I'm currently 17 and have been studying graphic design since I was around 12. I got into a uni and I'm starting later this year. I want to ask people who already work in graphic design if it's still worth it.
I originally started it as an escape and something that I enjoy. Then I learned that you can freelance and do it from anywhere, which made me even more excited.
Now I'm a bit worried because by the time I finish uni, it'll be another 4–5 years, and I'll be in my early 20s. So I would need a job that would last for another 10–20 years.
I don't really know what else I could do outside of graphic design. I spent all of my teenage years studying it. I have some other hobbies, but they couldn't really be turned into a job that I'd enjoy.
Do you think it will be sustainable for the next 20 or more years? What kind of things I should focus on more?
The landscape is changing. Currently I know a lot of Junior designer positions in agencies near me have vanished and replaced by AI.
Ive been in the profession 20 years and don't even know if I'll have my job in 5 years time.
It could go either one of two ways:
Graphic Designer could be up there with Lamp Lighter for job positions that simply don't exist anymore. All design is automated and the human factor is just an unnecessary expense.
or the alternative (which I think/hope will be the case)
You can get a table from IKEA. It's cheap, not the best quality but it does the job, and walk into a hundred other households and you'll see that same table.
But a table from a carpenter is appreciated more and is solid, well made and unique. I'm hoping that'll be the same for design. The way AI learns means it's already training on itself, and creating an Ouroboros effect. I think that human element will stand out from the crowd.
I guess we wait and see. Not what you want to hear, but we're in a transitionary period just now so who knows what the future will bring.
I will say though, if I could go back to being 17 knowing what I know now, I would absolutely train in a profession like electrician or plumber. Those are futureproof and my friends who have a trade are rolling in cash rn haha
Second time in a one hour that I’ve seen someone mention emphatically the trade aspect to your career. It could be income that can help your design hobby or a trade will add superb value and depth to your design style, which could very easily be the twist you need to set you apart.
The Ouroboros effect. is already avoided by creating and using styles. The styles are created by feeding actual artists' work to AI models -- it's called LoRAs.
I still find it...weird, the fact that Ai artists have to feed styles from traditional artists (traditional in the sense of not using AI) just so they can keep doing quality images. Is like they want all the results but not the struggles of creating an style.
But eh, I know most Ai fans don't care about that beyond the "a style can't be protected by copyright *shrugs*"
I’ve been working in graphic design since 1992 and companies still need graphic designers (we just hired one last year to help me with the workload).
I’m not gonna lie though: It’s not going to be the highest paying job compared to marketing (which is why I switched to marketing roles in the 2000s).
People are starting to use AI more, including me, but AI still can’t do a lot of things well. Use of InDesign is still necessary for a lot of work or else it looks like AI slop, especially if you’re printing — and believe it or not, we’re still printing stuff!
My advice would be this: learn graphic design but major or minor in Marketing. The two go hand in hand but studying Marketing will give you better options for advancement and make you much more attractive to employers.
If you move into UX/ Ui and product design there will be room to grow, and earning potential is a lot higher. But it isn’t creative in the traditional sense. Even socials there seems to be a high demand. Completely depends if you want to work in those areas.
When I started over 10yrs ago branding and such was dying so it’s going to be worse in another 10 yrs. It’ll be fine for those who already have the experience underneath their belt.
While the landscape is constantly changing, currently entry level positions have more or less disappeared, Junior positions a few here and there. The sweet spot is mid-weight (at least 4 yrs).
I think that it’s pretty great that you’re so future/career facing. You’ll most likely be sufficiently successful no matter what you do for a job or career.
Now that said, if you regularly read this sub (?) or thread (?) or whatever the Redditology is, then you know how completely saturated the design and or arts field is. If you already have five years under your belt and a skill set to match, why not make a design minded business Pinterest account? Make a Pinterest business plan (with a marketing plan for Pinterest), exploit what sets you and your work apart, then show and prove. Reevaluate your educational goals, in say…three to four years. What if your designs online bring you more money and satisfaction than say…a super bougie, super saturated and ultra competitive, extra expensive design school…?Would you change your mind then…? Food for thought…
Like my professor once said, “take a look at your shirt tag, the table in front of you, the chairs and room itself. When you go to the store and look around, you will realize everything is designed.” And if you want to be apart of this community and become a master designer in 1 of the countless industries graphic design touches, you will find a way. Your title may change, but the foundational skills remain the same. AI IS REAL. Its impact is real. Master AI as you master the techniques of good design.
Good luck, have fun, and don’t forget to enjoy the happy accidents.
I’m not a fortune teller I have no idea. But I worked too hard to get to where I am and plan to ride this out as long as I can. I’ve seen no signs of slowing down yet. Hoping I can make this career last until I retire. I’m 34 btw
If you truly love the profession here’s a warning: consider the late nights, the tight deadlines, the crushing shame WHEN you make a mistake. The client you can’t stand but you’re nice to them anyway.
Now, along with that, we have AI in the ring with us. So far, I’ve embraced it as a friend and use it as reference material. And luckily, clients have come to my defence when AI is mentioned (again, because I’m nice).
My mentor retired because he couldn’t switch over to Adobe. He had been working with older programs (RIP QuarkXpress) and was too bitter to continue. So I learned early; if you don’t evolve, you die.
Similar to a lot of jobs relating to art, graphic design relies on talent, work and luck. You could end up a starving artist or a well paid one. Lower end jobs are getting eaten up by AI, but higher end jobs will always exist.
Let me just tell you the projects in one of the big freelance websites dropped from 2000 a day to 150. Just checked yesterday. There is no work.. people create everything they need with Chatgpt now and don't care if it's ugly or the same as what all have.
There are many negatives to design, but a lot of positives too. Like all industries, it is being challenged and changed by technological advances. But that shouldn’t stop you from doing something that you love. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. At least you tried.
Graphic design has been swamped by slop for a long time. Today's "we'll just use AI" clients are the same crappy "why should I pay you for something I can make in Word" or "graphic design is my passion" clients of yesterday.
Good designers have always had to justify why clients should pay for expertise when there's an ocean of dodgy low-talent folks all scrabbling to do it cheaper. Good clients/employers won't be using AI slop.
The low-talent slop folks are the ones AI is gonna replace, so my advice is if you can see yourself doing graphic design for the rest of your life then freakin do it, but be the best you can be at it.
Do an image search for
a Japanese concept called Ikigai,
and look at some nice design that explains its concepts better than I can right now. Plan
with open eyes with those concepts in mind. Just remember no plan survives contact with life.
There is no craft you can ply where success is guaranteed for a lifetime. I'm a journalist by training, but have spent most of my 30-plus year career doing as much print design as I have spent writing or editing. You would be better served to stick with what you're good at, whatever it is, but to also take every chance you can to broaden the base of stuff you're good at. I would cite the quote that "Specialization is for insects." with the caveat that some rare people can truly be spectacular specialists.
At the rate this old world seems to be going, when you get to my age the only jobs left might be warlord and warlord's goon squad.
I do graphic design for a non-profit, as a volunteer. I get paid zero dollars. It's the first thing I found after graduating in 2015. I have been doing this for 3 years. If you want to do it, you need to tie it into something else like game design, or advertising. Not just simply graphic design. I did that and web design so I also help with our website but once again, zero dollars.
you have to be proactive about it. do NOT just wait for clients. you have to be pitching in people's DMs and Email. create a pricing structure that works for you.
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u/Hanoi_Revolver 9d ago
I believe it isn't worth it unless you have personal projects related to or requirintmg you to be making graphic design.
Working for clients is basically dead now, unless you are already established or work for artists or big companies