A well-structured job description is critical for employers looking to attract skilled professionals. A designer who will achieve stunning artistic or decorative effects and at the same time align with their brand’s vision and objectives.
Luckily, we have a solution. Here’s your complete guide to finding and hiring the right person for the graphic design job. Want to reach your perfect candidate ASAP? With Useme Jobs, you hire smarter.
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Who is a graphic designer: job description
A graphic designer is a professional who creates visual concepts to captivate consumers and communicate ideas through various forms of media. Graphic designers use a combination of art and technology to develop visual elements that inspire, inform, and engage audiences.
This position requires more than knowledge of fine arts and design software programs. It’s also about empathy and understanding of human behavior and needs. That’s why they very often work with design briefs prepared by clients or made during workshops.
Moreover, graphic designers may work on a freelance or contract basis, or as part of an in-house design team. They’re often involved in many projects simultaneously. They also can be referred to as art directors, creative directors, web designers, and more – depending on their role in the project and the business itself.
Types of design work
Graphic design is a vast term that encompasses many other creative fields with different focus. The role is versatile and depends on the industry, so it’s key to match the job offer and requirements. So what are the types of graphic design?
Web design
In web design, the focus is on creating visually appealing and functional websites that enhance user experience and engagement. This involves designing layouts, selecting color schemes, and ensuring mobile responsiveness while keeping branding and usability in mind. Web designers often collaborate with developers to bring static designs to life through coding and interactive elements.
UI design
User Interface (UI) design centers around crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing interfaces for digital products, like websites or apps. UI designers work on visual elements such as buttons, icons, typography, and color schemes to ensure a seamless and engaging user experience. Their goal is to make digital interactions as efficient and enjoyable as possible.
Advertising and marketing design
Graphic designers in advertising and marketing create visuals that communicate brand messages and persuade audiences to take action. This includes designing promotional marketing materials like banners, posters, social media ads, and email templates that align with a company’s branding. Their work balances creativity with marketing strategies to drive engagement and boost conversion rates.
Motion graphics and animation
Motion graphics designers bring visuals to life through animated content used in videos, advertisements, social media, and multimedia presentations. They use software like Adobe After Effects to create dynamic graphics, typography animations, and explainer videos that captivate audiences. This field blends storytelling with design to create compelling visual narratives.
Packaging design services
Product packaging design involves creating attractive and functional packaging that protects a product and enhances its market appeal. Designers consider branding, material selection, sustainability, and consumer psychology to develop packaging that stands out on shelves. After all, good packaging design can influence purchasing decisions and reinforce brand identity.
Illustration
Illustration involves crafting custom artwork for books, advertising, branding, and digital media. Illustrators use a range of styles and techniques, from hand-drawn sketches to digital painting, to convey unique visual stories. Their work adds personality and originality to design projects.
Publication and typography design
This design field focuses on creating visually engaging layouts for books, magazines, newspapers, and online publications. Typography plays a crucial role in readability and branding. Designers carefully select fonts, spacing, and alignments to enhance the reading experience. Publication designers ensure that text and visuals work harmoniously to deliver clear and aesthetically pleasing content.
Graphic design job responsibilities
Now that you know about different fields of graphic design, we can move on to the key responsibilities of a graphic designer. Choose which one you need in your job description.
- Work with briefs
Study design briefs and determine the requirements of the project. - Collaborate with clients and team members
Work closely with clients, copywriters, art directors, and developers to work out deliverables and scope of work and achieve artistic consistency. - Use graphic design software
Combine images, illustrations, and text to create visually appealing designs using tools, like InDesign, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Photoshop. - Develop visual concepts
Create the overall layout and production design for applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazine covers, and reports. - Produce marketing materials
Develop graphics for social media, product packaging, websites, advertisements, etc. - Adjust visuals for various media
Create designs for print publications, web, and social media platforms. - Maintain brand guidelines
Ensure final graphics and layouts are visually appealing, on-brand & error-free. - Meet deadlines. Manage time and prioritize the tasks for a more efficient workflow.
- Coordinate the work of outside agencies
Work closely with e.g., printers to complete projects. - Keep up-to-date with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies
Carry out regular research and incorporate the newest trends into the projects.
Essential skills for a graphic designer
As we said before, the work of a graphic designer goes beyond the knowledge of photo editing software. They also collaborate closely with clients, often carrying out design workshops to determine the business requirements but also the needs and habits of a target audience. So it’s important to divide the abilities of a graphic designer into soft skills and hard skills. Also, note that these skills depend on the role a graphic designer plays in a collaboration.
Hard skills (technical skills)
- Proficiency in graphic design software – most graphic designers work with tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Figma to create digital and print designs.
- 3D design and visualization – knowledge of 3D modeling software like Blender or Cinema 4D for creating realistic visual content.
- Typography and layout design – font pairing, spacing, alignment, and readability principles are useful skills, especially in print and digital projects.
- Color theory and visual composition – every good graphic designer knows how colors interact and affect emotions to create balanced, visually appealing designs.
