10 Top Careers in Arts & Design: Jobs, Salaries & Education Info.

The sphere of art & design develops constantly, providing numerous career options starting from floral design to creating movie sets.

In fact, almost any creative person can find a great job in this field.

There are such options as a graphic designer and interior designer that combine creative and practical skills.

Also, there are such careers, for example, a fashion designer that mainly requires creativity.

Almost any sector of this sphere requires people that have art and design degrees and can provide them with some great niche roles.

As a professional in art and design, you should be able to use your skills that help your clients to communicate their messages.

Just keep in mind that this sphere is very competitive especially recently when technical skills became an important part of numerous creative jobs.

Working as a freelance artist, you can have more freedom and flexibility as you can organize your schedule on your own and select the projects you are interested in.

Nevertheless, it requires some great managing and business skills as you should be able to deal with your finances, marketing, and public relations on your own.

In this article, you can get info about a bunch of art & design careers.

Get info about job requirements, training, and possible income.

Here, you can find all the key info about the creative career you may be interested in.

Art Directors

Training Requirements

If you want to work as an art director, you need to obtain a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as well as 3-5 years of working experience in a related position.

It may include such options as a graphic designer, illustrator, copyeditor, or photographer.

There are lots of training options including such as a Bachelor of Design, a Bachelor of Visual Communications, a Bachelor in Multimedia Design and Development, a Bachelor in Design Management, a Bachelor in Graphic Design, or a Bachelor in Digital Media degree programs.

If you look for opportunities to advance your career, you can obtain a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

No specific license or certification is required for this career.

Main Responsibilities

The main responsibility of an art director is to create pictures that can catch the audience’s attention.

In other words, they should know how to tell a story and sell a product in nowadays visual culture.

These specialists determine which images and styles should be used in magazines, newspapers, packaging, movies, and TV productions.

Among the main employment options, there are publishing, advertising, public relations, and movie production.

As an art director, you need to be able to transform a simple concept into a believable picture and convey it to the team of artists in the clearest way.

Art directors work on developing not only the look but the style and feel in general of movies, shows, advertising campaigns, and even theatre performances.

Usually, art directors work with a whole bunch of various specialists including designers, photographers, writers, directors, editors, and other creative directors.

They make sure that everything is done properly and within the settled schedule and budget.

Working as an art director in publishing, you are going to oversee magazine and newspaper layouts, select book, magazines, and publications covers.

When it comes to advertising or public relations, the art director should convey visually the client’s concept with the help of media campaigns.

As a movie art director, you’ll be responsible for the style, design, and look of scene sets.

Craft and Fine Artists

Training Requirements

If you want to become a fine artist, you don’t need to have any specific training or degree.

However, many artists prefer to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or Master of Fine Arts degree.

Having a degree, you can create your portfolio easier.

Fine artists are also called craft artists.

If you want as an art teacher in a public school or secondary school, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree program and obtain a teaching certificate

Main Responsibilities

It is easy to learn how to appreciate art but when it comes to art creation everything is much more difficult.

You need to have a real talent if you want to become a successful Fine or Craft Artist.

As a craft artist, you should be able to create various types of homemade art including glassware, pottery, and textiles.

Speaking of fine artists, they create works that first of all and often only have an aesthetic significance.

Painters, sculptors, illustrators are all fine artists.

Craft artists and fine artists use various tools, methods, and technics even such as knitting, weaving, sewing, glass blowing, painting, drawing, sculpting.

Also, they can invent some new forms of artistic creation.

All professional craft and fine artists have portfolios as it gives them an opportunity to show their works and attract new clients or employers.

You can see various works created by craft artists and fine artists at such places as commercial or non-profit art galleries, museums, corporate collections, or even private homes.

Career Advancement Opportunities

In most cases, working in this sphere, people start working as freelancers while combining it with some full-time job.

If they are talented and lucky enough, the day may come when their artistic income will be enough for living.

Fashion Designers

Training Requirements

To become a fashion designer, it’s enough to have a high-school diploma or its equivalent.

