Your pay as a designer really depends on your skill and the amount of clientele you have if you're freelance. Advice I would give to young freelancers is to understand each client's situation and work with them the best you can on price. When you push their budget to the limit, they tend to look for ways to reduce the amount of money they spend and that may mean replacing you as a designer for someone cheaper. The internet makes your competition worldwide.
With a graphic design degree you don't have to be a graphic designer you can be loads of other things graphic design opens the door to loads of opportunities as it is used everywhere you could be an animator, art director, media artist, web developer/ software and much more so money shouldn't be such an issue because you can do loads of this and try things out.
I love how you say we shouldn't take wages that people who did not take a formal education or any kind of training is receiving while being respectful and really brilliant while doing it keep up the good work man thank you for all the info you share with us!!!
Hey mate much love here from the Philippines! Thank God there's people like you who make tutorial like these which helps graphic designers like me continue learning new stuffs! thanks!
Thank God! I've been searching and searching for videos my students would be interested in watching with little success. SO glad I finally came across this. Thank you!
I guess I'm a "rare exception". I've worked at three places-- one for 8 years, 10 years and going on 7 years at my current employer. I do like how he tells people not to undersell yourself. I made that mistake early on in my career but there was no Internet back then to tell me these things when I started out.
This video is outstanding. Anywhere else you look you get basic data compared to other specialties. I appreciate your taking the time to put this together. I am getting close to moving from 20 yrs in the Military to graphic Design and this was a big help in giving me an idea on where to start. Thanks!
This is great knowledge. I think you spoke for most industry positions. What you said goes many ways. Music for instance. Asking for what you want according to skill or experience level varys. However this is not the case anymore. People constantly degrade their skill and talent for a quick buck.
Great video and I loved the colorful explanation of how designers need to be valued, not settling for manual labor pay! I would add that there is a big opportunity for growth in this field, should a designer eventually become an Art Director or Creative Director. Then you're looking at double the highest salary you mentioned. Those positions of course rely on someone's leadership and directional skills as well. Another thing is I would advise avoiding working at print shops (dead end jobs on your resume that can result in better places stigmatizing you) or sites like the freelance ones you mentioned (many of the clients there treat designers like a commodity and don't pay very well). This industry is very competitive, particularly in the NY Metro area, so the first job you take is something you will be judged on for a long time.
I would agree with most of what you say in this comment. Print shops can be good for networking opportunities and experience. You don' have to let it be a dead end resume job and you can avoid even using it on your resume if you want, I bring it up because you can learn a lot and make some good contacts. As for the freelance sites, this is again something new designers can do to gain experience and real world projects, especially if they are still in school.. Great comment, thanks!
Thank you for your input, Roberto. The issue with print shops is that when you make connections through them, you can be viewed as a subpar designer because you worked there. If you are in school and you are there during that term, then it's fine to earn money there if you are also interning at a good place and only getting school credits. The freelance sites I mention can be beneficial to individual students, but as a whole, it affects the design community and clients expect to pay amounts less than what designers are worth. I would consider it just a step above spec work or super-low paying jobs.
+Andy Zaturno graphic designers make what they have the leverage to negotiate and 99% of people will not be rich no matter what profession they chose. The prospect of riches is a poor reason to choose how to spend most of your life... Also you can't just extrapolate your own personal experience to the entire profession. Its just projection... David Airey, Jacob Cass, Radim Malanic, they aren't unicorns.... What about every successful design practice featured in Advanced Photoshop...?
To add, working as a UX/UI/visual designer in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley (such as San Jose, Sunnyvale) pay waaaay more than LA or NYC, because it's the 'heart' of the tech world. The more skills(as well as experience) you have the more value you are to a company and the more you can demand.
They also pay more because living in California is expensive so most of it goes into living expenses 60k isn't the same in California vs somewhere like Virginia where you'd be rich
very helpful way you have expressed the information, in the process of negotiating a salary with my employers, definitely been feeling my time and the amount i'm getting don't feel satisfying. Questioning my value as an artist when doing so, also in a part-time position. Named my ideal price range so hopefully they will settle between an agreeable range.
