What skills does a graphic designer need?

A graphic designer needs 19 essential skills including adobe creative suite, graphic design, digital media, desktop publishing, copyright legislation. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace graphic designer jobs?

The AI disruption score for graphic designer is 77/100 (very high risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Science & ResearchScience and engineering professionalsISCO 2166

graphic designer

Graphic designers create text and images to communicate ideas. They make visual concepts by hand or using computer software, intended for publishing in paper or online media such as advertisements, websites, and magazines.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (19)

adobe creative suiteadobe creative suiteThe set of software applications that are used to create visual content for personal or business use. Examples of items that can be generated are flyers, brochures, books, websites and videos.graphic designgraphic designThe techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.digital mediadigital mediaThe set of medias that are transmitted through electronic devices.desktop publishingdesktop publishingThe creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.copyright legislationcopyright legislationLegislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.respect publication formatsrespect publication formatsSubmit text material for printing purposes. Always respect the required and expected publication formats.use creative suite softwareuse creative suite softwareUse a creative software suite such as ''Adobe'' to aid in graphic designing.follow a brieffollow a briefInterpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.develop an artistic frameworkdevelop an artistic frameworkDevelop a specific framework for research, creation and completion of artistic work.translate requirements into visual designtranslate requirements into visual designDevelop visual design from given specifications and requirements, based on the analysis of the scope and target audience. Create a visual representation of ideas such as logos, website graphics, digit...develop digital contentdevelop digital contentCreate and edit digital content in different formats, express oneself through digital means.identify customer's needsidentify customer's needsUse appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.adapt to type of mediaadapt to type of mediaAdapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.convert scribbles into virtual sketchesconvert scribbles into virtual sketchesUse software to convert the roughly drawn representation of a design into a two-dimensional geometrical sketch that they can further develop to obtain the final concept.finish project within budgetfinish project within budgetMake sure to stay within budget. Adapt work and materials to budget.develop creative ideasdevelop creative ideasDeveloping new artistic concepts and creative ideas.design prototypesdesign prototypesDesign prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.design graphicsdesign graphicsApply a variety of visual techniques in order to design graphic material. Combine graphical elements to communicate concepts and ideas.perform market researchperform market researchGather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.

Optional (43)

Adobe PhotoshopAdobe PhotoshopThe computer program Adobe Photoshop is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software...Adobe IllustratorAdobe IllustratorThe computer program Adobe Illustrator CC is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the sof...design managementdesign managementThe way in which design principles are incorporated to help achieve business objectives, create products and services, obtain new customers, and support marketing activities.photographyphotographyArt and practice of creating aesthetically appealing images by recording light or electromagnetic radiation.publishing industrypublishing industryKey stakeholders in the publishing industry. Acquisition, marketing and distribution of newspapers, books, magazines and other informative works, including electronic media.digital compositingdigital compositingThe process and software for digitally assembling multiple images to make one, final image.GIMP (graphics editor software)GIMP (graphics editor software)The computer program GIMP is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by The GIMP Development Te...aestheticsaestheticsSet of principles based on which something is appealing and beautiful.3D lighting3D lightingThe arrangement or digital effect which simulates lighting in a 3D environment.SketchBook ProSketchBook ProThe computer program SketchBook Pro is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software ...Microsoft VisioMicrosoft VisioThe computer program Microsoft Visio is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software...motion graphicsmotion graphicsThe techniques and software for creating the illusion of motion such as keyframing, Adobe After Effects, and Nuke.3D modelling3D modellingThe process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of an object via specialised software. The product is called a 3D model. It can be displayed as a two-dimension...graphics editor softwaregraphics editor softwareThe field of graphical ICT tools which enable digital editing and composition of graphics, such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, to develop both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics.advertising techniquesadvertising techniquesThe communication strategies intended to persuade or encourage an audience, and the different media which are used to achieve this goal.computer graphicscomputer graphicsThe field that merges approaches from computer science and design. It involves the process of creating images, 3D models generation, as well as the rendering, texturing and lighting them. Its applicat...SynfigSynfigThe computer program Synfig is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by Robert Quattlebaum.Adobe Photoshop LightroomAdobe Photoshop LightroomThe computer program Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by th...Capture OneCapture OneThe computer program Capture One is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics.create 3D environmentscreate 3D environmentsDevelop a computer-generated 3D representation of a setting such as simulated environment, where the users interact.edit negativesedit negativesUse different software products and techniques to process photographic negatives and adapt the images to the desired specifications.perform ideation activitiesperform ideation activitiesImplement the different techniques to generate ideas. Sketching, prototyping and brainstorming are examples of these techniques.apply 3D imaging techniquesapply 3D imaging techniquesImplement a variety of techniques such as digital sculpting, curve modelling and 3D scanning to create, edit, preserve and use 3D images, such as point clouds, 3D vector graphic and 3D surface shapes.create animated narrativescreate animated narrativesDevelop animated narrative sequences and story lines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.use presentation softwareuse presentation softwareUse software tools to create digital presentations which combine various elements, such as graphs, images, text and other multimedia.use traditional illustration techniquesuse traditional illustration techniquesCreate drawings using traditional illustration techniques such as watercolour, pen and ink, airbrush art, oil painting, pastels, wood engraving, and linoleum cuts.meet expectations of target audiencemeet expectations of target audienceResearch the needs and expectations of the target audience to ensure the program's theme meets both.apply desktop publishing techniquesapply desktop publishing techniquesApply desktop publishing techniques to create page layouts and typographic quality text.brainstorm ideasbrainstorm ideasPitch your ideas and concepts to fellow members of the creative team in order to come up with alternatives, solutions and better versions.create 3D characterscreate 3D charactersDevelop 3D models by transforming and digitising previously designed characters using specialised 3D tools.use word processing softwareuse word processing softwareUse computer software applications for composition, editing, formatting, and printing of any sort of written material.select artwork developed by staff membersselect artwork developed by staff membersReview and approve designs, artwork, photography, and graphics developed by other staff members.use digital illustration techniquesuse digital illustration techniquesCreate drawings using digital illustration programmes and techniques.manage contractsmanage contractsNegotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, ...create advertisementscreate advertisementsUse your creativity to draft advertiments. Keep in mind the costumer's requirements, target audience, media and marketing objectives.use CAD softwareuse CAD softwareUse computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.design greeting cardsdesign greeting cardsDesign the illustrations on greeting cards.use photographic equipmentuse photographic equipmentUse analogue or digital camera equipment, along with a variety of accessories such as tripods, filters and lenses.edit photographsedit photographsResize, enhance and retouche photographs, using airbrushing, editing software and other techniques.create moving imagescreate moving imagesCreate and develop two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in motion and animations.develop animationsdevelop animationsDesign and develop visual animations using creativity and computer skills. Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, colour, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating ...operate 3D computer graphics softwareoperate 3D computer graphics softwareUse graphical ICT tools, such as Autodesk Maya, Blender which enable digital editing, modelling, rendering and composition of graphics. These tools are based in mathematical representation of three-di...draw design sketchesdraw design sketchesCreate rough pictures to assist in creating and communicating design concepts.