferable skills. If you have niche expertise, then you can indicate it.

Ready to ace your graphic design interview?

Although this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the questions that you’d expect during a graphic design interview, these 20 questions and recommended modes of response will be a good starting point to get you prepared. The answers that the hirers will look for will often change depending on the company, and that’s why we did not include specific answers to the questions. However, our responds guide will help keep you on the right track.

We hope that this post will be helpful to help you ace your interview, whether for an in-house designer or as a freelance graphic designer. For now, focus more on polishing your resume and portfolio and face that interview with confidence. All the best!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I be given a task to work on during the interview?
A: Yes. Even though, in theory, your portfolio speaks for itself, some interviewers will give you a quick task to work on. In most cases, they are simply looking at your creative process and what angle you use to work on your projects. If you get this, do not panic. Relax, and even ask for more time if need be.

Q: How do I respond if I don’t have any weaknesses?
A: We are all human, and no one is perfect. We all have a weakness in one way or the other. The key here is to be as honest as possible. However, when talking about your shortcomings, you should not only mention the skills that you lack but also what you are trying to do to develop them. Avoid old tricks like “My weakness is working too much” as they no longer work.

Q: What level of education should you have to qualify as a graphic designer? 

A: Graphic designing is more of a passion-driven career and not just what level of education you have achieved. However, before applying for corporate jobs, ensure that you get at least a Diploma in graphic design. Having a degree or higher levels of educations would be an added advantage.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-graphic-design/20-common-graphic-designer-interview-questions/

Test post by likhon

part-time as a graphic designer? Here’s a complete guide that’ll help you decide your future as a graphic designer.

What are the 9 best graphic designing part-time jobs?
Multimedia Designer
Film or Video Editor
Web Designer
Logo Designer
Brand Identity Designer
Creative director
Photo Editing/Photoshop Artist
Layout Artist
Email Marketing Designer

The road to success is pretty different for everyone. However, having some level of technical knowledge would open more doors for you to achieve your success. One of these skills is graphic design, which can be acquired by taking a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

You wouldn’t want to dive into something that won’t have sufficient returns in this highly competitive world. Apart from getting monetary satisfaction, one should also be able to get psychological satisfaction. This means you should also enjoy whatever you’re doing. As a graphic designer, you have the chance to utilize your skills working both full-time and part-time. If you ever had another job taking much of your time, you can still make a decent living working part-time as a graphic designer.

But before all that, you may need to undergo formal training first. Others still succeed in the field without formal education, mostly through apprenticeship and online materials. But before you commit your time and money into studying graphic designing, you may want a better idea of what awaits you should you wish to make this your part-time career in the future.

What do graphic designers do?

Taking a career in graphic design is an exciting way of combining technology and art to pass a message. This is why, in the 21st century, graphic designers are under high demand from different industries that all need their help – to communicate with prospects and clients.

Graphic designers often work in the marketing & advertising niche, but you can find many others working in publishing, healthcare, and digital communications. These professionals help curate layouts and graphics for various products such as websites, books, user manuals, etc.

When choosing a good designer, a lot is taken into consideration as they must have extensive knowledge of certain aspects such as color psychology, image construction, font types, among other forms of artistic principles. In most cases, graphic designers use computer design programs to bring their imaginations to life.

There are also many approaches that one can take as a graphic designer: they can either sketch new designs or incorporate existing brand details to come up with an innovative design that appeals well to the brand’s image and target audience.

To become a graphic designer, you may also need to learn a few skills and have qualifications such as:
Technical skills
Branding
Digital media
Drawing and sketching
Printmaking
Typography.
Understanding of audience targeting
Computerized sketching abilities
Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Graphics Suite, and many more.
Other skills
Effective communication
Creativity and innovation
Teamwork
Time management
Analytical skills
Research skills
Presentation skills

Understanding the workplace of a graphic designer

As a graphic designer, you have the opportunity to work in one of three work environments. Working as a part-time graphic designer is solely dependent on the option you choose. They include:

Working as an in-house graphic designer

As an in-house graphic designer, you are an employee of a firm that deals with a particular brand or related brands. In this case, graphic designers tend to be generalists who can handle the same company’s different creative needs.

Advantages of in-house graphic designing
You get the perks of working in a traditional work environment: employee benefits, etc.
A stable and steady paycheck
Potential for promotions

Drawbacks of working as an in-house graphic designer
More rules, meaning that you will feel a bit restricted in your imagination. You can come up with new ideas but still adhering to brand guidelines.
There is more communication, meaning you will most likely have to justify much of your work to your team and other non-designers
As a designer, you need to be in an environment that encourages creativity. However, you may get employed in one that wasn’t built with the designers in mind.

 

Working as an agency graphic designer

Graphic designing in an agency typically means that you’ll be coming alongside other like-minded individuals, getting the work done for an assortment of clients. The assignments often tend to be short-term or on a contractual basis. You’ll have the chance to bring out your creative side, but still, you may have to stick to certain company values and principles.

Advantages of working at an agency as a graphic designer
You’ll work with other like-minded people, meaning there a higher expectation of design excellence.
Diverse opportunities to advance your design skills
Faster communication and understanding than when working with non-designers
The daily work is within the realm of graphic designing – non-design tasks are rare, so you won’t be tasked with doing what you aren’t already able to.