Man you have helped me out soo much with your videos & the advice you qive out. I totally appreciate you for doing these vids... I'm looking to b a graphic designer myself & I wanted to learn the basics & I have already learned SOO much from you. Thanks again you ROCCKKKK😌😁😸😏👍
You make very informative videos, thank you. I'm so set on this field and have been since high school, but I hate the money I'm investing into college and the realistic pay I will be getting even as a senior designer. Bums me out a little.
adam seay Yeah, it can depend on where you are, that is a big factor in how much you make, and how much demand there is. I will do a video on that actually but I always advice Graphic Designers to avoid small towns and to move away from them for college or in general. Not a high demand for your skill set and people won't value it appropriately. You have to live in or near a metro area.
Roberto Blake This is invaluable advice and could be a video in and of itself. Small towns often aren't a hub for creative professionals to interact with and bounce ideas off of and also the demand for your services won't be on par with metro areas.
I do freelance work now as a graphic designer. It's only my first year in college, and I will be entering my second year in the fall, so I really found this video to be very helpful.
Roberto Blake thank you! I have a question. I love graphic design, and i just changed my major to architecture. I have been doing graphic design freelance for about a year now. I want to continue doing this. Could you give me any advice?
Im 14 and love graphic design, im quite experienced in making RUclips banners(channel art) and RUclips avatars(channel logos) and can also make Wallpapers quite well, but have never really tried making a website design or apps, how do you think i should start learning to design websites?
Man, your videos are amazing. Thank you for the push and inspirational words. They all hit home. Im definitely applying a lot of this info ASAP. Much respect Roberto.
Hi, i never showed my design to professional designers. But people like it. Though for now i put my price very low because i don't have the confidence to set it high and risk of losing clients because the design didn't worth the money. Advice needed. Thanks!
Hey Mate, I've been watching your videos (which are great thanks!) and you often ask for inspiration on a next video. What I would love to see if you haven't done it already is 'how to go about winning design competitions'. The content I am looking for is, firstly how to choose which contest to enter that will ultimately benefit you, win or lose, understanding the briefs and creating content the judges want to see, the thought process you would undertake when coming up with your initial idea and and displaying the content in a way that puts your design into it's ideal situation. Thanks
The hard truth is there is no real secret to winning design competitions because you can't know who will be judging it and you can really get any intel on them and understand who they are. It is the difference between working with an actual client. All you can do is take your best shot...
This video was exactly what I needed today! I'll be applying for a new position soon (shifting from production design to in house or agency design hopefully) and was thinking about my salary requirements. I should know by now to always come to Roberto Blake with all my design questions instead of google! ;) I end up on your channel either way haha! Thanks for consistently putting out great content!
I need advice... and I think you are the right person to ask. I am working 40 hours every week at an print agency. I make $16 an hour. I have my bachelors degree in Graphic Design. I have close to 300 projects to show for on my portfolio with all satisfied clients. I use Indesign, Illustrator & Photoshop fairly well. I dedicate myself to every project I receive and I make deadlines earlier than expected. I want to make more money. I think its time that I start looking for another job. But I've noticed that many graphic designers these days are expected to know basic HTML and know how to work wordpress. Is this something that I can do easily? I have a basic knowledge of HTML. But I just want to know what should I expect from a big corporate. Thank you for all your videos. You have truly inspired me.
+yeliz karagozlu Big Corporate jobs are as much who you know as what you know. If you know someone that can get you a gig as a Print Production Manager then why would you need HTML? Thinking about what someone needs and why matters. If you feel you can learn HTML it doesn't hurt or you could spend that time building a network of contacts in your field of expertise instead of trying to win on the merits of a skill you have little to show for... Most designers make the devastating mistake of building a great portfolio and never building their professional network. You can't just invest in the work and not your relationships.
I've been thinking of covering that and a video on Art Directors and Creative Directors, both becoming one and working with them. Good suggestion. Actually great suggestion!
no worries. i'm a comic book artist but trying my hand at the graphic design world now. so this was a cool video. i haven't posted any videos yet but i'm going to soon.
