When starting any career, your first months might feel like you’re stuck in a paradox. You need experience to find a job but you need a job to get experience.
However, if you want to start working as a computer graphic designer, getting off to a good start might be easier than you think. An eye for aesthetics, backed up by skillfulness in design software like Photoshop and InDesign – that’s all you need to begin building a portfolio and applying for junior positions. But first, ask yourself: what type of design work inspires you most?
Last updated: 14 May, 2025
Table of Contents
- Career Paths in Computer Graphic Design
- How to Become a Computer Graphic Designer – Skills, Software and Equipment
- How to build a good graphic design portfolio?
- Habits of a Successful Computer Graphic Designer
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Summary
- References
Career Paths in Computer Graphic Design
Let’s play a flash round of the “Would you rather?” game – I’ll ask you to choose quickly between two options.
Sketching or organizing? Print or digital? Teamwork or working alone? Go!
Of course, deciding on a career path isn’t as simple when you factor in opportunity and education. However, at the end of the day, knowing yourself and what brings you joy is the most important part of finding a rewarding career. Once you find these answers for yourself, you can study your options for becoming a professional graphic designer.
UX/UI Designer
UX/UI (user experience & user interface) is where design meets psychology. A UX/UI’s designer job is to make every website an effortless journey from start to finish. You’ll do audience research, study user behaviour and develop interactive mockups that will become the project’s foundations.
- Demand: Very high, one of the fastest-growing jobs in 2025;
- Ease of entry: Moderate;
- Level of independence: Requires collaboration with developers and stakeholders;
- Suitable for: Natural problem-solvers, innovators, amateur psychologists, high-achievers;
- Average salary for entry-level designers: €3,000 – €3,600 in Europe, £3500 in the UK, up to $7,000 in the US;
- Disadvantages: Difficult learning curve.
Web Designer
Web design is a lot about structure, original thinking and aesthetics. You’ll balance creativity with technical considerations to create responsive web layouts that are both functional and appealing on every device, from smartphones to desktop monitors.
- Demand: High;
- Ease of entry: Easy;
- Level of independence: Requires communication with copywriters and developers;
- Suitable for: Detailed-oriented perfectionists, tech enthusiasts, analytical thinkers.
- Average salary for entry-level designers: €1,700 – €3,000 in Europe, £2400 in the UK, up to $3,800 in the US;
- Disadvantages: Repetitive work.
Generalist Graphic Designer
You can think of generalist graphic designers as the “jacks of all trades”. This is one of the most versatile and exciting career paths in design, as no two workdays will ever look the same. You could be brainstorming brand identities in the morning, designing promotional materials by lunch, and fine-tuning website graphics by afternoon.
- Demand: High;
- Ease of entry: Easy;
- Level of independence: Only client communication;
- Suitable for: Creative minds, easily bored challenge seekers;
- Average salary for entry-level designers: €1,500 – €2,500 in Europe, £1,500–£2,400 in the UK, $2,500–$3,800 in the US;
- Disadvantages: Highly competitive market, lower salaries.
Publication Designer
Unlike many other industries, the world of publishing is run almost exclusively by people sharing one passion. If you feel most inspired holding a beautiful book or magazine, then it’s a no-brainer that you should consider publication and layout as your specialization in computer graphic design.
- Demand: Low;
- Ease of entry: Easy;
- Level of independence: Independent design work, but the publication process requires collaboration with editors, writers, photographers, illustrators, and clients;
- Suitable for: Book lovers, typography connoisseurs, detail-oriented perfectionists
- Average salary for entry-level designers: $4,000 in the US;
- Disadvantages: Declining market demand.
