How to become a graphic designer

CONTENTS

1. What is graphic design?

2. Routes to becoming a graphic designer

3. Skills you’ll need

4. Finding work experience

5. How to get a job as a graphic designer

6. What it's like to be a graphic designer

What is graphic design?

Graphic design is about communicating ideas in a visual way. You might develop a brand logo, create icons for use on a website or app, and you may also prepare brochures for print. It could also include 3D or video work.

With the rapid advance of AI, designers will also have to use AI tools. AI can aid work such as web coding, workflow automation, and image generation and manipulation. But original thinking, understanding client needs, and creative problem-solving are skills unique to humans. AI needs skilled human direction. Designers will need to learn prompt engineering and also evaluate whether AI outputs meet the client brief, align with brand strategy, and fit the cultural context.

And as the human in this equation, you will still need to learn the fundamentals of what makes for good design.

Watch this video from our sister site Whatuni for a quick overview of what it takes to become a graphic designer, and what it’s like to study for a graphic design degree.

Routes to becoming a graphic designer

If you want to know how to become a graphic designer in the UK, there are various ways of gaining a qualification. You might want to learn more via an undergraduate graphic design degree or degree apprenticeship. If you already have relevant experience or an undergraduate degree in a similar field, a postgraduate degree might be the right path for you.

If you want to become a graphic designer without a degree, for school leavers in England and Wales, a degree apprenticeship might be the ideal route.

But if you don’t have a qualification, you may find it hard to get work in the sector. A survey by the Design Council in 2014 found that 62% of graphic designers held a degree. And as recently as 2025, the UK government estimates that 69% of the creative workforce hold a degree or equivalent qualification. So you’ll be up against other applicants who are more qualified than you. A qualification will also give you the opportunity to build your IT skills in key applications used in the sector.

Undergraduate degrees

A graphic design degree will take between three or four years to complete, depending on whether you do an art foundation year. A foundation year is a good option if you want to experiment with different techniques before specialising in graphic design. This route often requires fewer UCAS points.

Some graphic design degrees have a dual focus, such as illustration or creative computing.

Graphic design entry requirements

You will need a good portfolio of work, and typically between 96–130 UCAS points. Courses with an integrated foundation year start from 32 UCAS points. If you study an art or design-based subject, it can build your portfolio; studying an essay-based subject will also be helpful.

To find the top universities for graphic design in the UK, you could start by looking at our Art & Design subject table.

Degree apprenticeships

It may be possible to secure a graphic design apprenticeship within the creative and design sector. You’ll still study, but you’ll do so part-time while you work. These courses are employer-led and will usually take the same length of time to complete as an undergraduate degree.

Entry requirements are set by both the employer and the provider of the course. Your employer pays for the course, not you. You can search for apprenticeship vacancies via Find an apprenticeship.

Postgraduate degrees

Many universities offer postgraduate graphic design courses. A Master’s in Graphic Design will not only add to your skill set but may help build your networks in the industry. A postgraduate degree usually takes a year to complete full-time or two years part-time. An undergraduate degree in a related subject is usually a minimum entry requirement.

Skills you’ll need

If you’re applying to study a graphic design degree, you’ll need more than drawing skills. You’ll also need:

• Attention to detail.
• Creativity and imagination.
• Self-motivated.
• Great communication to explain and sell your ideas.
• Negotiation.
• Adaptability.
• Presentation skills.
• Effective networking skills.

Through your training, you’ll also develop the following.

• Creative design skills in areas such as typography, digital design, motion graphics, branding.
• Fluency in using tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Understanding of web and interactive design, such as design for 2D and 3D media, UI/UX, animation and evolving digital platforms.
• Familiarity with code such as html and CSS may be advantageous.

Finding work experience

Having some work experience can help your application for a graphic design course and at a job interview. This could be paid or unpaid and may involve you volunteering with an organisation. Some creative agencies offer internships. You might also consider opportunities that help you practise your presentation skills.

Try looking for work at:

• Large advertising agencies (you will need an outstanding portfolio).
• Charities looking for volunteer graphic designers, e.g. heritage organisations.
• Publishers.
• Big multimedia companies.

You could become a member of the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) or the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) while studying. This will help you build networks and connect you to potential job opportunities.

How to get a job as a graphic designer

Graphic designers are in high demand at creative agencies specialising in communication or brand identity. You might also find work with local government, packaging companies, magazines, publishers, or computer game companies.

What it's like to be a graphic designer

Depending on your role and specialisation, your tasks could include:

• Working with client requirements and coming up with ideas.
• Working out budgets and deadlines.
• Presenting your ideas.
• Preparing designs using specialist software.
• Responding to client feedback and gaining approval.
• Producing a final layout.
• Explaining requirements to other team members.
• Responding to design trends and developments in software tools.

Some graphic designers are freelance and work from home. Alternatively, you might work in a creative studio, office, or at your client’s base.

Graphic designer salary in the UK

As a graduate or junior graphic designer, you might expect to earn between £20,000 and £29,000. The salary for senior designers ranges between £35,000 and £70,000, while a design director may earn up to £90,000.

All these salary ranges are highly variable, depending on where you are in the UK and the size of the company or agency you work for.

Is a role as a graphic designer right for you?

A role as a graphic designer can be a very rewarding one, using your creative flair to bring your ideas to life for a range of clients. So, if you love being artistic and communicating with people, this could be the job for you.