Excellent point at the end. Why the hell should anyone pay over £45,000 in tuition fees and maintenance loans for a degree when they are going to come out and struggle to compete with designers or any profession for a value that is lower than they deserve.
that's becouse you are a poor bussiness person, same with me, i am great designer but didn't do well in business until i started to learn business , it's all about selling yourself, invest in business knowledge and you will see changes.
In some cases it could be experience, you may have experience but not in the specific thing the client needs, or they may be looking for someone who can "do everything". It all comes down to how each person qualifies value. Do you have skills in both print and web? do you have illustration skills? how much do you know about online marketing and social media? There was a time when it used to be enough or be fine to specialize, but in the current economic climate there is the expectation to leverage designers to do as many things as possible because many employers just don't feel comfortable for paying some one to do "just do design work" and they don't see enough design problems in their organization that need solving. Part of the reason they don't see them is because they are not designers, but you can't say that in an interview LOL. Ultimately good interviews come down to being calm, clear, confident and concise. Added to that you have to be qualified for the particular thing they want and they won't always tell you what that is. There is a saying, they best games to play are ones you've already won. If people are in love with your portfolio before the call, and were able to do a search in Google and find enough positive information on you, the odds are you already have "won". If your portfolio, resume and background haven't wowed them, its an uphill battle. This can also be circumvented if you've done some work they are already aware of, or you are otherwise "on their radar" via someone they know, etc.
Great video! It is unfortunate that many of us are having a hard time finding work that is worthwhile. I have so many people ask me if they have to pay me to work. Or be like "hey can you do a logo reveal. I have $30..." There have been people where they pay me for work (a flat project fee), then have me do countless changes to original project that was supposed to be "done". I do want to draw up a contract to protect myself. Do you have any suggestions? Or could you do a video on that? Thanks!
I've been thinking of doing a video like that, though I hesitate to give any legal advice beyond making book and software recommendations on tools that help with that sort of thing. I can definitely appreciate how hard it can be. Best thing you can do is stand firm. Other people lacking a budget is not your problem and you are not obligated to give your talent away or burden yourself. You can tell them revisions and extras will cost money because its going over on your time and you have other client work you have to do and its not fair to them. Most people know when they are being difficult and when you are firm and call them on it they cooperate more. Just sure that while being firm you are still polite and respectful.
Ah I understand. I suppose legal contracts can be a bit tricky. What I was trying to get at was get enough freelance work to serve as "experience" because in my area, companies won't hire you unless you have 2-3 years of work experience... which I can't get because EVERYONE requires some sort of work experience. I had a hospital look at my work that I was really close to landing, but unfortunately, he didn't see in my portfolio what he was looking for, even though I could do it. I would say that building up portfolio work is a bit hard whenever no one wants to pay you for the work you're doing. I should no longer settle for free or cheap labor anymore, even for "experience" or "word of mouth"
YOUR WELCOME, YOUR ARE VERY INTELLEGENT, ABOUT YOUR CRAFT, I WOULD LIKE TOO CREATE, T- SHIRTS AND PAPER BAGS, AND I'M TRYING TOO LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN ON HOW TOO DO, AND WHAT TO DO, SO I CAN BE SUCESSFUL AT CRAFTING AN CREATIVITY AND I THANK YOU, FOR YOUR INPUT. ON THIS, TOPIC. THANK YOU.
Hi Roberto, great information and thanks for the insight. What are your thoughts on graphic design websites that offer design services in a "contest" type format. Sites like DesignCrowd and CrowdSpring seem like a good idea at first but in the long run I feel they are a waste of time. I have tried both of these sites out of curiosity and found that a lot of the clients expect full service design work for a fraction of the cost. They constantly want designers to make changes and edits but then they turn around and choose another design. All the man hours put into the project were a waste of time and these clients can not be billed due to site restrictions and policies. These site are somewhat ruining a Graphic Designer's ability to charge a fair price for services rendered in my opinion.