However, most professional fashion designers have an Associate degree in fashion design or a Bachelor of Fashion Design, Bachelor in Fashion Marketing, a Bachelor of Fashion Merchandising, a Bachelor in Fashion Marketing and Design, or any other similar degree.

To be able to enter the fashion industry as a fashion designer, you need to complete some internships or get some experience as an assistant designer.

It should be mentioned that you aren’t obliged to get a license or a certification to start working as a fashion designer.

Main Responsibilities

Fashion designers are responsible for the creation of clothing, footwear, and various accessories.

Also, they oversee the whole process of their creation.

Moreover, they should know the latest trends, stay updated and be able to understand customers’ needs.

Very often, these professionals work on whole lines of clothing, accessories, or footwear that have a specific theme or some common features.

Working on a project, a fashion designer makes sketches or use computer-aided design programs (CAD) to create designs.

After it, it is necessary to choose a fabric and make a prototype for every created piece.

As soon as a prototype is ready, it is presented to a creative director who approves it.

After a prototype is approved, the production process starts and the companies sell a final product to the public.

Career Advancement Opportunities

To be able to get a better career option as a fashion designer, you need to start as an assisting designer and after obtaining a certain amount of experience, you can advance your career.

If you are experienced enough you can obtain such positions as a chief designer, design department head, creative director, or any other supervisory position.

There is even a certain point when you can start your own company or sell your designs in your own retail store.

Floral Designers

Training Requirements

To start working as a floral designer, you need to have a high-school diploma or GED.

If you want to get some training, in most cases it can be obtained on your job.

Also, there are floral design and floriculture training programs that are offered by private floral schools, vocational schools, and community colleges.

After completing one of these programs, you can obtain a certificate or a diploma.

Among the available degrees, there is an Associate of Floral Design and Bachelor of Floral Design.

Moreover, you can become a certified floral designer after passing a certification exam the American Institute of Floral Designers.

Just keep in mind that it is not an obligatory requirement.

Main Responsibilities

The main responsibility of a floral designer is a creation of various floral arrangements that are used for different events and occasions such as a wedding or a birthday.

As you floral designer, you should know how ta arrange properly live, dried, and silk flowers in order to make a beautiful flower composition that can be used as a decoration.

Also, these professionals need to have excellent knowledge about flowers including such points as appropriate seasons, sizes, colors, and required conditions of the environment.

Working as a floral designer, you can grow your own flowers or partnership with a wholesaler.

You need to have excellent communication skills as you are going to meet with your clients constantly.

Some of your clients may even ask you for a piece of advice and recommendations about flowers, their colors, and arrangement specifications.

Also, you need to know how to maintain your work properly and take care of flowers that include such points as watering, stripping leaves, and making flower food.

If you are not only a floral designer but also a shop owner, you need also to have good managing and business skills.

It is really important as you should be able to order supplies, decide on a budget, make schedules, and deal with taxes.

Career Advancement Opportunities

If you have formal training in this sphere, you can apply for such positions as a chief floral designer or supervisor position.

Also, there is always an opportunity to start your own store.

Essential Career Info

• Median Annual Salary in 2017 – $26 350
• Career Outlook in 2016 – 55 000 job offers
• Employment growth forecast – 266%
• Entry-level education requirements – High school diploma or equivalent
• Lowest 10% of salaries in 2017 – $19 080 per year
• Top 10% of salaries in 2017 – $39 540 per year

Graphic Designers

Training Requirements

To become a graphic designer, it is necessary to obtain a Bachelor of Graphic Design or any other related degree.

If you have a bachelor degree in any other unrelated sphere, you need to complete some technical training program in graphic design.

Also, if you want to get a job, you need to have a portfolio with your works.

In most cases, graphic designers should know how to use a whole variety of specific software and update their knowledge constantly.

You can do it on your own or apply for a specialized formal software training program.

To be able to work as a graphic designer, you don’t need any license or certification.

Main Responsibilities

Graphic designers are specialists that create logos, websites, and other brand images that are used by companies so people can recognize them.

