Career in Graphic Design

fred344

I'm thinking of a career in Graphic Design.

I've always been artistic and do it as a hobby. I've been working as a programmer for a consultancy for the last 7 years so have a strong technical background with client facing experience and I have played around with Photoshop and Illustrator a little over the years too.

My question is this. What is it really like to be a Graphic Designer?

What are the good days?
What are the bad?
What is the day to day?

You can read as many college course brochures as you like but you can't beat real experience, warts and all, so I hope you guys can help me.

Thanks

minikin

Do a search for graphic design jobs (rather than internships) on fas.ie, damn all out there unfortunately.

FlashD

There's loads of info. on this on Youtube and around the net where designers explain their day to day work. Just do a search.

Digitaljunkie

I came across this blog some time ago its worth a read, have a read of the image below. It's based on advertising and check the blog out. As far as GD is concerned you really have to love it ......


http://creativewannabes.blogspot.com/2011/11/advertising-told-in-infographics.html

fred344

Great. Thanks for the info.

p

There's quite a big difference between art & design, and that puts off many people. Art is about self-expression, and driving from within, whereas design is about solving problems creatively, but ultimately goal driven. Both are creative disciplines, but answering very different motivations.

If you're a programmer, then I'd try initially move into a web design company doing front-end codign HTML/CSS3 to get exposure to design and learn very useful skills. It'll be easiest for you to get into web design with your technical background. I used to do web design, and not do more UX stuff, but i'll answer your question in relation to web design:

What are the good days?
Doing something that you like and are challenged by.
What are the bad?
Dealing with clients, putting aside your ego and finding inspiration.
What is the day to day?
Desk work, mainly in Photoshop, designing sites, working with developers, sometimes doing some HTML & CSS depending on the project. Designing directions for projects, websites etc...

unreggd

Good thread

Is a degree generally required, or is a strong portfolio always the key factor ?

BostonB

In my experience a developer gets paid more than a Graphic Designer. If thats an issue.

FlashD

unreggd wrote: »

Good thread

Is a degree generally required, or is a strong portfolio always the key factor ?

From doing my own research across the net, a degree is not necessarily required but when you take into account that the industry is very competitive and you are up against Uni graduates who already have Ba Degrees and Masters, then the chances start to become slimmer....especially in today's job market.

I believe a strong portfolio is a key factor for any job.

Digitaljunkie

I think your right a strong portfolio is the key factor. A degree can help; to get in the door at an interview. Then its all down down to work experience in various areas.

p

unreggd wrote: »

Good thread
Is a degree generally required, or is a strong portfolio always the key factor ?

Degree not required, portfolio is key.

Having said that, a degree will give you a structured way to help you develop the skills needed to create a great portfolio.

unreggd

p wrote: »

Degree not required, portfolio is key.

Having said that, a degree will give you a structured way to help you develop the skills needed to create a great portfolio.

Yeah, that was my plan, but I'm kind of stuck in a rut now

Just finishin first year of a part time diploma, and I'm not happy with my portfolio. Our assignments are too specific, and there's zero emphasis on digital design skills

We dont feel like we're learning what we want/need, and its an expensive course. Also, they never added the degree year they said they would, so I'd have to do 2 years part time, then try advanced entry to DIT [full time only] or go abroad

So I was thinking of just doing specialised courses and learning design apps to expert level [in college, we learned the basics then were advised to do tutorials at home ¬¬]
Then keep developing my portfolio

BostonB

If the course isn't giving you the portfolio you want, work on it yourself. In particular, look at doing competitions, especially international ones. Rate yourself against other peoples portfolio's, on http://www.coroflot.com/ for example. Ireland is a small pool, theres a whole world of opportunity out there.

p

unreggd wrote: »

Just finishin first year of a part time diploma, and I'm not happy with my portfolio. Our assignments are too specific, and there's zero emphasis on digital design skills

We dont feel like we're learning what we want/need, and its an expensive course. Also, they never added the degree year they said they would, so I'd have to do 2 years part time, then try advanced entry to DIT [full time only] or go abroad

So I was thinking of just doing specialised courses and learning design apps to expert level [in college, we learned the basics then were advised to do tutorials at home ¬¬]
Then keep developing my portfolio

Sounds like a good plan. I wouldn't worry about not being taught digital skills as that's easier to self-teach once you've got a solid design skillset. If you know Photoshop backwards if you don't know design, you'll produce something awful. Also, sometimes exercises that you do in college only make sense years alter.