Greg Booker I'll have to cover this in another video. I have mixed feelings, because I think for students who still don't know what they are doing they are a good exercise whether they pay out or not if you don't have the creativity or discipline to figure out how to fill up your portfolio.For working designers I don't think they are a good use of time. I'm hoping that the idea of "I need to fill up my portfolio" will be countered by the: Create Awesome Guide to Building a Design Portfolio. Designers don't realize that they can put self initiated or made up non-client work in their portfolio or that if they are going to work for free it should be for charities and causes that can give them a recommendation and that sometimes they lead to paying projects.
When you noted salary fluctuation depending on area/industry (like publication or advertising), do you've any thoughts on what one should expect when entering branding/visual identity? Keep up the awesome work!
+Lisa Doherty It mostly relates to your target market and experience, communicaiton skills and confidence, so it's impossible to give you a hard number on this
wow i am glad to have found your videos iv been looking for this tyoe of info for awhile, definitely subscribing, im going into graphic design this sprig semester, or graphic media is what its called at the school im going too idk if that changes anything or not?
I'm 15 and I've been designing for around 3-4 years now, this is something I'm looking to do for the rest of my life (Or at least as a part time job, since I'd rather run a business or become a film maker or collide all of them and make a media type business) but right now I'm mainly doing Social Media design, Logo Design, Advertisement design & Web Design/Development, I'm wondering how I can get a job where I can have a monthly pay because right now as a freelance Designer I'm making anywhere from $300 and sometimes up to $700 a month and I'd like to have a monthly pay + freelance money coming in + my Film Business money (which isn't too much but it's not bad since I just started it, mainly shooting ads and music videos in my city plus some short films here and there) so if anyone has an answer or a video I can check out I'd really appreciate it because I'd love to have a steady pay, and I'm also wondering if it maters if I'm only 15, because I've had a few opportunities to have a Graphic Design job then they stopped talking to me about it once they figured out I was 15, so should I just wait until I'm older to get a Graphic Design job and just do freelance or just keep looking until someone hires me?
Great video you have. I was wondering if you could explain to me what differs a freelance Graphic Designer from a private company employed Graphics Designer in relation with their income. i'm making a research about this matter and i hope you could give me your concept about this. Your video is pretty helpful, thank you :-)
Im in Copenhagen and im thinking about how i really wanna work in an agency/bureau where they help medium to large companies do branding, marketing and graphical design.. Do you think its a good position?
Hey roberto. I am johnmark and i just wanna ask some questions about graphic design. i used to do design class in my school last year. And now i only know some stuff on photoshop. Not that much tho. And i applied to whitecliff school of art in new zealand and i got in but its only 6 months. And there's another school that has graphic design but its only 41 weeks then thats it. Does the graphics design takes that short ? Or is it longer than that?. And how long did you study graphic design? Thank you pls reply ASAP :)
Everyone has different learning styles. The main thing I learned in college was graphic design principles and gain access to software I didn't have at the time. Today you can learn most of that on your own or through online courses and videos. You can learn anything as fast as you want to. It doesn't have to take 4 years or even 4 months. You learn more in 6 months of doing something forva job than years of university because practical application trumps everything. The real value of school is access, and networking opportunities. if it offers that then great. If you want to be a graphic designer study working graphic designers.
Some "designers" for example charge $300 for logo design. Other designers charge $3000 for logo design. Then a client is confused and asking "Bob here is willing to do a logo for $300. Your estimate is outrageous". I try to explain to client that Bob won't create the quality and won't research their cometition and won't position their brand above the competitor but the client is thinking "how to hire cheap labor to solve their problem" vs how attract more customers through more professional brand/logo redesign. I've lost some clients that way because I could not effectively convey them why I cost more even though my work was published in brand identity books, even CA mentioned me and I've won my share of awards. The client was a mid size business with $10 mill in revenue yet they were counting peanuts when it came to their logo identity. Also, I'd like to request a video from you : How to convey a client for better design without hurting their feelings? You've replied to my question yesterday by providing an example of : "You have such great product or service and your logo doesn not convey that message" could you please make a video in depth on that subject? I also know many designers even ad agencies do spec work for the client how their logo/website could look like with redesign. I would like to hear your thoughts on that subject. Thank you.