Disadvantages of working at an agency

Less to no job security – agencies mostly hire design staff to match the projects or contracts that they have.
You may get subjected to rigorous working. The settings of an agency are fast-paced. This means that you may have to occasionally work through the night to beat deadlines.

Working as a freelance graphic designer

The digital world has opened many opportunities for many people. Today, you can perfectly run a successful career without stepping outside of your home. Freelancing is one such way, and it is quite flexible that you can either work full-time or part-time.

Freelance graphic designers are responsible for more than just the design work itself. They are tasked with marketing their services to potential clients, maintaining client relations, bookkeeping, invoicing, etc. Such a role calls for more than just the technical skills of a graphic designer. Self-discipline and dedication are the two most important things to consider.

Advantages of working as a freelance graphic designer

Flexibility to work from anywhere, as long as there is internet connectivity
You have the creative freedom and flexibility to work on the projects that you want and inspire you.
You can tailor your working schedule depending on your everyday lifestyle. This can help you to work as a graphic designer part-time while still keeping your day time job.

Disadvantages of freelancing

Working in solitude. You won’t have coworkers, as you’ll be handling all the work by yourself.
Apart from handling the projects by yourself, you also have to do the hunting and bidding for work; projects will not just land on your desk.
The pay is quite unreliable and varies from month to month, the workflow, etc.

 

As you can see, working as a freelancer has a lot of other perks that make it appealing to many digital-savvy designers. Apart from the freedom that comes with it, one has the option to make this a part-time job while keeping their main or day jobs.

However, there are so many fields in the graphic design world that you can pursue that might not go so well with a part-time worker. For a part-time job, you need to handle tasks that may not eat up your time but still making you that extra cash.

To make it easier for you, we have compiled a list of nine career fields you can focus on if you wish to work part-time as a graphic designer:

9 graphic design jobs you can do part-time

Multimedia animator or artist

A multimedia designer makes use of art, sound, and technical design skills to come up with videos or animated images. They design complex graphics and animation by using computer or modeling programs. There is the aspect of story development and the visual impacts that the content will have.

Moreover, such professionals are tasked with creating sketches, plans, drawings, scale models, etc. They also design the props used on set, among other tasks such as directing the set assistants regarding design interpretations and other technical production matters.

As more brands and companies continue to increase their online video presence, the demand for graphic designers with a knack for motion graphics or animation skills will continue to soar. If you have the imagination and creativity needed to develop new concepts and ideas, then this route is for you to take.

Creative director

A creative director helps in coming up with the creative vision of a project. These professionals ensure that the overall aesthetic and cohesive look of the final results are in line with the initial goals and plans. A creative director will be in charge of a creative team that often consists of copywriters, graphic designers, artists, photographers, etc.

A creative director’s work is to ensure that all the team members are working together in harmony to deliver the project within the stipulated time and to the client’s satisfaction. Moreover, creative directors may also be tasked to handle the budgeting of a project.

Besides having advanced knowledge in graphic design, creative directors should also portray leadership and good management skills.

Being a creative or art director mostly entails supervisory work, meaning you may not have to do all the heavy lifting yourself. This gives you the freedom to have this as a part-time career, which you can easily manage, as long as you plan your time accordingly.

Web designer

Web designers play a vital role in web development. They help in creating the layouts and graphics for the website pages. Besides that, web designers are also tasked with the navigation design and structure of a website.

Thanks to their extensive knowledge of graphics and color psychology, graphic designers are better positioned to make decisions regarding the type of content that’s best placed on the website, such as the graphics, navigation buttons, etc. They also ensure that there is continuity from one website page to the next.

To remain relevant and competitive in today’s digital world, all businesses are required to have a functional website. This means that the work of a web designer won’t go obsolete any time soon. As the need for web designers continues to be in high demand, so should you also take advantage of this opportunity and become one. Good knowledge of graphic design would be necessary to land your clients, more so if you’re working part-time.

Logo designer

If you are planning on opening a business today, the first thing to do would be to consider its branding. The key thing that comes to mind is the main symbol, or visual representation, that consumers and other people would use to identify your company. This is the sole purpose of a logo.

In layman’s terms, a logo is a graphically sketched symbol arranged in a unique way with a distinct shape, design, and colors that best represent a company. It’s not just a business that might require a logo – organizations, products, services, and agencies might also need a unique brand identity. Companies continue to spend lots of money on updating and implementing new logos. This is mostly done to remain relevant to their cause and to appear modern and innovative.

Logo creation doesn’t need to take you days to come up with a working concept. All that this career path demands is your creativity and keeping up with modern design trends and patterns. This means that you can work on it during your free (personal) time after your day job.

Brand Identity Designer

A brand identity designer has a more intricate position than logo creation. Even though logos are used as the ultimate visual representation of a brand, it is often more than just that. A company’s brand identity can be integrated into all its elements and materials such as media advertising, promotions, business cards, stationery, etc.

