Page 6 - My FlipBook

Some high schools have begun offering courses that fo-
cus on social media marketing and social media literacy. These
classes cover creative writing, digital communications, graphics
software, and computer technology. Courses might also touch
on topics like ethical marketing to help students understand
professional standards that cover online privacy and market-
ing to children. While taking graphic arts classes is important,
the job also requires commitment, ingenuity, and a willingness
to explore and ask questions. “My advice to people who are
thinking about being a designer is to observe as much as pos-
sible,” says Maharaj. “Go to conferences . . . buy books, share
with your peers, read blogs, listen to podcasts and learn from
others; see what they have done and try to figure out what they
have designed, unravel it and try to recreate it to really get un-
der its skin.”
Most employers of social media graphic designers require
applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, graphic de-
sign, or a related field such as communications or marketing.
According to the National Association of Schools of Art and De-
sign, about 350 postsecondary institutions with programs in art
and design are in operation. Most of these schools require stu-
dents to finish a year of basic art and design programs in high
school before they can enter a bachelor’s degree program.
Students are typically required to submit a portfolio when
applying to art and design schools. They should have a fairly
large collection of completed design projects by the end of high
school. To put together a portfolio, sort through your work and
find the projects that best showcase your creative abilities and
technical skills. Then perfect, polish, and present it on a dazzling
website that highlights your graphic design skills.
Bachelor’s degree programs in art and design include
courses in principles of design, computerized design, commu-
nications design, commercial graphics production, studio art,
printing techniques, and website design. Other courses include
art history, writing, and foreign languages. Graphic design stu-

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