Product Designer
Product design is the crosspath of beauty and functionality. It’s also the most rewarding design career choice for innovative creatives who really want to see the impact of their work. Product designers shape both physical and digital products through research, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
- Demand: Moderate;
- Ease of entry: Hard;
- Level of independence: Requires constant collaboration with engineers, marketers, and business stakeholders;
- Suitable for: Business-minded thinkers, innovative artists, natural problem-solvers;
- Average salary for entry-level designers: €2,100 – €2,200 in Europe, £3,500 in the UK, $3,500 – $8,000 in the US
- Disadvantages: Requires marketing and business knowledge.
How to Become a Computer Graphic Designer – Skills, Software and Equipment
Start with learning the core principles of visual design:
- Composition
Understanding how to arrange elements to create a balanced and effective visual hierarchy. This includes concepts like the rule of thirds, visual weight, and negative space. - Color Theory
Knowledge of color relationships, psychology (how colors evoke different emotional responses), and systems (RGB, CMYK, HEX). This includes understanding complementary colors. - Typography
Font selection, font pairing, readability, and typographic hierarchy. - Contrast and Hierarchy
These guide the viewer’s eye through the design in a deliberate order.
The core principles of design are the foundations that will allow you to start working as a computer graphic designer.
Learning the basics in a graphic design course is the first and most important step in your career.
Software for computer graphic designers
As a graphic designer, you will need specialized software to create well-structured and visually striking projects. Here are some essential ones:
- Adobe Photoshop
It is the main program for computer graphic designers and currently it is placed first in all rankings. It is an indispensable tool for processing photos and graphic designs as it allows you to create projects in various formats.
- Adobe Illustrator
This program is ideal for those who love vector graphics. It is especially useful when preparing visual identification, icons or graphics for an app. It may not be the easiest to use, but just a few hours are enough for you to get used to editing curves. - Adobe InDesign
It is a program used to design, assemble and prepare all types of materials for printing. This mainly applies to multipage publications with a complex structure. InDesign is an advanced typesetting program for publications, and it contains several useful functions that significantly improve editorial work. - Adobe Lightroom
This is an Adobe program that is used to process images. Since it uses Adobe Camera Raw technology, it can handle over 120 different uncompressed formats. If you work as a computer graphic designer in a photo studio, you will need knowledge and skills in this program. - Free software for computer graphic design
For beginners, free tools like GIMP, Krita, Inkscape, PhotoScape, and Picasa can be great starting points. They offer many of the essential features needed to start creating digital artwork without the high cost of premium software.
Equipment for professional graphic designers
Initially, you don’t have to invest in high-end computers, monitors, or software. If you’re wondering how to become a computer graphics artist without any experience, it’s better to focus on easily accessible programs than to invest significant amounts in Adobe packages.
To start, get a good laptop with accurate color reproduction. Calibrating it is crucial, as color inaccuracies on your monitor can result in completely different tones when your client views your work.
- Computer
A computer is an indispensable tool in the work of computer graphic design. It should be reliable, even while working with very large formats. When choosing your hardware, be sure to consider CPU, RAM, and hard drive capacity. - Monitor
If you are going to become a computer graphic designer, you should know that processing material on a computer is equally crucial. The right monitor can contribute to a better quality of the finished works and ensure an appropriate, decent level.A graphic designer needs to have a monitor that will be helpful during processing and designing. The template is very important in the reproduction of the color depth. You should be sure that the edited graphics and photos look realistic, and the visible shades will be properly saturated. What is important is the color gamut, which is like that of the prints.A good choice for a design monitor will be the IPS type, which perfectly reproduces black and contrast. It is important for the processing of photos.The monitor should also have a wide viewing angle. In turn, the resolution is responsible for details and sharpness of the picture.When it comes to the monitor’s size, look at a minimum of 24 inches.For even better and more comfortable work, you need a foot with adjustable tilt both vertically and horizontally. One monitor works well, but two monitors are much better.
- Keyboard and Mouse
When it comes to the keyboard, it should be comfortable and tailored to your needs. A mouse: preferably wireless and sized to suit your hand. Be sure to consider a computer mouse with ergonomic shapes that relieve the wrist. - Graphics Tablet
A graphics tablet is a pointing device that is used to draw graphic elements on the computer and it’s absolutely indispensable when you are working as a computer graphic designer. It enables the transmission of external data to the computer – in this case; it is specifically about hand movements.