All these can be curated with a similar touch and feel. Brand identity design plays a key role in customer retention, as they can now identify with the brand. This can act as the strongest marketing tool for a company as its values, and strategic vision becomes a consistent image that consumers can become familiar with.

Although many companies prefer to maintain consistency in achieving their company goals, this may not be a regular job that requires an in-house graphic designer. Instead, most of these companies outsource the work either to an agency or a freelancer to help them create suitable brand designs for the images they wish to convey.

Photo editing/ photoshop artist

It will be wrong to leave out photo editing as one of the careers you can do part-time with a degree in graphic design. As part of your training as a graphic designer, one of the things that you will work with is photo editing software. Such tools enable a photoshop artist to crop, manipulate, or color-correct the photos.

As the use of social media continues to increase each passing day, the need for quality and unique images to be posted by both individuals and brands continues to rise. Furthermore, some companies depend on taking high-quality industrial photos that ought to be well-edited before being published on their platforms.

As you can imagine, there are many careers that proficiency in photo editing techniques can get you. Moreover, this is something that you can do for only a few hours or even minutes a day, enabling you to make a little cash on the side.

Layout artist

Did you ever wonder why you might find a particular magazine easy to read while you find another not pleasing enough? Well, that is all the work of a layout artist. Such an individual designs the structure and layout of text and images in a format that is aesthetically pleasing for print media. They include flyers, brochures, magazines, posters, CD booklets, etc.

One of the main roles of a layout artist is to ensure that the images and text are well arranged in a way that is pleasing to the reader’s eyes, directing them in the right flow. Even though the majority of opportunities for layout artists are found in public relations firms, advertising agencies, or magazines, there is still a strong demand for freelance layout artists.

 

E-mail marketing designer

With many brands having the opportunity to reach out to a larger target audience, more and better ways of reaching out to them are being tried out every other day. However, email marketing still remains one of the most successful marketing and outreach methods to potential and current customers. Companies have the opportunity to talk directly with their clients through curated lists and customized messaging.

However, to reap the benefits of this marketing method, you need to design a good converting copy. To ensure that a brand’s identity is well-conveyed through their e-mail marketing campaigns, many companies prefer to get a graphic designer that is most conversant with creating e-mail marketing copy.

Luckily, this is one job that you can easily do part-time without spending too much time on it, as long as you have a penchant for digital trends and best practices.

Trainer / Lecturer

This is probably one of the last things you would expect to have seen on this list, right? Well, becoming a trainer or teacher after getting your accreditations as a graphic designer is one of the best career paths that one can take and work part-time.

Sharing the knowledge that you have with others is an excellent way of giving back to society while still making some money off it. You can decide to become a tutor, meaning that you can train upcoming graphic designers through tutorials or providing them online materials. You can also lecture at a local school, either virtually or physically, soon after getting off your day job.

Conclusion

As you can see from this post, the graphic design world is so versatile that your imagination can take you almost anywhere. There are many career paths that you can take, working either in-house or as a freelancer. If you’re looking to progress your career while still working on your day job, you can check out some of these graphic design jobs that you can work part-time. Happy designing!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Must a graphic designer know how to draw?
A: Now that computer-based tools are available, the ability to draw is not as important as a good sense of design. This means that you don’t necessarily have to be good at drawing or making sketches on paper to become a graphic designer. However, knowing how to draw or sketch could be an added advantage to a graphic designer, more so if you are planning on specializing in fields such as illustration.

Q: What do I need to become a graphic designer?
A: To become a successful graphic designer, you may need to combine technical and practical skills with an artistic and creative approach. This is also an ongoing exploration, so the learning of graphic design is a never-ending process. Did you know that you can easily become a graphic designer without having any formal education?

Q: How long does one take to become a graphic designer?
A: Graphic design basically depends on how creative you are and how fast you grasp the workings of the CADs (computer-aided design software). You can go for a short certificate or diploma course that can take you at most two years or a degree course that will go for at least four academic years. To improve your chances of employment at top positions and companies, you can go for higher learning, such as taking a master’s course.

Q: Are graphic designers’ skills and job responsibilities the same across the board?
A: In general, there are basic skills that are necessary to become a graphic designer. Some of them, such as understanding color psychology and using CADs, are applicable across all boards. However, some fields are generally different from each other, and once you specialize in one area, you may not interact with the works of another specialization in your career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meta Title: 9 best graphic designing part-time jobs
Meta Description: Did you know that you can have a successful career working part-time as a graphic designer? Here’s a complete guide that’ll help you decide your future as a graphic designer.

What are the 9 best graphic designing part-time jobs?
Multimedia Designer
Film or Video Editor
Web Designer
Logo Designer
Brand Identity Designer
Creative director
Photo Editing/Photoshop Artist
Layout Artist
Email Marketing Designer

The road to success is pretty different for everyone. However, having some level of technical knowledge would open more doors for you to achieve your success. One of these skills is graphic design, which can be acquired by taking a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

You wouldn’t want to dive into something that won’t have sufficient returns in this highly competitive world. Apart from getting monetary satisfaction, one should also be able to get psychological satisfaction. This means you should also enjoy whatever you’re doing. As a graphic designer, you have the chance to utilize your skills working both full-time and part-time. If you ever had another job taking much of your time, you can still make a decent living working part-time as a graphic designer.