To perform their duties properly, graphic designers should be able to do their work by hand or with the help of some specialized software.

Also, graphic designers may advise their clients on various aspects such as the best ways to reach the audience with the help of images, or how to build visually-based advertising and marketing campaigns.

As a graphic designer, you need to know how to use colors, images, texts, and layouts to present some ideas.

Keep in mind that graphic designers constantly work with art directors who review concepts, drafts, claim some changes, and decide on a final image.

If you want to work in this sphere and be a successful professional, you need to have some great knowledge of various modern technologies and be able to use them during your work.

Career Advancement Opportunities

After gaining some required experience, graphic designers can apply for such advanced career options as chief designer, art director, or creative director.

Industrial Designers

Training Requirements

To start your career as an Industrial designer, first of all, you need to obtain a Bachelor of Industrial Design, Architecture, or Engineering degree.

Just keep in mind that you need to get your training at a college or university that was accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Also, you need to have a portfolio if you want to find employment.

You can always continue your training by applying for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

To work in the sphere, you don’t need to obtain some specific certification or licensing.

Main Responsibilities

Industrial designers are creative specialists that work on new products design that can offer some great customer experience.

In fact, industrial designers work on a whole variety of projects from various things we use daily to some fun, interactive products.

They may create designs for home appliances, cars, toys, and so on.

One of the main responsibilities of an industrial designer is to make research.

It is an important aspect that helps a designer to reveal which features and elements can be useful for customers, how a product should look to interest the audience, and so on.

Industrial designers make sketches by hand or using some specific software so the concept can be transformed into a virtual model.

Also, they decide on materials that should be used for a product as well as the cost of these materials.

Industrial designers should constantly work with other professionals such as engineers, marketing specialists, and production experts, to make sure that a product is not only functional but also safe and appealing.

In most cases, each industrial designer has its own field of specialization like medical equipment, electronic products, or household products design.

Career Advancement Opportunities

If you are an industrial designer with lots of experience that work in a big company, you have an opportunity to advance your career and become a chief designer or design department head.

Also, you can work as a teacher in design schools, colleges, or universities.

One other great option is to start your own business.

Interior Designers

Training Requirements

Those individuals who want to start working as interior designers, first of all, should obtain a Bachelor of Interior Design degree or a degree in another field combined with classes in interior design.

Most schools have been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, or the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

Just make sure to choose the one that has accreditation.

In all states, you need to obtain a license to work as an interior designer however licensing requirements vary from state to state.

In some states, you need to pass the state-approved National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam so you can start working as a professional interior designer.

If you want you may obtain certification in various design specialties as well.

To apply for it, you need to address one of the professional and trade associations in your area.

Main Responsibilities

Interior designers decide on decoration choices in order to create a certain mood, tone, and attitude of some space.

As an interior designer, you can create designs for offices, homes, restaurants, shopping malls, and other spaces.

Usually, interior designers choose 1-2 types of spaces as their specialty.

To be able to become a successful interior designer, you should be able to communicate with your clients, understand and meet their goals.

Starting working on a project, interior designers create sketches of the space they are going to work with.

It can be both on hand or digital sketches.

Also, these professionals need to have a whole bunch of knowledge and skills so they can determine furnishings, lighting, wall coverings, flooring, and decorations that can help create a space’s mood.

Moreover, while working on a project, they need to make sure that everything is accessible, functional, and comfortable.

As soon as a project is completed, an interior designer needs to inspect everything and make sure that clients are satisfied with the final result.

It’s due to clients’ recommendations interior designers can find some work so it’s one of the most important aspects.

There are also sustainable designers who are responsible for such aspects as water-efficient strategies, air-quality improvement designs, and energy usage.

Also, they work on environmentally preferable products

In some cases, these specialists may obtain a certification of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council.

One other type of interior designer is the universal designer.

They are responsible for space renovation projects that aim to reorganize a space making it more comfortable and accessible especially for people with special needs.