The user stimulates the sensitive surface of the matrix of a graphic tablet. Then the device transfers the strokes made with the stylus to the program installed on the computer. The graphics tablet is used by people who prefer to create their projects with accessories like a pen and a piece of paper rather than with a computer mouse.
How to build a good graphic design portfolio?
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Experiment in different fields.
Before deciding on what type of design to specialize in, it’s good to try out different types of design work such as marketing materials, branding, designing professional logos, and more. Collect your works and test various areas to discover what suits you best.
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Develop your portfolio through collaborations.
Even if they’re pro bono, they will pay off in the future! By getting commissions and placing them in your portfolio, you will prove to future clients that working with you guarantees a good product.
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Tailor to your specialization.
After finding your niche, build a portfolio that reflects your skills and creativity. Carefully tailor your portfolio to your specialization, showcasing a variety of skills.
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Publish it online and on social media.
Select your best works and present them in an aesthetic and deliberate manner.
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Participate in internships or volunteer work, or non-profit projects.
This way you will gain professional experience and have diverse works in your portfolio.
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Ask for reviews or opinions on your work.
Such references and testimonials will be essential for future collaborations and landing the job you want.
When it comes to design portfolios, the more out-of-the-box, the better. One of the best examples of this is Curtis Ying, a 30-year-old user experience designer who applied for the same job 11 times, only to get it on the 12th try. His secret to success? He created a personalized one-and-a-half-minute video cover letter showcasing his background, design skills, and passion for Adobe software.
To get some out-of-the-box ideas for a design portfolio that competes on the global market, click here.
Habits of a Successful Computer Graphic Designer
Consistency
Regular practice and continuous design are crucial for improving graphic skills. If you aim to start earning from your projects, daily training is essential, not only on advanced drawings but also on basic elements.
Courses, extra classes, or online challenges for artists are invaluable, providing practical exercises and reminding you of key techniques. Patience is crucial, especially when working on correcting your own mistakes. Don’t cut short the time allocated to one project; strive for the highest quality, even if it takes a lot of time.
“It’s through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good.”
Paula Scher, Principal at the world-famous design collective Pentagram.
Trend-following
Being a computer graphic artist is a full-time job. You must keep track of trends that change each year. Today, minimalist style and delicate lines dominate, whereas a few years ago, it was opulence—layers of lines, colors, and techniques prevalent in advertisements and illustrations.
Social media can also be a great source of inspiration or challenges that will stimulate your creativity.
Experimenting
Without exercises, there’s no development. However, do exercises have to be dull and repetitive? Sometimes, especially when it comes to fundamental issues like shapes, yes. That doesn’t change the fact that you should try new things, styles, or different challenges.
This will make you more flexible, allowing you to work more effectively with various types of clients. For a serious businessman, you can prepare a subdued, professional advertising graphic, while for an electro music club, a crazy party invitation.
Therefore, try new things and develop yourself, expanding your portfolio. Especially at the beginning of your career, you will have to adapt to the client until you gain a reputation that allows you to choose projects that interest you.
Self-Development and Embracing Feedback
We are often not objective about ourselves, especially if we have put a lot of effort into something. In the pursuit of excellence in computer graphics, don’t be afraid to ask others for opinions on your work.
Constructive criticism is a crucial tool that helps identify areas for improvement. Honest words from friends are a valuable source of information, allowing you to avoid mistakes in future projects.
Being open to constructive criticism allows us to look at our work from different perspectives. This approach helps identify aspects such as composition, color palette, or proportions that require refinement. Others’ opinions broaden our perspective, opening us up to new possibilities and inspirations.