But before all that, you may need to undergo formal training first. Others still succeed in the field without formal education, mostly through apprenticeship and online materials. But before you commit your time and money into studying graphic designing, you may want a better idea of what awaits you should you wish to make this your part-time career in the future.

What do graphic designers do?

Taking a career in graphic design is an exciting way of combining technology and art to pass a message. This is why, in the 21st century, graphic designers are under high demand from different industries that all need their help – to communicate with prospects and clients.

Graphic designers often work in the marketing & advertising niche, but you can find many others working in publishing, healthcare, and digital communications. These professionals help curate layouts and graphics for various products such as websites, books, user manuals, etc.

When choosing a good designer, a lot is taken into consideration as they must have extensive knowledge of certain aspects such as color psychology, image construction, font types, among other forms of artistic principles. In most cases, graphic designers use computer design programs to bring their imaginations to life.

There are also many approaches that one can take as a graphic designer: they can either sketch new designs or incorporate existing brand details to come up with an innovative design that appeals well to the brand’s image and target audience.

To become a graphic designer, you may also need to learn a few skills and have qualifications such as:
Technical skills
Branding
Digital media
Drawing and sketching
Printmaking
Typography.
Understanding of audience targeting
Computerized sketching abilities
Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Graphics Suite, and many more.
Other skills
Effective communication
Creativity and innovation
Teamwork
Time management
Analytical skills
Research skills
Presentation skills

Understanding the workplace of a graphic designer

As a graphic designer, you have the opportunity to work in one of three work environments. Working as a part-time graphic designer is solely dependent on the option you choose. They include:

Working as an in-house graphic designer

As an in-house graphic designer, you are an employee of a firm that deals with a particular brand or related brands. In this case, graphic designers tend to be generalists who can handle the same company’s different creative needs.

Advantages of in-house graphic designing
You get the perks of working in a traditional work environment: employee benefits, etc.
A stable and steady paycheck
Potential for promotions

Drawbacks of working as an in-house graphic designer
More rules, meaning that you will feel a bit restricted in your imagination. You can come up with new ideas but still adhering to brand guidelines.
There is more communication, meaning you will most likely have to justify much of your work to your team and other non-designers
As a designer, you need to be in an environment that encourages creativity. However, you may get employed in one that wasn’t built with the designers in mind.

 

Working as an agency graphic designer

Graphic designing in an agency typically means that you’ll be coming alongside other like-minded individuals, getting the work done for an assortment of clients. The assignments often tend to be short-term or on a contractual basis. You’ll have the chance to bring out your creative side, but still, you may have to stick to certain company values and principles.

Advantages of working at an agency as a graphic designer
You’ll work with other like-minded people, meaning there a higher expectation of design excellence.
Diverse opportunities to advance your design skills
Faster communication and understanding than when working with non-designers
The daily work is within the realm of graphic designing – non-design tasks are rare, so you won’t be tasked with doing what you aren’t already able to.

Disadvantages of working at an agency

Less to no job security – agencies mostly hire design staff to match the projects or contracts that they have.
You may get subjected to rigorous working. The settings of an agency are fast-paced. This means that you may have to occasionally work through the night to beat deadlines.

Working as a freelance graphic designer

The digital world has opened many opportunities for many people. Today, you can perfectly run a successful career without stepping outside of your home. Freelancing is one such way, and it is quite flexible that you can either work full-time or part-time.

Freelance graphic designers are responsible for more than just the design work itself. They are tasked with marketing their services to potential clients, maintaining client relations, bookkeeping, invoicing, etc. Such a role calls for more than just the technical skills of a graphic designer. Self-discipline and dedication are the two most important things to consider.

Advantages of working as a freelance graphic designer

Flexibility to work from anywhere, as long as there is internet connectivity
You have the creative freedom and flexibility to work on the projects that you want and inspire you.
You can tailor your working schedule depending on your everyday lifestyle. This can help you to work as a graphic designer part-time while still keeping your day time job.

Disadvantages of freelancing

Working in solitude. You won’t have coworkers, as you’ll be handling all the work by yourself.
Apart from handling the projects by yourself, you also have to do the hunting and bidding for work; projects will not just land on your desk.
The pay is quite unreliable and varies from month to month, the workflow, etc.

 

As you can see, working as a freelancer has a lot of other perks that make it appealing to many digital-savvy designers. Apart from the freedom that comes with it, one has the option to make this a part-time job while keeping their main or day jobs.

However, there are so many fields in the graphic design world that you can pursue that might not go so well with a part-time worker. For a part-time job, you need to handle tasks that may not eat up your time but still making you that extra cash.

To make it easier for you, we have compiled a list of nine career fields you can focus on if you wish to work part-time as a graphic designer:

9 graphic design jobs you can do part-time

Multimedia animator or artist

A multimedia designer makes use of art, sound, and technical design skills to come up with videos or animated images. They design complex graphics and animation by using computer or modeling programs. There is the aspect of story development and the visual impacts that the content will have.

