Have a look around the room you are sitting in. What is it that you observe? Some of the items around me include a perfume bottle, a book, a carry bag, a computer mouse, a pouch filled with colourful pens, etc. I am sure you would also have at least one of these items.
Can you guess what is one common characteristic of these products?
All of these products are saying something without actually saying it. They are of different shapes and sizes, some of them might have popping colours while some might have subtle colours. Most of them will have a logo to show what they stand for. All of these elements are visual and are still able to communicate with us without saying them out loud. If you like this vibe, then you have understood the premise of graphic designing.
In this article, you will understand the basics of Graphic Designing, behind the scenes of becoming a graphic designer, how to become a graphic designer, the skills and education required, and more after 12th in India.
A graphic designer is an expert in the visual design and graphic arts fields who merges motion graphics, images, and typography, together to produce a design. The graphics that a graphic designer produces are primarily used in print, published, or electronic media, such as flyers and ad commercials.
Learn more – Career as a Graphic Designer – A complete guide!
There is no mandatory stream that is required for you to take admission in a graphic designing course. Therefore, in the 11th grade, go for subjects that you really like. Humanities as a subject will challenge your thought process which you can incorporate into your designs while science will teach you computer skills.
Graphic designing as a career requires an aptitude for art and creativity. But how do you know if you have it in you or not, right? Don’t worry! There are a lot of online courses available that will help you analyze that for yourself. Here are some graphic designing courses that you can check out:
| Certificate Courses | Institute providing the certification | Duration |
| Graphic Design | California Institute of Arts through Coursera | 3-6 months |
| Graphic Design Foundations: Layout and Composition | LinkedIn Learning | 2 Hours 3 Mins |
| Intro to Graphic Design with Photoshop | Great Learning | 1.0 hours of video content |
| Graphic Design Foundations: Typography | LinkedIn Learning | 2 hours 23 mins |
| Google UX Design | Google through Coursera | 3-6 Months |
| Graphic Design Elements for non-designers | The University of Colorado through Coursera | 3-6 Months |
| Colors for design and art | LinkedIn Learning | 1 Hour 45 mins |
| Fundamentals of Graphic Design | California Institute of Arts through Coursera | 1-3 Months |
Read about – Career As A Ceramics Designer
How to become a Graphic Designer after the 12th?
As mentioned previously, any subject choice after the 10th or 12th can land you a job as a graphic designer. However, to develop the skills, specific diploma courses, certifications, or an academic degree in graphic design will lead the way forward.
What to study in India to become a Graphic Designer:
In India, the following are the academic degrees in graphic design:
It is a full-time four-year course offered in various specializations like interior designing, fashion designing, graphic designing, VFX designing, Textile designing, etc. Anyone who has passed 10+12th is eligible for their admission process.
It is a three-year course divided into six semesters that develops designing skills relevant to the print, packaging, education, and advertising industries.
This is a 3-year undergraduate course that includes topics like colour theory, typography, and layout, and focuses on design principles like contrast, balance, rhythm, movement, etc.
Certificate courses range from a few hours to 1 year, and are available both online and offline. The leading universities that provide certificate graphic design courses with fees of INR 20,000- 1,00,000 are NIFT Delhi, NIFT Raebareli, and Pearl Academy.
Want to start early? Check out Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA in Design&Branding program for hands-on experience.
Diplomas in graphic design courses are professional training courses designed for people who want to have a graphic design qualification degree and work sooner. The bulk of graphic design diploma courses is accessible online through prestigious universities. Certain Indian universities, such as ADMEC Multimedia in Delhi and INSD in New Delhi, offer graphic design diploma programs. Such courses might last anywhere from eight months to three years, depending on the college.
| Course | Duration |
| B.Des (Bachelor in Designing) | 4-year |
| B.Sc in Graphic Designing: | 3-year |
| B.A. in Graphic Design: | 3-year |
| Certificate courses | Few hours- 1 year |
| Diploma Courses: | 8 months- 3-year |
Also know about: How to become a UX Designer
Some of the top colleges in India you can check out to become a Graphic Designer include:
The names of the degrees abroad are more or less the same as in India. However, their structure, assignments, and curriculum might differ. Some of the courses that should check out include:
| Course | Estimated Duration |
| Graphic Design BA (Hons) | 3 years |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts Graphic Design | 3 years |
| Bachelor of Design | 3-4 years |
| Graphic Communication BA (Hons) | 3-4 years |
| Short-term diploma courses | 3 months-1 years |
The duration of these courses might differ according to the country you apply to.
