Graphic Designer
The generalist
Design Careers · CAREERS
The graphic designer is the profession's all-rounder: logos one week, posters the next, a brochure, a social campaign, a sign system after that. The title covers anyone who communicates visually across print and screen, and it remains the most common entry point into the field.
Generalists are valued for range and adaptability. If you are not yet sure which specialty fits you, this is the career that lets you try them all — and every other career on this page is, at root, a graphic designer who went deep on one thing.
Where they work
- In-house teams
- Design studios
- Agencies
- Nonprofits and universities
- Freelance
Skills
- Typography and layout
- Logo and identity basics
- Print production and prepress
- Image editing and retouching
- Presentation and client communication
- Working across print, screen, and environment
Tools
- Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop
- Figma
- Canva for clients
- Sketchbooks
Typical projects
- Posters and brochures
- Social graphics
- Logos for small clients
- Reports and presentations
Career path
- Junior Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Senior Designer
- Art Director or Creative Director
Portfolio expectations
- 6–10 varied projects
- Strong typography and layout
- Process sketches for 2–3 projects
- Both print and screen work