Moreover, such professionals are tasked with creating sketches, plans, drawings, scale models, etc. They also design the props used on set, among other tasks such as directing the set assistants regarding design interpretations and other technical production matters.

As more brands and companies continue to increase their online video presence, the demand for graphic designers with a knack for motion graphics or animation skills will continue to soar. If you have the imagination and creativity needed to develop new concepts and ideas, then this route is for you to take.

Creative director

A creative director helps in coming up with the creative vision of a project. These professionals ensure that the overall aesthetic and cohesive look of the final results are in line with the initial goals and plans. A creative director will be in charge of a creative team that often consists of copywriters, graphic designers, artists, photographers, etc.

A creative director’s work is to ensure that all the team members are working together in harmony to deliver the project within the stipulated time and to the client’s satisfaction. Moreover, creative directors may also be tasked to handle the budgeting of a project.

Besides having advanced knowledge in graphic design, creative directors should also portray leadership and good management skills.

Being a creative or art director mostly entails supervisory work, meaning you may not have to do all the heavy lifting yourself. This gives you the freedom to have this as a part-time career, which you can easily manage, as long as you plan your time accordingly.

Web designer

Web designers play a vital role in web development. They help in creating the layouts and graphics for the website pages. Besides that, web designers are also tasked with the navigation design and structure of a website.

Thanks to their extensive knowledge of graphics and color psychology, graphic designers are better positioned to make decisions regarding the type of content that’s best placed on the website, such as the graphics, navigation buttons, etc. They also ensure that there is continuity from one website page to the next.

To remain relevant and competitive in today’s digital world, all businesses are required to have a functional website. This means that the work of a web designer won’t go obsolete any time soon. As the need for web designers continues to be in high demand, so should you also take advantage of this opportunity and become one. Good knowledge of graphic design would be necessary to land your clients, more so if you’re working part-time.

Logo designer

If you are planning on opening a business today, the first thing to do would be to consider its branding. The key thing that comes to mind is the main symbol, or visual representation, that consumers and other people would use to identify your company. This is the sole purpose of a logo.

In layman’s terms, a logo is a graphically sketched symbol arranged in a unique way with a distinct shape, design, and colors that best represent a company. It’s not just a business that might require a logo – organizations, products, services, and agencies might also need a unique brand identity. Companies continue to spend lots of money on updating and implementing new logos. This is mostly done to remain relevant to their cause and to appear modern and innovative.

Logo creation doesn’t need to take you days to come up with a working concept. All that this career path demands is your creativity and keeping up with modern design trends and patterns. This means that you can work on it during your free (personal) time after your day job.

Brand Identity Designer

A brand identity designer has a more intricate position than logo creation. Even though logos are used as the ultimate visual representation of a brand, it is often more than just that. A company’s brand identity can be integrated into all its elements and materials such as media advertising, promotions, business cards, stationery, etc.

All these can be curated with a similar touch and feel. Brand identity design plays a key role in customer retention, as they can now identify with the brand. This can act as the strongest marketing tool for a company as its values, and strategic vision becomes a consistent image that consumers can become familiar with.

Although many companies prefer to maintain consistency in achieving their company goals, this may not be a regular job that requires an in-house graphic designer. Instead, most of these companies outsource the work either to an agency or a freelancer to help them create suitable brand designs for the images they wish to convey.

Photo editing/ photoshop artist

It will be wrong to leave out photo editing as one of the careers you can do part-time with a degree in graphic design. As part of your training as a graphic designer, one of the things that you will work with is photo editing software. Such tools enable a photoshop artist to crop, manipulate, or color-correct the photos.

As the use of social media continues to increase each passing day, the need for quality and unique images to be posted by both individuals and brands continues to rise. Furthermore, some companies depend on taking high-quality industrial photos that ought to be well-edited before being published on their platforms.

As you can imagine, there are many careers that proficiency in photo editing techniques can get you. Moreover, this is something that you can do for only a few hours or even minutes a day, enabling you to make a little cash on the side.

Layout artist

Did you ever wonder why you might find a particular magazine easy to read while you find another not pleasing enough? Well, that is all the work of a layout artist. Such an individual designs the structure and layout of text and images in a format that is aesthetically pleasing for print media. They include flyers, brochures, magazines, posters, CD booklets, etc.

One of the main roles of a layout artist is to ensure that the images and text are well arranged in a way that is pleasing to the reader’s eyes, directing them in the right flow. Even though the majority of opportunities for layout artists are found in public relations firms, advertising agencies, or magazines, there is still a strong demand for freelance layout artists.

 

E-mail marketing designer

With many brands having the opportunity to reach out to a larger target audience, more and better ways of reaching out to them are being tried out every other day. However, email marketing still remains one of the most successful marketing and outreach methods to potential and current customers. Companies have the opportunity to talk directly with their clients through curated lists and customized messaging.

However, to reap the benefits of this marketing method, you need to design a good converting copy. To ensure that a brand’s identity is well-conveyed through their e-mail marketing campaigns, many companies prefer to get a graphic designer that is most conversant with creating e-mail marketing copy.

Luckily, this is one job that you can easily do part-time without spending too much time on it, as long as you have a penchant for digital trends and best practices.

