Graphic Design Career Paths for German and International Students
Graphic design boasts some of the most diverse career paths in the creative industry. Graphic design careers span from Creative Director to Brand Designer, incorporating a wide range of skills and experiences.
Earning a graphic design degree in Germany can be key to unlocking exciting career opportunities at leading global companies and innovative start-ups.
Let’s explore the trending graphic design careers and how students in Germany can access them after a degree in graphic design.
Why Pursue a Career in Graphic Design?
Graphic design careers are attractive to graduates for many reasons, from the aesthetic visuals to the creative nature of graphic design jobs.
As a creative professional, a graphic designer is responsible for evoking emotions and reactions from designs that translate the brand’s messaging. The artistic freedom allows graphic designers to channel their creativity, combining graphics, illustrations and typography to create their designs.
Here are some reasons individuals pursue graphic design careers:
- Creative Scope
Graphic design career paths offer ample opportunities for individuals to showcase their creative flair while producing original designs. Many briefs allow creative juices to flow, with organisations aiming to achieve their strategic goals through innovative designs. The ability to combine creativity and professional life makes graphic design careers an attractive option for graduates.
- Collaborative Approach
Various graphic design career paths adopt a collaborative approach in the workplace, with design teams sharing ideas to create high-quality designs. Graphic designers work closely with clients to clarify project requirements and regularly review drafts before the final product.
- Diverse Assignments
The diverse range of projects designers can work on is a major appeal for pursuing graphic design careers. All industries require creative work to communicate their messages to the public, allowing graphic designers to work on projects for companies of all sizes. The varied assignments allow designers to develop a diverse portfolio to showcase their skills.
- Rewarding Career
Graphic design careers are notoriously rewarding, with the opportunity to transform a hobby into a successful full-time career. Designers can work for various employers, including charities and not-for-profit organisations, to effect change and promote good causes. This allows designers to use their skills to create memorable and lasting projects.
- Career Outlook
With graphic design career paths presenting opportunities to freelance, designers can control their workload, offering flexibility and opportunities to take their work on the road. Designers can work anywhere in the world if they have a stable internet and access to design tools and software, which creates an exciting career outlook.
Graphic Design in Germany
The graphic design landscape in Germany is thriving, with many opportunities for professionals in the creative industries. Boasting diverse graphic design jobs, a multicultural workforce and a high demand for creative professionals, Germany is considered to be among the best countries to pursue graphic design careers.
Many graphic designers are attracted to Europe’s most exciting creative industry hub, Hamburg, which offers dynamic career opportunities for designers across various industries, from corporate design to multimedia programming.
According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a graphic designer in Germany is €40,000 per year. The major cities in Germany, including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg, offer many opportunities to grow financial earnings with diverse career opportunities at global companies and smaller start-ups.
Popular Career Paths for Graphic Design Graduates
A graphic design degree opens the doors to various roles within the creative industries.
German and international students should utilise their university’s careers and employability services while looking for internships and graphic design jobs. Job searching websites like Creativepool, Design Week Jobs and Design Jobs Board also highlight current design vacancies for graduates.
So, what are some popular roles to look out for while exploring graphic design careers?
- Graphic Designer
Becoming a Graphic Designer after a graphic design degree makes sense, right? We know it isn’t always straightforward, but many graduates pursue careers as Graphic Designers after university. They work with various media and software to create designs that communicate a brand’s ideas to inform, inspire and captivate the audience.
- Branding / Corporate Designer
A Branding or Corporate Designer is responsible for shaping and maintaining a company’s visual identity. Their work varies from creating brand guidelines to designing logos to reflect brand values.
- Packaging Designer
A Packaging Designer combines aesthetics and structure to create suitable packaging designs. They must consider practical elements such as sustainability while creating designs that reflect the brand’s identity.
- Editorial Designer
An Editorial Designer creates the design and layout of publications, including books, magazines and newspapers. They focus on typography and structure to engage readers while collaborating with editors and writers.
- Web and App Designer
A Web and App Designer is responsible for creating user-friendly designs for websites and digital applications. Working closely with developers, they must ensure the layout is interactive and accessible for users.
- UI/UX Designer
User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are current graphic design trends shaping the future of the sector. UI/UX Designers must be experts in user needs, behaviours and patterns to create data-driven designs that encourage interaction.
- Art Director
An Art Director is a senior role overseeing the visual aspects of creative projects to align designs with a brand’s identity and goals. Art Directors require leadership skills to collaborate with internal and external teams while managing a team of creatives.
- Creative Director
A Creative Director is another senior position that leads the overall creative direction of a company. The Creative Director works closely with clients, stakeholders and marketing teams and is responsible for making high-level decisions concerning design and style.
- Video Director
A Video Director guides the vision and direction of video production, helping bring scripts to life. They are active members of the editing process, overseeing all creative and technical aspects of the production.
- Visualiser / Visual Creative
Graphic design graduates can pursue roles as Visual Creatives to bring abstract concepts to life through visual representation. A Visualiser is one of the most creative roles, where interpretation is key to aligning visuals and brand messaging.
The Future of Graphic Design
As the creative industries adapt to the evolving technologies, graphic design has been revolutionised by the metaverse, shaping the future of creative roles across various industries.
The metaverse and other advanced technology, like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), offer opportunities for artistic expression and innovation in design. Designers are now creating immersive designs using dynamic interfaces and ensuring cross-platform adaptability and accessibility to cater to the diverse needs of users.
With the injection of advanced technology, the employment of graphic designers is predicted to grow by 2% from 2023 to 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Other trends shaping the future of graphic design careers include the continued use of minimalism in designs, the emphasis on inclusivity, diversity and representation and the rollout of 3D designs due to the rise of generative 3D AI tools.
How to Pursue Graphic Design Careers
One of the best ways to develop the in-demand skills and required knowledge to pursue graphic design career paths is by studying graphic design in Germany at an accredited university like the Berlin School of Business and Innovation (BSBI).
BSBI’s BA (Hons) Graphic Design programme is delivered at its state-of-the-art Hamburg campus in partnership with the acclaimed University for the Creative Arts (UCA).
This three-year or four-year international route programme teaches students how to apply design principles and respond to practical design challenges in dynamic markets. The programme combines individual and collaborative study to mirror the demands of the design industry and prepare students for successful graphic design careers.
Join us in Hamburg by enrolling on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design programme here.