The expanding market for web design,
multimedia projects, and video entertainment has made graphic design a hot
field. Graphic designers are experiencing greater demand than any other design
specialist. An online associate degree in Graphic Design offers the technical
expertise necessary to launch a career in this fast-paced industry.
Online associate degree programs focus on the
technical aspects of graphic design, and emphasize practical instruction over
design theory and liberal arts classes. Courses may include computer graphics,
illustration, typography, digital media, Raster graphics, and web publishing.
More advanced training extends into animation, visual communications,
multimedia, and digital imaging manipulation
Graduates of an associate degree program in
graphic design qualify for entry-level jobs in the graphic design and multimedia
industry, such as graphic design assistants and drafters. Many return to school
to complete their bachelor degree, or work their way up to higher-level design
positions.
Entry-level
designers commanded an average starting salary of $32,000 in 2005, according to
a Bureau of Labor Statistics report. With more experience and training,
designers can earn salaries in the $60,000 range with design directors or firm
principals earning six figures. An associate degree in Graphic Design cannot
guarantee a specific job outcome or salary, but technical qualification is the
major factor in a designer's career prospects.