Trainer / Lecturer

This is probably one of the last things you would expect to have seen on this list, right? Well, becoming a trainer or teacher after getting your accreditations as a graphic designer is one of the best career paths that one can take and work part-time.

Sharing the knowledge that you have with others is an excellent way of giving back to society while still making some money off it. You can decide to become a tutor, meaning that you can train upcoming graphic designers through tutorials or providing them online materials. You can also lecture at a local school, either virtually or physically, soon after getting off your day job.

Conclusion

As you can see from this post, the graphic design world is so versatile that your imagination can take you almost anywhere. There are many career paths that you can take, working either in-house or as a freelancer. If you’re looking to progress your career while still working on your day job, you can check out some of these graphic design jobs that you can work part-time. Happy designing!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Must a graphic designer know how to draw?
A: Now that computer-based tools are available, the ability to draw is not as important as a good sense of design. This means that you don’t necessarily have to be good at drawing or making sketches on paper to become a graphic designer. However, knowing how to draw or sketch could be an added advantage to a graphic designer, more so if you are planning on specializing in fields such as illustration.

Q: What do I need to become a graphic designer?
A: To become a successful graphic designer, you may need to combine technical and practical skills with an artistic and creative approach. This is also an ongoing exploration, so the learning of graphic design is a never-ending process. Did you know that you can easily become a graphic designer without having any formal education?

Q: How long does one take to become a graphic designer?
A: Graphic design basically depends on how creative you are and how fast you grasp the workings of the CADs (computer-aided design software). You can go for a short certificate or diploma course that can take you at most two years or a degree course that will go for at least four academic years. To improve your chances of employment at top positions and companies, you can go for higher learning, such as taking a master’s course.

Q: Are graphic designers’ skills and job responsibilities the same across the board?
A: In general, there are basic skills that are necessary to become a graphic designer. Some of them, such as understanding color psychology and using CADs, are applicable across all boards. However, some fields are generally different from each other, and once you specialize in one area, you may not interact with the works of another specialization in your career.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/3d-designers/test-post-by-likhon/

9 best graphic designing part-time jobs

What are the 9 best graphic designing part-time jobs?

1. Multimedia Designer
   
2. Film or Video Editor
   
3. Web Designer
   
4. Logo Designer
   
5. Brand Identity Designer
   
6. Creative director
   
7. Photo Editing/Photoshop Artist
   
8. Layout Artist
   
9. Email Marketing Designer
   

The road to success is pretty different for everyone. However, having some level of technical knowledge would open more doors for you to achieve your success. One of these skills is graphic design, which can be acquired by taking a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

You wouldn’t want to dive into something that won’t have sufficient returns in this highly competitive world. Apart from getting monetary satisfaction, one should also be able to get psychological satisfaction. This means you should also enjoy whatever you’re doing. As a graphic designer, you have the chance to utilize your skills working both full-time and part-time. If you ever had another job taking much of your time, you can still make a decent living working part-time as a graphic designer.

But before all that, you may need to undergo formal training first. Others still succeed in the field without formal education, mostly through apprenticeship and online materials. But before you commit your time and money into studying graphic designing, you may want a better idea of what awaits you should you wish to make this your part-time career in the future.

What do graphic designers do?

Taking a career in graphic design is an exciting way of combining technology and art to pass a message. This is why, in the 21st century, graphic designers are in high demand from different industries that all need their help – to communicate with prospects and clients.

Graphic designers often work in the marketing & advertising niche, but you can find many others working in publishing, healthcare, and digital communications. These professionals help curate layouts and graphics for various products such as websites, books, user manuals, etc.

When choosing a good designer, a lot is taken into consideration as they must have extensive knowledge of certain aspects such as color psychology, image construction, font types, among other forms of artistic principles. In most cases, graphic designers use computer design programs to bring their imaginations to life.

There are also many approaches that one can take as a graphic designer: they can either sketch new designs or incorporate existing brand details to come up with an innovative design that appeals well to the brand’s image and target audience.

To become a graphic designer, you may also need to learn a few skills and have qualifications such as:

Technical skills 

• Branding
  
• Digital media
  
• Drawing and sketching
  
• Printmaking
  
• Typography.
  
• Understanding of audience targeting
  
• Computerized sketching abilities
  
• Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Graphics Suite, and many more.
  

Other skills

• Effective communication
  
• Creativity and innovation
  
• Teamwork
  
• Time management
  
• Analytical skills
  
• Research skills
  
• Presentation skills

Understanding the workplace of a graphic designer

As a graphic designer, you have the opportunity to work in one of three work environments. Working as a part-time graphic designer is solely dependent on the option you choose. They include:

1. Working as an in-house graphic designer

As an in-house graphic designer, you are an employee of a firm that deals with a particular brand or related brands. In this case, graphic designers tend to be generalists who can handle the same company’s different creative needs.

Advantages of in-house graphic designing

• You get the perks of working in a traditional work environment: employee benefits, etc.
  
• A stable and steady paycheck
  
• Potential for promotions

Drawbacks of working as an in-house graphic designer

•  More rules, meaning that you will feel a bit restricted in your imagination. You can come up with new ideas but still adhering to brand guidelines.
  
