Ever wondered what a career in graphic design would be like? Thinking of studying a postgraduate graphic design course but don’t know where to start? Read on to discover more about the different career options open to graphic designers and what is required from candidates who want to study graphic design at postgraduate level.

Design permeates our world

All around us are examples of design - in publications, websites, shops, buildings and the wider environment. Almost everything you see and touch on a daily basis has been designed by someone – the clothes you put on this morning, the magazine you’re reading, the website you’ve just logged onto, the chair you’re sitting on, or the bar you went to last night.

But what exactly is graphic design and what kind of career opportunities can training as a graphic designer prepare you for?

Essentially, graphic design is about how people communicate visually through text and images. It is traditionally applied to flat surfaces and static media like books, magazines and brochures, but since the explosion of the new media, graphic designers find themselves working with an array of electronic media as well.

Specialisms cover areas such as typography, print, illustration, moving image, interactive media, advertising and information design. Traditionally, graphic designers have worked mainly in areas such as newspapers and magazines, advertising and product packaging. But a growing number are working in fields such as journalism, television, films, curation, architecture, screen printing, performance and even sound arts.

The past 10 years has seen the convergence of different kinds of media, so that it is increasingly hard to slot graphic design into clearly defined categories. Branded objects and information environments are all now part of the rich landscape of the graphic designer. We are also seeing designers on boards of major companies where their ability to think laterally is invaluable in findings novel solutions to problems.

What will I learn from studying a postgraduate graphic design course?

Graphic design is not just about skills such as producing leaflets, posters or magazines; it’s also about a particular way of thinking – particularly at postgraduate level. Frances Sorrell (designer and co-chair of The Sorrell Foundation - a charity that inspires creativity among young people) describes graphic designers as “magpies” - gathering ideas and influences, with the communications as the glue that holds it all together.

The core skill that all graphic designers possess is the ability to create visual solutions to problems. But as well as mastering technical skills, graphic designers have to understand the needs of businesses, organisations and individuals. This involves a broader palette of skills and knowledge.

Graphic designers, for instance, need an awareness of human behaviour and what motivates people to action. It is important to have a basic understanding of sociology, psychology, economics, physics, ergonomics, materials science and many other areas, together with an insatiable curiosity.

Do I have to have a first degree in design?

“A background in an area seemingly unrelated to design can be extremely useful,” says Mike Bradshaw, Dean of the School of Graphic Design at London College of Communication (part of University of the Arts London). “We have postgraduate students come here to study design having had careers in areas like finance or health. Some want to change direction in their career; others are already working in design-related jobs within organisations and want to hone their skills. Being able to bring a wider range of skills and experience to the job of graphic designer is a huge asset.”

Postgraduate graphic design courses vary from institution to institution. But the core of most courses – at whatever level – is enabling students to develop a visual language and a critical approach to design.

“We expect students to challenge design orthodoxy. Learning to question convention and explore alternatives to traditional approaches is at the heart of what we do,” says Mike Bradshaw. “Our courses are designed to teach people to visualise ideas and the confidence to express them through images. Our future alumni will need to be versatile, with the capacity to understand the expansion of design into all aspects of our culture and society. They might be strategists, writers, image innovators, commentators or practitioners of a range of design-related activities that have only emerged in the last decade.”

What graphic design courses are available?

The value of a postgraduate course is that it enables a student to delve deeper into the subject and specialise. New postgraduate courses at London College of Communication include a MDes for Innovation and Creativity in Industry, run in collaboration with Cranfield University, plus MAs in Graphic Moving Image, Branding and Identity, Information Environments and Design Writing Criticism. For the MA Branding and Identity, for instance, students will develop a deeper understanding of marketing, advertising, branding and graphic design, as well as honing their practical design skills.

Most postgraduate design courses that come under the broad panoply of “graphic design” are not just about honing skills, however. They include research, critical awareness, intellectual engagement and the development of a deeper understanding of the conceptual elements of design.

Graphic design is not just about designing logos and creating layouts for publications.
At the heart of graphic design education is learning a set of behaviours – how to solve problems – and learning to think in a different way.