Working as a kitchen and bath designer,  you’ll be responsible for such aspects as appliances, fixtures, plumbing,  cabinets, and electrical solutions for kitchen and bathroom spaces.

Lighting designers work on projects related to the lighting of homes, public and business spaces.

Closet designers are required when you need to maximize and organize your closet or storage space.

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

Training Requirements

There are lots of options on how you can get a career in the jewelry and precious stone and metal industry.

In most cases, people give preference to some long-term on-work training to school or college training programs.

Nevertheless, there are lots of people who apply for a 6-month or 1-year jeweler’s course offered at trade schools.

One other training option is a Bachelor of Jewelry Design or even a Master of Jewelry Design.

To be able to work in this sphere, you don’t need to obtain a license.

Main Responsibilities

Jewelers became an important part of our lives and lots of people address them for various occasions such as weddings, engagements, anniversaries and so on.

Working as a jeweler, you need to know how to design manufacture, sell, adjust, appraise and fix a whole variety of jewelry.

Also, these specialists work not only with gold and diamonds but with various stones and metals.

Starting working on a jewelry piece, a jeweler creates a design using some carved wax or special software.

After it, it is necessary to prepare a cast of the model.

While working on a piece itself, a jeweler uses a bunch of different tools such as soldering tools, small hand tools, and even lasers.

The last ones are used to solder something or to make some tiny engraving, and so on.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Working in manufacturing, jewelers can advance their career and start working as a master jeweler or head jeweler.

Those who work in stores and repair shops have an opportunity to apply for some management career or even open their own business.

Multimedia Artists and Animators

Training Requirements

To start working as a multimedia artist or an animator, you need to obtain a Bachelor of Computer Graphics, Art, Animation, or Graphic Design degree.

Also, you need to have a portfolio that contains your professional works that can show your skills.

Sometimes, having a good portfolio, you can find great employment even without a degree.

Also, such specialists may get some on-work training when they need to learn how to use some specific software used by a company.

To be able to work in this sphere, you don’t need to have a license or certification.

Main Responsibilities

If you are interested in creating visual effects for mobies, TV, mobile apps, and other media forms, a multimedia artist or animator career is a perfect option for you.

Multimedia artists and animators create illustrations with the help of pencil, paper, and special software.

Some companies may have their own specific software so working as a multimedia artist or animator, you’ll be obliged how to work with them after getting a job.

In most cases, multimedia artists and animators work in large teams that create the same piece such as a movie, a program, a game, or a show.

Also, these specialists work with head animators, game designers, directors, and even directly with clients.

Among the main responsibilities, there are storylines mapping and adjustments-making based on project requirements and feedback from other specialists and clients.

In most cases, multimedia artists and animators specialize in a certain field such as movie or game production and sometimes even in certain subfields like character or scenery design.

Set and Exhibit Designers

Training Requirements

If you are interested in a set designer or exhibit designer career, you need to complete a Bachelor of Set Design, Scenic Design, or Theater degree program that is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design or the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

To be able to work in this sphere, you aren’t obliged to obtain any specific licenses or certifications.

Main Responsibilities

Set designers and exhibit designers are professionals that help people transport their imagination to a different, time and place.

They create settings for movies, TV shows, plays, and exhibits.

Working on a project, set designers and exhibit designers start with reading a script to the project.

After that, they conduct research to understand what decorations can be used to create the required setting and mood.

Also, they should be able to understand audience preferences and create a setting that will be appealing and interesting.

Working on prototypes for sets and exhibits, in most cases set and exhibit designers use some special software.

Both these career options involve some close work, meeting, and consulting with clients and other team members such as directors, production staff, curators, other designers and so on.

It is an important aspect, as they need to create a design that meets the client’s needs and suits other elements of the whole image.

Also, they should be able to work within the settled budget and timeline.

However, sometimes they need to use their creativity and knowledge and create something on their own.

Speaking of exhibit designers, they are specialists who design spaces for various art and museum exhibits.

It means that they need to analyze space, decide on its design and make sure it is comfortable for people who visit an exhibit.