• There is more communication, meaning you will most likely have to justify much of your work to your team and other non-designers
  
• As a designer, you need to be in an environment that encourages creativity. However, you may get employed in one that wasn’t built with the designers in mind. 

2. Working as an agency graphic designer

Graphic designing in an agency typically means that you’ll be coming alongside other like-minded individuals, getting the work done for an assortment of clients. The assignments often tend to be short-term or on a contractual basis. You’ll have the chance to bring out your creative side, but still, you may have to stick to certain company values and principles.

Advantages of working at an agency as a graphic designer

• You’ll work with other like-minded people, meaning there a higher expectation of design excellence.
  
• Diverse opportunities to advance your design skills
  
• Faster communication and understanding than when working with non-designers
  
• The daily work is within the realm of graphic designing – non-design tasks are rare, so you won’t be tasked with doing what you aren’t already able to.

Disadvantages of working at an agency as a graphic designer

• Less to no job security – agencies mostly hire design staff to match the projects or contracts that they have.
  
• You may get subjected to rigorous working. The settings of an agency are fast-paced. This means that you may have to occasionally work through the night to beat deadlines.

3. Working as a freelance graphic designer

The digital world has opened many opportunities for many people. Today, you can perfectly run a successful career without stepping outside of your home. Freelancing is one such way, and it is quite flexible that you can either work full-time or part-time.

Freelance graphic designers are responsible for more than just the design work itself. They are tasked with marketing their services to potential clients, maintaining client relations, bookkeeping, invoicing, etc. Such a role calls for more than just the technical skills of a graphic designer. Self-discipline and dedication are the two most important things to consider.

Advantages of working as a freelance graphic designer

• Flexibility to work from anywhere, as long as there is internet connectivity
  
• You have the creative freedom and flexibility to work on the projects that you want and inspire you.
  
• You can tailor your working schedule depending on your everyday lifestyle. This can help you to work as a graphic designer part-time while still keeping your day time job.

Disadvantages of freelancing

• Working in solitude. You won’t have coworkers, as you’ll be handling all the work by yourself.
  
• Apart from handling the projects by yourself, you also have to do the hunting and bidding for work; projects will not just land on your desk.
  
• The pay is quite unreliable and varies from month to month, the workflow, etc.

As you can see, working as a freelancer has a lot of other perks that make it appealing to many digital-savvy designers. Apart from the freedom that comes with it, one has the option to make this a part-time job while keeping their main or day jobs.

However, there are so many fields in the graphic design world that you can pursue that might not go so well with a part-time worker. For a part-time job, you need to handle tasks that may not eat up your time but still making you that extra cash.

To make it easier for you, we have compiled a list of nine career fields you can focus on if you wish to work part-time as a graphic designer:

9 graphic design jobs you can do part-time

1. Multimedia animator or artist

A multimedia designer makes use of art, sound, and technical design skills to come up with videos or animated images. They design complex graphics and animation by using computer or modeling programs. There is the aspect of story development and the visual impacts that the content will have.

Moreover, such professionals are tasked with creating sketches, plans, drawings, scale models, etc. They also design the props used on set, among other tasks such as directing the set assistants regarding design interpretations and other technical production matters.

As more brands and companies continue to increase their online video presence, the demand for graphic designers with a knack for motion graphics or animation skills will continue to soar. If you have the imagination and creativity needed to develop new concepts and ideas, then this route is for you to take.

2. Creative director

A creative director helps in coming up with the creative vision of a project. These professionals ensure that the overall aesthetic and cohesive look of the final results are in line with the initial goals and plans. A creative director will be in charge of a creative team that often consists of copywriters, graphic designers, artists, photographers, etc.

A creative director’s work is to ensure that all the team members are working together in harmony to deliver the project within the stipulated time and to the client’s satisfaction. Moreover, creative directors may also be tasked to handle the budgeting of a project.

Besides having advanced knowledge in graphic design, creative directors should also portray leadership and good management skills.

Being a creative or art director mostly entails supervisory work, meaning you may not have to do all the heavy lifting yourself. This gives you the freedom to have this as a part-time career, which you can easily manage, as long as you plan your time accordingly.

3. Web designer

Web designers play a vital role in web development. They help in creating the layouts and graphics for the website pages. Besides that, web designers are also tasked with the navigation design and structure of a website.

Thanks to their extensive knowledge of graphics and color psychology, graphic designers are better positioned to make decisions regarding the type of content that’s best placed on the website, such as the graphics, navigation buttons, etc. They also ensure that there is continuity from one website page to the next.

To remain relevant and competitive in today’s digital world, all businesses are required to have a functional website. This means that the work of a web designer won’t go obsolete any time soon. As the need for web designers continues to be in high demand, so should you also take advantage of this opportunity and become one. Good knowledge of graphic design would be necessary to land your clients, more so if you’re working part-time.

4. Logo designer

If you are planning on opening a business today, the first thing to do would be to consider its branding. The key thing that comes to mind is the main symbol, or visual representation, that consumers and other people would use to identify your company. This is the sole purpose of a logo.