Remember that others may notice things that we ourselves overlook. Their experience and viewpoint can provide valuable insights, leading to the development of our skills. Constructive criticism becomes an invaluable tool for improvement, enabling us to focus on specific elements that require attention and enhancement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a computer graphic designer?
To become a computer graphic designer: learn core design principles like composition and color patterns, take a specialized course to master industry-standard software like Adobe Creative Suite.
Build a portfolio through internships and volunteer work in the beginning, in order to show real-work experience. Don’t sleep on the importance of networking with industry professionals to discover new opportunities.
How many years does it take to become a computer graphic designer?
In the career of the graphic designer, practice and portfolio development have more impact than education. Self-taught designers can develop professional-level skills in 1-2 years through consistency and regularly adding quality work to their portfolios.
Some specializations like UI/UX or product design have a more significant learning curve and may take up to 4 years to become proficient in.
Becoming a proficient computer graphic designer typically takes 1-4 years depending on your learning path. Formal education through a bachelor’s degree requires about 4 years, while specialized certificate programs may take 6-12 months. Self-taught designers can develop professional-level skills in 1-2 years with consistent practice and portfolio development.
What does a computer graphic artist do?
A computer graphic artist creates visual content using digital tools. Their work includes logos, creative materials for marketing campaigns, illustration and developing product packaging.
To create their concepts, computer graphic artists also do a good amount of client work. They have to always stay on top of project requirements and refine their designs based on client feedback.
Do graphic designers need a degree?
No, graphic designers don’t necessarily need a degree. While formal education provides structured learning and networking opportunities, many successful designers are self-taught.
What matters most is a strong portfolio demonstrating your skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Employers typically value practical capabilities and impressive work samples over academic credentials.
Is graphic design a good career?
Graphic design remains a viable career with stable demand across industries. It offers creative fulfillment, diverse specialization paths, and flexible work arrangements including remote and freelance options.
While competition exists, designers with strong portfolios, specialized skills, and business acumen can build rewarding, sustainable careers with growth potential.
Can I learn graphic design in 3 months?
You can learn basic graphic design principles and software in 3 months through intensive study, but becoming professionally proficient takes longer. A 3-month period is sufficient to understand fundamentals, complete introductory projects, and begin building a portfolio.
However, developing the creative judgment, technical mastery, and industry knowledge for professional work requires ongoing practice and experience.
Summary
To start working as a computer graphic designer, you need above all determination and consistency. At the start, dip your toes in more than one type of design and find what brings out your natural talents and what opportunities the market has to offer.
- Some specializations in this field, such as UI/UX and web design, offer more job opportunities and higher salaries than others.
- Each field provides a different level of independence in terms of team collaboration, remote work and a flexible environment.
- All beginners must learn the core design principles of composition, color theory, typography, contrast and hierarchy.
- The most widely used graphic design software is the Adobe Creative Cloud.
- When choosing your equipment, prioritize accurate color reproduction of the monitor and high CPU and RAM specs for the hardware.
- To build a good portfolio as a computer graphic designer, at the start focus on experimentation and collaboration with various projects, especially internships and volunteer work.
Perhaps the most important part of becoming a graphic designer is daily practice. The only way to master key techniques is through regular practical exercises.
The graphic design course at Kemp Center prepares future designers with exercises in project preparation, raster and vector design, publication design and tasks in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign.
References
- World Economic Forum. (2025). The Future of Jobs Report 2025. Geneva: World Economic Forum. Retrieved from https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_Report_2025.pdf
- Business Insider. (2025). This job seeker applied 12 times to the same company and finally landed his dream job at Adobe by making a personalized video cover letter. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/video-cover-letter-dream-job-adobe-user-experience-designer-2025-5?IR=T
- PayScale. (2025). Average Graphic Designer Salary. PayScale, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Graphic_Designer/Salary
- Exploding Topics. (2025). 23 Important Graphic Design Statistics: 2025 Data Analysis & Market Share. Retrieved from https://explodingtopics.com/blog/graphic-design-stats