- User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design – the ability to design intuitive, visually appealing interfaces for websites, apps, and digital platforms is a must.
- Branding and visual identity design – a skilled graphic designer creates logos, brand guidelines, and marketing materials with a consistent brand image.
- Illustration and digital drawing – hand-drawing or drawing using digital tools is especially useful when creating unique illustrations, icons, or custom graphics.
- Motion graphics and animation – graphic designers use tools like After Effects and Premiere Pro daily to create animated content and video graphics for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
- Print design – understanding print production processes is also extremely important. It’ll help designers create high-quality product brochures, PR event materials, and more.
- Web and HTML/CSS basics – familiarity with basic coding and web design principles will be useful for designers working in software houses. This is how they will collaborate effectively with developers.
Soft skills
- Thinking outside the box – being creative is a must when developing unique visual concepts that capture attention.
- Excellent communication skills – strong verbal and written communication to collaborate with clients, marketers, and developers effectively during the design process.
- Great time management skills – managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced work environment is a must.
- Attention to detail – ensuring accuracy and consistency in all the elements for final designs.
- Adaptability and problem-solving – adjusting to feedback, design challenges, and evolving trends in the industry.
- Teamwork – the ability to collaborate well on the design concepts with cross-functional teams and to work independently.
- Storytelling ability – using visuals to convey a brand’s message and evoke emotions that resonate with target audiences is a skill that sets apart good graphic designers.
Education and experience requirements
Let’s talk about education and experience. How important is it in a world full of aspiring graphic designers? Even though a four-year bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field is typically required, there are many skillful and extremely creative self-taught individuals. If this is the case, the list of certifications of complete courses can be beneficial.
Overall, the portfolio is a must-have for every professional to demonstrate their skills and experience, as well as showcase the range of projects.
What about freelancers?
As far as experience is concerned, freelance graphic designers can bring specialized skills to your project. After all, they often have the most diverse portfolios since they’re involved in projects from various industries – from publishing and advertising to public relations and marketing.
Not to mention, when outsourcing your project, you get the opportunity to work with extreme talents that aren’t available in-house. It’s also convenient if you’re hiring a graphic designer for a project only. Platforms like Useme make this process easy and help you find your perfect match at a competitive rate while taking care of most of the paperwork.
Graphic designer salary: in-house vs. outsourcing
Salary for graphic designers can vary depending on experience, location, and industry. On average, they earn from $70,000 to $130,000 annually.
What does it look like for a freelance graphic designer? Those numbers aren’t fixed since professionals set their own rates. In the US, it’s about $500–$2,000, in Asia the numbers vary from $10 to $1,000, while in Europe the rate is approximately $500–$3,000.
What do the rates look like on Useme? Based on completed projects within our platform, they range from $100 to $500* for a project. But, again, the figures may change depending on the project’s scope of work.
Dive deeper into the topic of freelance rates with our article: Freelance rates by region: how much does top talent cost?
*The given rate is based on mainly European freelancers.
Key elements of a graphic designer job description
Now that we know all about the types of design work, responsibilities and skills of graphic designers, it’s time to sum it up in the graphic designer job description. Here are the must-have elements that should be a part of every job listing.
- Job title – specify the title that accurately reflects the role, such as “Web designer,” “UX designer,” “Illustrator,” etc.
- Job description overview:
- Provide a brief summary of the role or the project (if you’re hiring a freelancer). Specify the nature of your business and what you’re looking for in a candidate.
- Highlight the purpose of the design work (branding, marketing, UI/UX, packaging, etc.).
- Specify the employment type (“part-time,” “freelance,” “one-time project,” or “long-term collaboration”).
- Scope of work – list out what will be the responsibilities of a graphic designer, and what they will be working on. For example, “creating logos and branding materials.”
- Required skills and qualifications – specify the essential skills and experience, such as: “proficiency in Adobe InDesign & Canva,” “+2 year experience in creative agency,” “strong attention to detail,” etc.
- Salary and benefits:
- provide a salary range or a budget for a project, when hiring a freelancer.
- mention benefits like health insurance, professional development opportunities, or flexible working hours.
- Portfolio – ask for exemplary graphic design work. This will help you evaluate if this is the right match for your needs.
Why Useme Jobs is ideal for hiring a freelance graphic designer
Useme Jobs is a great platform for employers to find highly skilled freelance graphic designers for their projects. The process is simple and allows businesses to easily post job offers and connect with top graphic designers.
- Global talent pool
Useme Jobs connects employers to skilled graphic designers from around the world. Choose your person out of thousands of applicants! - Ease of use
The platform makes hiring trusted professionals and managing various projects a piece of cake. Easily create job listings and review applications on Useme Jobs. - Flexible work arrangements
Useme Jobs is a perfect choice for both short-term and long-term freelance projects. The freelancers deliver top results, while you can enjoy a straightforward and transparent pricing model that helps you manage costs effectively. - Secure payment system
Useme supports payments in multiple currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, as well as local currencies, ensuring a smooth transaction with freelancers.