Do your own projects for charities, clubs, societies, community theatres etc... to build your portfolio and practice doing design in the real world.

Digitaljunkie

p wrote: »

Sounds like a good plan. I wouldn't worry about not being taught digital skills as that's easier to self-teach once you've got a solid design skillset. If you know Photoshop backwards if you don't know design, you'll produce something awful. Also, sometimes exercises that you do in college only make sense years alter.

Do your own projects for charities, clubs, societies, community theatres etc... to build your portfolio and practice doing design in the real world.

That's good solid advice their p. Hope the OP takes it on board. It's very common to be involved in a project years after college and the penny drops as to why you were doing so much mundane stuff while you were their.

FlashD

ruellesmith wrote: »

it is essential you do everything you can as early on as you can.

Can you be more specific, how do you mean?

padraig_croke

p wrote: »

There's quite a big difference between art & design, and that puts off many people. Art is about self-expression, and driving from within, whereas design is about solving problems creatively, but ultimately goal driven. Both are creative disciplines, but answering very different motivations.

If you're a programmer, then I'd try initially move into a web design company doing front-end codign HTML/CSS3 to get exposure to design and learn very useful skills. It'll be easiest for you to get into web design with your technical background. I used to do web design, and not do more UX stuff, but i'll answer your question in relation to web design:

What are the good days?
Doing something that you like and are challenged by.
What are the bad?
Dealing with clients, putting aside your ego and finding inspiration.
What is the day to day?
Desk work, mainly in Photoshop, designing sites, working with developers, sometimes doing some HTML & CSS depending on the project. Designing directions for projects, websites etc...

exactly. it drives me insane when people say, (and no offence Fred honestly i know you're just wondering about it) "im good at art and i can use photoshop". Graphic Design is a tough discipline like any other and requires so much of your dedication and hard work to clearly communicate and articulate successful work. photoshop and illustrator are just tools to work with. 80% of my work is in a notebook, or sketched or cut and paste. only when everything is solid do you need digital tools

Jason Todd

p wrote: »

There's quite a big difference between art & design, and that puts off many people. Art is about self-expression, and driving from within, whereas design is about solving problems creatively, but ultimately goal driven. Both are creative disciplines, but answering very different motivations.

If you're a programmer, then I'd try initially move into a web design company doing front-end codign HTML/CSS3 to get exposure to design and learn very useful skills. It'll be easiest for you to get into web design with your technical background. I used to do web design, and not do more UX stuff, but i'll answer your question in relation to web design:

What are the good days?
Doing something that you like and are challenged by.
What are the bad?
Dealing with clients, putting aside your ego and finding inspiration.
What is the day to day?
Desk work, mainly in Photoshop, designing sites, working with developers, sometimes doing some HTML & CSS depending on the project. Designing directions for projects, websites etc...

Great post. Have to agree. I'm a designer in a printers. Luckily my boss leaves me to it and I'm not just designing to a sort of 'quick-turnaround', 'cookie-cutter' type of situation. I did work in a place like that before.

What are the good days
Getting to work on something that you love and when a client comes in and says here's a small bit of info about us now I'll leave you to it. Hitting upon a nice new font

What are the bad?
When a client sits on your shoulder and asks for absolutely crazy combinations of colours, fonts etc. (and then expects it to be done quickly and cheaply) 'Designers' block', ridiculous deadlines.

What is the day to day?
Again, desk work. Layups in inDesign, bit of logo work in Illustrator here and there and Photoshop. Entertain clients here and there, proofing, proofreading, and meeting deadlines. In my job I occasionally help out with printing / finishing or assembly, it is nice to get a break from the screen every now and again!

madma

hi,

(sorry for the long post)

im looking at starting a career in graphic design and im looking for any advice.
the probelm is im worried that theres not much work out there and with my age (28) it may be too much of a big risk to start now

i have a diploma in media production which i did straight after the leaving cert. it was a 2 year course and it was good. 1 of the classes was a desktop publishing class and that was good, doing things like designing a brochure and different tasks but it was mainly an introduction

since then ive worked in admin/customer service jobs and i havent really settled into a certain area. ive also recently tried a marketing internship but that wasnt what i expected and it wasnt a good experience but i did get 3 months experience from it with some online marketing, email marketing with designng templates with images and different things.i also did some online research and a few other small things that maybe in relation to graphic design, like researching various different online advertising.