In layman’s terms, a logo is a graphically sketched symbol arranged in a unique way with a distinct shape, design, and colors that best represent a company. It’s not just a business that might require a logo – organizations, products, services, and agencies might also need a unique brand identity. Companies continue to spend lots of money on updating and implementing new logos. This is mostly done to remain relevant to their cause and to appear modern and innovative.

Logo creation doesn’t need to take you days to come up with a working concept. All that this career path demands is your creativity and keeping up with modern design trends and patterns. This means that you can work on it during your free (personal) time after your day job.

5. Brand Identity Designer

A brand identity designer has a more intricate position than logo creation. Even though logos are used as the ultimate visual representation of a brand, it is often more than just that. A company’s brand identity can be integrated into all its elements and materials such as media advertising, promotions, business cards, stationery, etc.

All these can be curated with a similar touch and feel. Brand identity design plays a key role in customer retention, as they can now identify with the brand. This can act as the strongest marketing tool for a company as its values, and strategic vision becomes a consistent image that consumers can become familiar with.

Although many companies prefer to maintain consistency in achieving their company goals, this may not be a regular job that requires an in-house graphic designer. Instead, most of these companies outsource the work either to an agency or a freelancer to help them create suitable brand designs for the images they wish to convey.

6. Photo editing/ photoshop artist

It will be wrong to leave out photo editing as one of the careers you can do part-time with a degree in graphic design. As part of your training as a graphic designer, one of the things that you will work with is photo editing software. Such tools enable a photoshop artist to crop, manipulate, or color-correct the photos.

As the use of social media continues to increase each passing day, the need for quality and unique images to be posted by both individuals and brands continues to rise. Furthermore, some companies depend on taking high-quality industrial photos that ought to be well-edited before being published on their platforms.

As you can imagine, there are many careers that proficiency in photo editing techniques can get you. Moreover, this is something that you can do for only a few hours or even minutes a day, enabling you to make a little cash on the side.

7. Layout artist

Did you ever wonder why you might find a particular magazine easy to read while you find another not pleasing enough? Well, that is all the work of a layout artist. Such an individual designs the structure and layout of text and images in a format that is aesthetically pleasing for print media. They include flyers, brochures, magazines, posters, CD booklets, etc.

One of the main roles of a layout artist is to ensure that the images and text are well arranged in a way that is pleasing to the reader’s eyes, directing them in the right flow. Even though the majority of opportunities for layout artists are found in public relations firms, advertising agencies, or magazines, there is still a strong demand for freelance layout artists.

8. E-mail marketing designer

With many brands having the opportunity to reach out to a larger target audience, more and better ways of reaching out to them are being tried out every other day. However, email marketing still remains one of the most successful marketing and outreach methods to potential and current customers. Companies have the opportunity to talk directly with their clients through curated lists and customized messaging.

However, to reap the benefits of this marketing method, you need to design a good converting copy. To ensure that a brand’s identity is well-conveyed through their e-mail marketing campaigns, many companies prefer to get a graphic designer that is most conversant with creating e-mail marketing copy.

Luckily, this is one job that you can easily do part-time without spending too much time on it, as long as you have a penchant for digital trends and best practices.

9. Trainer / Lecturer

This is probably one of the last things you would expect to have seen on this list, right? Well, becoming a trainer or teacher after getting your accreditations as a graphic designer is one of the best career paths that one can take and work part-time.

Sharing the knowledge that you have with others is an excellent way of giving back to society while still making some money off it. You can decide to become a tutor, meaning that you can train upcoming graphic designers through tutorials or providing them online materials. You can also lecture at a local school, either virtually or physically, soon after getting off your day job.

Conclusion

As you can see from this post, the graphic design world is so versatile that your imagination can take you almost anywhere. There are many career paths that you can take, working either in-house or as a freelancer. If you’re looking to progress your career while still working on your day job, you can check out some of these graphic design jobs that you can work part-time. Happy designing!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Must a graphic designer know how to draw?
A: Now that computer-based tools are available, the ability to draw is not as important as a good sense of design. This means that you don’t necessarily have to be good at drawing or making sketches on paper to become a graphic designer. However, knowing how to draw or sketch could be an added advantage to a graphic designer, more so if you are planning on specializing in fields such as illustration.

Q: What do I need to become a graphic designer?
A: To become a successful graphic designer, you may need to combine technical and practical skills with an artistic and creative approach. This is also an ongoing exploration, so the learning of graphic design is a never-ending process. Did you know that you can easily become a graphic designer without having any formal education?

Q: How long does one take to become a graphic designer?
A: Graphic design basically depends on how creative you are and how fast you grasp the workings of the CADs (computer-aided design software). You can go for a short certificate or diploma course that can take you at most two years or a degree course that will go for at least four academic years. To improve your chances of employment at top positions and companies, you can go for higher learning, such as taking a master’s course.

Q: Are graphic designers’ skills and job responsibilities the same across the board?
A: In general, there are basic skills that are necessary to become a graphic designer. Some of them, such as understanding color psychology and using CADs, are applicable across all boards. However, some fields are generally different from each other, and once you specialize in one area, you may not interact with the works of another specialization in your career.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-graphic-design/9-best-graphic-designing-part-time-jobs/