Also read – 10 Best Colleges To Study Product Design In India
Some of the colleges Abroad you can check out to become a Graphic Designer include:
As a graphic designer, there is nothing more important than your portfolio to get you a job. But how do you build one, you ask? So there isn’t any sure sort of formula to do that. However, there are certain tips that can help your portfolio shine:
All the above-mentioned tips will also help you network with experts in the industry. Other than this, you can also use social networking platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to your advantage. Build connections- either on LinkedIn or you may even write to your heroes asking for some tips/ suggestions to improve.
Other than your portfolio, keep your theory intact. You may be asked some theoretical questions during the interview, especially if you are a fresher.
Too many skills right? Do you think you possess them all? Yes? No? Maybe? Don’t worry. You don’t have to analyze yourself in these few minutes of reading this blog. You can take an informed decision by taking Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA course in Branding and Design. With our industry partner, Kellogg’s you will learn the basics of designing and test drive your future potential career.
Also read about: How To Become A Product Designer in India
I am sure this might have been a question in your mind at some part in the blog. And it’s a very valid question. The average starting salary for a graphic designer is approximately 2-2.5 LPA. With experience and the type of company one is employed in, one can expect to gain more. Freelancing is also one of the options that many graphic designers choose to do, instead of being employed at a single company.
The salary also varies according to geographical location. The highest-paying cities (base salaries) in India are:
Salaries abroad also differ. So, the following are the average base salaries in different countries:
| Country | USA | UK | Germany | France | Singapore | Australia |
| Entry-level salary per year | 53,440 US Dollars | 31,867 Pounds | 33,511 Eros | 31,600 Eur | 30,880 dollars | 72,591 Dollar |
I hope the information excites you to at least give graphic design a try. And if you want to still explore more here are some of my recommendations that you can check out:
Where: Netflix and YouTube
What to expect: These are the set of documentaries providing you insight into the lives of people who hold these jobs.
Formal training from a design school or certifications would be of great help to begin as a graphic designer. To be an efficient graphic designer, one should also be very well-versed in software like photoshop illustrator, Abode, lightroom, etc. Additionally, creative thinking and knowledge of design principles help a lot.
Step 1: Take formal education
Step 2: Go for Internships in different industries
Step 3: Pursue other certifications or Master to Upskill
Step 4: Decide on your favourite industry
Step 5: Follow people from the industry who are doing good work
Step 6: Prepare a Portfolio
Step 7: Apply to your favourite companies
Step 8: Keep an online presence
Depending on your passion and interest in the field, it may take anything between 6 months- 5 years. People who are very passionate about designing usually opt to study it in-depth and therefore may take more time. Ultimately it all depends on the amount of time and money you are ready to invest.
Yes, you can. Some individuals are intuitively very creative and won’t really require formal education. Most of the time, employers are more interested in your portfolio than in your degree.
If you love creativity, technology, and communication, graphic designing can prove to be a very good career choice. There are a variety of projects across industries that require a graphic designer. Additionally, a graphic designer’s job does not usually require sitting in an office. You can work from anywhere in the world, providing flexibility.
After completing class 12 with a 50 per cent grade in any subject, you can pursue a career as a graphic designer. You may either opt for certificate/Diploma courses or pursue a Bachelor’s in design.
You can choose any topic in your 11th-grade curriculum—science, commerce, or the arts—to become a graphic designer. There is no absolute requirement to study a particular topic in grades 11 and 12. You are free to enrol in a graphic design course from any recognized board with a background in any stream.
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