I applied to a graphic design company as they advertised an internship and it sounds good, so ill see if i can get an interview with them but i havent heard back yet.

ive looked at courses but cant see much, id be looking at evening courses but again would an internship be better?

in school and college i did art and enjoyed the desigin side to it although wasnt great at drawing, also did oil painting at a young age which was great. (just giving an artistic background)

if anyone has any advice, that be great, ive read the thread and found it helpful

thanks for anyone reading hope i havent bored anyone to death,

starlit

madma wrote: »

hi,

(sorry for the long post)

im looking at starting a career in graphic design and im looking for any advice.
the probelm is im worried that theres not much work out there and with my age (28) it may be too much of a big risk to start now

i have a diploma in media production which i did straight after the leaving cert. it was a 2 year course and it was good. 1 of the classes was a desktop publishing class and that was good, doing things like designing a brochure and different tasks but it was mainly an introduction

since then ive worked in admin/customer service jobs and i havent really settled into a certain area. ive also recently tried a marketing internship but that wasnt what i expected and it wasnt a good experience but i did get 3 months experience from it with some online marketing, email marketing with designng templates with images and different things.i also did some online research and a few other small things that maybe in relation to graphic design, like researching various different online advertising.

I applied to a graphic design company as they advertised an internship and it sounds good, so ill see if i can get an interview with them but i havent heard back yet.

ive looked at courses but cant see much, id be looking at evening courses but again would an internship be better?

in school and college i did art and enjoyed the desigin side to it although wasnt great at drawing, also did oil painting at a young age which was great. (just giving an artistic background)

if anyone has any advice, that be great, ive read the thread and found it helpful

thanks for anyone reading hope i havent bored anyone to death,

I have been looking into that direction for myself career wise though don't have a degree or major work experience in that area yet have done multimedia as a module in college got a taster for it and enjoyed it. I have been considering a Multimedia masters and do wonder myself are there jobs out there but even if there aren't enough jobs in graphic design there are plenty of other type of jobs you can get into with your background in online media and digital marketing stuff that can keep in line with interactive multimedia in particular. You've a good starting point though, done a media production course and online media. You designed brochures and things like that I be interested in that sort of thing too. The fact you say you into and good at desktop publishing is something you could pursue further.

An internship would be better. Have you done any web programming? Portfolio or anything like that might put you in a better position? I say if you go the internship road and get one in relation to graphic design jump at the chance of it and maybe later on do a night course if you feel it benefit you. You could always do an online distance course but a night course might be better if it means building up a portfolio of your work.

in school and college i did art and enjoyed the desigin side to it although wasnt great at drawing, also did oil painting at a young age which was great. (just giving an artistic background)

That's me in a nutshell almost! I did art for Junior cert and TY but not for LC cause I felt I wasn't good enough. Good with colour, design, eye for visual design and so on, very creative, artistic in a way and not bad at drawing but just not good enough! That's why I didn't pursue Multimedia as a degree and felt I do Business Admin/Information Systems Course that included Interactive Multimedia and a few other things I were interested in like the Programming/Web Design/development/IT/IS side of things too. I'm not bad at drawing just not good enough to go to an art college or something like that! In terms of storyboards and prototypes my drawing wouldn't be half bad! I paint as a hobby but don't get to do as much as I used to. Love acrylic painting! Always been quiet arty as a child and growing up but haven't done much painting since my teens/early 20's.

I think if you like it and enjoy it there are ways to get around it. I think by doing a course related to graphic design you can learn a lot and develop skills you never thought you might have or ever achieve. You will probably develop skills in relation to spacial relations which is important when it comes to any area of design not just being creative and arty. If you read a couple of other threads on here the one on UX development one good advice there.

Basing on my experience my interactive multimedia module from college I wasn't too bad at it but must say its not easy, you need to put a lot of time, effort and be patient with it. I liked it in third year and was great with the software and stuff and coming up with ideas for projects, flew through that part of the module.

When it came to fourth year it was a lot tougher, I did a CD project combination of design and programming but I ran away with my idea a bit and wasn't up to standard when I finished the project. I felt I could have done better. I knew the know how and how to do things was skilled on that part being creative and so on. Just that my idea just didn't turn out the way I wanted it too. If anything I go back to that day again and decide to have done something simple but a project no other student may have done or come up with rather than something that was different from other students projects. I spent too much time on the functionality that it caught me with my design that it wasn't enough to get to a high standard but I passed it but think I might have just gone off track.

