Graphic design careers: How to navigate a developing industry

Graphic design is an exciting and fast-evolving career path filled with rewarding opportunities. Whether you're launching a freelance business, upskilling in your field, or transitioning into a new design role, emerging tools, sustainable practices, and industry challenges are actively shaping the field of visual communication.

As design trends shift and technology advances, careers in the graphic design industry are becoming more complex. To stand out and boost your practice in a visually cluttered world, designers must have a unique voice with the essential skills and resilience to cut through the noise.

So, what does this mean for graphic design careers, and how can you make a positive impact in your roles? Let's explore a list of graphic design careers and the skills required to master a successful design career today.

Art director: Lead the creative vision, overseeing typography, colour, layout, and imagery. Often leads teams of designers, illustrators, and photographers.

Creative director: Shape a brand's creative vision and strategy, ensuring the design, messaging, and brand identity align with a brand's goal.

Emerging roles in graphic design

XD designer: Creates immersive experiences, interactive projects, installations, and exhibitions.

Sustainable brand identity designer: Develops visual identities for brands with a focus on ethical production, including logos, colour palettes, typography, and brand guidelines. Sustainable graphic design is increasingly in demand, from conscious messaging and the use of eco-friendly inks to collaborating with ethical brands on their visual identities.

Motion graphics designer: Develops motion typography, animations and video graphics.

3D designer: Specialises in 3D modelling for branding, gaming, or product visualisation.

Web designer: Designs website visuals and interfaces.

UI/UX designer: Creates intuitive, user-friendly interfaces for digital products like websites, mobile apps, and software.

Traditional roles

Graphic designer: Craft visual content for print, digital, and marketing materials that shape brand identities.

Packaging designer: Design packaging with functionality and aesthetics in mind.

Illustrator: Specialises in artwork for books, ads, packaging, and digital media, working with both traditional and digital tools.

Typographer: Specialises in creating and arranging typefaces to enhance readability, convey meaning, and evoke emotion. They may design custom fonts or work with existing typefaces to create unique designs.

Advertising designer: Create visual concepts and designs for advertisements across various mediums, including print, digital, outdoor and broadcast. They collaborate with copywriters and marketers to develop compelling ad campaigns.

Print designer: Develop posters, brochures, magazines, and business materials.

The future of graphic design careers

With an industry that is full of noise and rapidly shifting to adapt to emerging AI technologies, it's challenging to predict what graphic design will look like in the next 10 years. However, what is evident is that the world needs meaningful makers, creatives and designers who can make a real impact on people and the planet.

AI tools in graphic design

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising design processes. From automating repetitive tasks like organising data and formatting, AI is making its way into the roles of many graphic designers. The industry is questioning the impact that AI is having and what the future looks like with this technology.

Sustainable graphic design

The design industry is seeking purpose-driven creative thinkers who can respond to challenges and offer something unique, from the products and messaging they design to the brand practices they follow and the materials they use. Designers are beginning to explore ideas around environment, community building, engagement and social responsibility to create a positive impact.

Dissolved disciplines in graphic design

A career in graphic design is becoming less 'restricted', as the boundaries between different disciplines begin to blur into one another. As graphic designers, there are possibilities of navigating across territories as well as specialising within them. That makes having multiple skills across disciplines more competitive and flexible.

What does your next career step in design look like?

As the industry continues to evolve with new technologies, sustainability demands, and creative trends, there's never been a better time to upskill in your graphic design career.  By staying adaptable, embracing innovation and staying curious across industry disciplines, you can thrive in your career.

Whether you need to learn a new skill, define your unique identity or work on updating your graphic design portfolio, you can make a lasting impact in your next role.