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A Career Overview
Who Are the People in the Business?
The people in this business are usually very creative and innovative. They see things differently. They are instinctive, rebellious and independent. You would be hard pressed to find any other group of people more interesting and genuinely fun to be around and spend your workday with.
What Kinds of Things Do They Do?
This depends totally on what kind of business they work for...an advertising agency, a graphic design firm or a design position in a corporation, newspaper or broadcasting facility like a TV station. Generally, the work will involve designing company logos and corporate identity programs, designing newspaper ads, magazine ads, company brochures, direct mail pieces, outdoor billboards, posters, package design, web page design, TV commercials and the like.
Where Do They Work?
As stated above, the normal places of employment would be an advertising agency, a graphic design firm, or a marketing communications design position within a larger corporation. Some other related employers would be a newspaper, magazine, commercial printer, service bureau, a Television station or an outdoor advertising company. The positions and companies will vary depending on the design concentration. Many people start their own freelance business after working for a traditional employer for a few years.
Where Are the Jobs?
The larger advertising agencies will be located in major consumer and industrial markets like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and the like. Some of the larger agencies also have branch offices in many cities. Medium-size markets like Charlotte continue to grow and present the graduate with many possibilities for employment in ad agencies, graphic design firms and other companies who are always on the lookout for conceptual thinkers and dependable, motivated employee
Additional Resources
AIGA, the professional association for design, offers several other useful resources regarding careers in advertising and graphic design.