The only bit of work experience I have related to it is a bit of freelance Design/online media/web stuff totally voluntary and as a favour really otherwise by career history is a bit mixed of office admin, IT and technical support but no programming or multimedia just a small bit mainly HTML and a bit of experience in sales.

Career wise you are on the right track I say if its what you want to pursue go for it if its something you have your heart set on and your gut is telling you to go for it just go for it you won't know unless you don't try. Best of luck with your career path. Hope you get the interview but you are coming from a good background enough to get you in the door of an interview i'd hope!

Maybe try a jobbridge internship if you are badly stuck and though not ideal might be the best option for you if you are only starting off in that career after other different jobs you have had. If you like it and love it as a career (loving what you do, liking it and being good at it is half the battle and wouldn't seem like work at all!) then don't give up on it especially if you haven't settled into any other career! Try it and dip into it if you can see if you see yourself going that path keep ploughing away, that is what dreams are made of just make it happen!

An internship or combination of a night course and internship while building up a portofilio is the best way to move forward I think. Best of both worlds and put you in a better position in getting interviews and hopefully a job!

Best of luck!

madma

doovdela wrote: »

I have been looking into that direction for myself career wise though don't have a degree or major work experience in that area yet have done multimedia as a module in college got a taster for it and enjoyed it. I have been considering a Multimedia masters and do wonder myself are there jobs out there but even if there aren't enough jobs in graphic design there are plenty of other type of jobs you can get into with your background in online media and digital marketing stuff that can keep in line with interactive multimedia in particular. You've a good starting point though, done a media production course and online media. You designed brochures and things like that I be interested in that sort of thing too. The fact you say you into and good at desktop publishing is something you could pursue further.

An internship would be better. Have you done any web programming? Portfolio or anything like that might put you in a better position? I say if you go the internship road and get one in relation to graphic design jump at the chance of it and maybe later on do a night course if you feel it benefit you. You could always do an online distance course but a night course might be better if it means building up a portfolio of your work.


That's me in a nutshell almost! I did art for Junior cert and TY but not for LC cause I felt I wasn't good enough. Good with colour, design, eye for visual design and so on, very creative, artistic in a way and not bad at drawing but just not good enough! That's why I didn't pursue Multimedia as a degree and felt I do Business Admin/Information Systems Course that included Interactive Multimedia and a few other things I were interested in like the Programming/Web Design/development/IT/IS side of things too. I'm not bad at drawing just not good enough to go to an art college or something like that! In terms of storyboards and prototypes my drawing wouldn't be half bad! I paint as a hobby but don't get to do as much as I used to. Love acrylic painting! Always been quiet arty as a child and growing up but haven't done much painting since my teens/early 20's.

I think if you like it and enjoy it there are ways to get around it. I think by doing a course related to graphic design you can learn a lot and develop skills you never thought you might have or ever achieve. You will probably develop skills in relation to spacial relations which is important when it comes to any area of design not just being creative and arty. If you read a couple of other threads on here the one on UX development one good advice there.

Basing on my experience my interactive multimedia module from college I wasn't too bad at it but must say its not easy, you need to put a lot of time, effort and be patient with it. I liked it in third year and was great with the software and stuff and coming up with ideas for projects, flew through that part of the module.

When it came to fourth year it was a lot tougher, I did a CD project combination of design and programming but I ran away with my idea a bit and wasn't up to standard when I finished the project. I felt I could have done better. I knew the know how and how to do things was skilled on that part being creative and so on. Just that my idea just didn't turn out the way I wanted it too. If anything I go back to that day again and decide to have done something simple but a project no other student may have done or come up with rather than something that was different from other students projects. I spent too much time on the functionality that it caught me with my design that it wasn't enough to get to a high standard but I passed it but think I might have just gone off track.

The only bit of work experience I have related to it is a bit of freelance Design/online media/web stuff totally voluntary and as a favour really otherwise by career history is a bit mixed of office admin, IT and technical support but no programming or multimedia just a small bit mainly HTML and a bit of experience in sales.

Career wise you are on the right track I say if its what you want to pursue go for it if its something you have your heart set on and your gut is telling you to go for it just go for it you won't know unless you don't try. Best of luck with your career path. Hope you get the interview but you are coming from a good background enough to get you in the door of an interview i'd hope!

Maybe try a jobbridge internship if you are badly stuck and though not ideal might be the best option for you if you are only starting off in that career after other different jobs you have had. If you like it and love it as a career (loving what you do, liking it and being good at it is half the battle and wouldn't seem like work at all!) then don't give up on it especially if you haven't settled into any other career! Try it and dip into it if you can see if you see yourself going that path keep ploughing away, that is what dreams are made of just make it happen!

An internship or combination of a night course and internship while building up a portofilio is the best way to move forward I think. Best of both worlds and put you in a better position in getting interviews and hopefully a job!

Best of luck!

cheers for the reply!

yeah thats exactly my thinking, that if i could get in on an internship i can then do an evening course on top of that. the graphic design company that i did apply for is on the jobbridge and its local and would ideal but its been a while since i applied and havent heard back. i did contatct them last week and they said they still have to get back to everyone that applied and id hear by the end of last week so im not sure, i dont want to contact them again as it may annoy them.

yeah thats the thing, i actually wish i had kept work i did back in college to add to a porfolio but sure that thought never crossed my mind and it was a long time ago now.

i had originally decided to do a Digital marketing course but after dipping into marketing for the short time it seems as if its a course to do if going into a full on marketing job. the courses are short like around 10-16 weeks to get the diploma and that in the evenings. there's even a bootcamp type thing that is 1 week long 9-5 and then the saturday is a workshop/ exam type day and i think gains a diploma too. after doing the marketing i didnt realise how conected with sales it is and dealt mainly with sales team/managers. sales is an area im trying to avoid and thats the majority of it but i do realise that most positions will involve working and dealing in sales

yeah exactly i dont have my heart set on one area as im still career soul searching but id love the chance to get working with a graphic design company as thats where the keen interest is but aswel with other multimedia jobs are not out of the question but its hard out there at the moment.

good luck in your career also, sound slike you have plenty of experience

starlit

madma wrote: »

cheers for the reply!

yeah thats exactly my thinking, that if i could get in on an internship i can then do an evening course on top of that. the graphic design company that i did apply for is on the jobbridge and its local and would ideal but its been a while since i applied and havent heard back. i did contatct them last week and they said they still have to get back to everyone that applied and id hear by the end of last week so im not sure, i dont want to contact them again as it may annoy them.

yeah thats the thing, i actually wish i had kept work i did back in college to add to a porfolio but sure that thought never crossed my mind and it was a long time ago now.

i had originally decided to do a Digital marketing course but after dipping into marketing for the short time it seems as if its a course to do if going into a full on marketing job. the courses are short like around 10-16 weeks to get the diploma and that in the evenings. ther's even a bootcamp type thing that is 1 week long 9-5 and then the saturday is a workshop/ exam type day and i think gains a diploma too. after doing the marketing i didnt realise how conected with sales it is and dealt mainly with sales team/managers. sales is an area im trying to avoid and thats the majority of it but i do realise that most positions will involve working and dealing in sales

yeah exactly i dont have my heart set on one area as im still career soul searching but id love the chance to get working with a graphic design company as thats where the keen interest is but aswel with other multimedia jobs are not out of the question but its hard out there at the moment.

good luck in your career also, sound slike you have plenty of experience

Thanks. Not a lot though just enough (multimedia) experience in/from college and bit of work experience in IT/Sales/Social Media after college but I am only a year younger than yourself so I am still only at the start of my career really if not changing my path in the meantime but keeping with what I have done, know, work experience, skills and qualifications in.

I am just reassessing my career options as well in terms of either further study or areas of work. I come from a mixture of a business/IT/Technical support/sales and a bit of advert design/social media background so saying that I haven't decided on a certain career yet as I feel like I am hitting a brick wall while job hunting. Not easy out there at the moment like. So looking at all possible options internships, voluntary work, paid/unpaid, part/full time, contract/permanent you name it, cert courses, grad programmes, masters, work abroad and the likes. Feels like I am going around in circles but until other things in my life fall into place could I consider moving on any further.

I have a varied work history but not enough technical skills to get into certain jobs which is making it tougher, not just having the experience, skills, qualifications, personality, the talent and so on there are other factors in mind too as well as the competition in the job market at the moment which makes its harder again plus employers are getting fussy who they want to employ and they aren't willing to train people up unless its free (jobbridge).

They are also trying to whittle down the number of applications so they narrow them down as much as possible making it difficult for those to get anything possible. It's like marketing/selling yourself basically. You can have buzz words on a cv but means nothing if you haven't anything to back it up with in an interview and that is where they can focus on that! There aren't enough jobs to meet demand - supply doesn't meet demand basically! Not enough jobs for everyone meaning internships/courses/emigration are the only options when Ireland has gotten more difficult to find work. There are jobs out there not saying there aren't, there was a time there was little or no jobs but now there is a least something but there isn't a job for everyone which is sad but true.

Best to stick with a field you want to get into or already familiar with or have an idea or some experience/knowledge in one way of being successful rather than just going for any ould job just to get experience that's ok but when it comes to wanting to be in your field/field you want to pursue, have you got the technical skills, projects developed from that field not just college stuff but work stuff! I developed a portfolio of my college and social media work but its only very ordinary its just to prove I've done it and developed these skills like but for you maybe it be worth doing a course where you can do assignments/projects and build up your portfolio from there even do freelance work too! You never know, something could come of that by doing freelance or set up business where you can provide a service by doing that sort of thing even if it meant just desktop publishing stuff!

The more experience you have the better. Its like in IT you going no where without programming/technical support skills but employers are looking for more than just those skills its qualities, skills outside IT and basically thinking outside the box as well as skills/qualities relevant to IT like problem solving and analysis. It's like ticking the boxes and meeting their criteria/requirements not just meeting the job requirements either if they are specific or a guide doesn't really matter! Depends what the employers are looking for in a candidate!? Can you match up to them and be the better candidate than other candidates that's who they give the job too!

Best of luck!

SazKav

I was also thinking of doing a short 1 yr course after I finish the leaving this yr... Do you think its a good idea to do a 1 year course first and then decide if I want to continue? Which are the best short courses? Thanks

fluke

Hey all,

Also looking into moving into a career in Graphic Design, based in London. Just wondering if anyone could recommend any career focused courses in London (have almost completed a short course). Not in a position to do a 3/4 year course.

Has anyone heard of this crowd - http://www.shillingtoncollege.co.uk/

Cheers

SazKav

Digitaljunkie wrote: »

That's good solid advice their p. Hope the OP takes it on board. It's very common to be involved in a project years after college and the penny drops as to why you were doing so much mundane stuff while you were their.

Thanks for all this advice, I have done some work for a charity, so I guess thats a good start!

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

spidermonkey

This is my first time on Boards in years!

I'm a digital designer/developer, and love it.
I'll outline some stuff below regarding me, what my job is, what I get paid, what colleagues get paid etc.

My Background:
I have artistic ability.
I did a year certificate Arts, Crafts and Design at St. Johns College Cork.
I did 3 years Certificate Design Communication at CIT.
I did 1 year Hons Degree Visual Communication at CIT.
I have a personal interest in technology, coding etc.
I have advanced knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, HTML, CSS jQuery some Actionscript etc.


My job.
I trained in graphic design for print but couldnt get a job after graduating in 2008 (recession was announced the week of our graduation). I stayed in Dunnes Stores (college job) until 2010 when I managed to get a 6month contract at a software company.

After the contract I was unemployed for 6 months and applied for about 80 jobs and eventually got one in London. I'm still working for the same company two years later.

My day to day job is various ad formats and banners, microsites, and designing all kinds of digital content for the film industry. I have a knowledge and interest in coding so I am in a nice position of being able to design something I know what the boundaries for (a lot of designers aren't technically minded so their solutions are not always realistic when it come to build). With my experience in the software company I have a great understanding for technical requirements, wireframes and flowcharts which mean that whatever I design the developers can easily progress without a lot of back and fourth.

The clients are not very organised and so things do get rushed and deadlines can be tight, but I enjoy my job so I put up with it.
I am thinking of moving on though as I have plenty experience, have worked on some nice projects and as I said above I have an advantage as I am technically minded.

My Salary.
During my interview I had asked for 24,000 (I underestimated the exchange rate and also felt that if I
asked for higher I would not be offered the job).
They started me on 21,000 (not enough at all for living in london) which increased to 24 after 4months, and last christmas I got an additional 2,000, and again a few months ago I was given another 2, this was because a colleague had left and I am now the lead designer and if I left then they were shagged. (management are ignorant of things).

One of my devloper colleagues earns probably in the region of 35-40,000.
His ability is all kinds of backend code as well as the usual knowledge for facebook & twitter api's and some HTML5 stuff too. Almost all projects require some bit of R&D beforehand and certainly plenty testing and bug fixing before going live.

If your going to go for this industry, be a great developer with a design flair.
And you probably won't earn the same as what you could get over here.
Anything else, let me know.

SM

Micheal25

Graphic Designer career is no doubt a good profession but i think first you should look forward to get professional degree that would be life time achievement . you can not rely your future on Graphic Designer so better luck for your future.