+AlexUSA США There are computers that cost $200 and there are computers that cost $2000. Which one are they going to entrust their work to be on and trust their files on for the next 5 years. I may make a whole video around this or tie it to a freelancing video or maybe I will cover it in the email newsletter or the podcast. But the reality is that if they don't have an "investment mentaility" and are even bringing it up or price is the thing they are most concerned about, you are probably dealing with the wrong type of cleints and need to market yourself to attract better ones...
If I was to Get in to Graphic Design / Photo & Video Editing & Be Able to Make A Professional Flash Website with out knowing code using a macbook pro what software would you suggest & pricing please ? Thanks You seem like you would know ,
hello , i just completed my degree and im looking for doing a diploma in graphic designing , the academy is pretty good . and i do sketches , i'm quite ok with a pencil . should i be opting for this career ? and what is your advice for me ?
Hi, I'm from Malaysia. I'm just 16. Athough I learn all abount science in secondary school now because that's my mum order but I still love design&art so much. I would like to ask about is that fine if I continue to chase my dream that I really want to be a designer in Malaysia?Or maybe I should study hard to learn at abroad design university?Or maybe I should just continue to learn about science in university because I'm in science class ?
+ Jia En Ng I'm also from malaysia. You know what, I think you should go for it! After you end your spm, you can go to art college and take graphic design.
+amityofyouth I just worry about it might hard to get a job in future, nowadays too many people who are talented in art. Anyway thank you! I wont give up easily
+Jia En Ng hi dear i am from malaysia too and I had scored pretty well in spm too. Actually I was just like you, I actually studied in science stream but I am super passionate in design! In the end, I follow my passion and I am in my degree now. So I would like to advice you to follow your passion, because passion is the thing that drives you to a better future! That's not true that science is always for the smartiesss! :) just go ahead for your passion
+Lil Mao creative agencies are a great way to start getting your foot in the door. They also do a good job at making sure you get paid a decent salary. You should check out Creative Circle and the Creative Group. Maybe they are in your area. Hope everything works out.
I've been asked to work for free just because im a student (a 4th year student), the pay would've been "experience". The worst thing is they ask for good skills on almost the entire Adobe Creative Suite AND photography too all for free and I would have to work for 4 hours like a part time. Of course I don't take these lame scams but it's sad how undervalued graphic design is where I live.
+Samuel Betancourt (Xeyph) Market yourself outside of where you live, market yourself as a freelancer do not feel compelled to promote your education or leverage it, just "show your work" and work with people willing to pay for it. You need experience, work for free with family and friends and get experience out of the way. Hold your projects up as your experience. Years don't mean crap. Work in the industry for 10 years and only do 50 projects? That's not experience it is time, there is a difference. Counter punch. When someone tells me they have a film degree, I usually respond with "How many videos have you shot and edited?" Degrees impress people who also have them and are being smug most of the time. Time in the game is the same thing. I've shot and edited over 1000 videos. That is the only credential I need. I've have a great body of design work. I have not degree in writing, I make somebodies salary writing for design and tech blogs and magazines? Why I wrote 1000 articles for free on my own first. Execution is how you project value and how you negotiate it and gain leverage.
Do you have an idea about how much 3d animator makes in year in usa I'm a college student and I've herd from some one that graphic is one of the worse job in the states when it comes to income
When it comes to income for Graphic Designers it comes down to where you live, what industry you work in and what skills you actually have. Also your experience. if you work in a small company outside a metro area whether you are a designer or programmer you can expect a crap salary. If you live in a metro area and work at an agency or magazine it will be better. If you're a business savvy freelancer you cam make 6 figures as a graphic designer. As for 3D for a 9to5 day job there isn't much demand. There are only a handful of companies specializing in it and get regular work from larger studios, and aside from hiring out temps 2 to 6 months at a time they have a close staff of people they know, usually friends from college etc. So I would say if you plan to go into that arena you have to network just about as much as you work. I have a friend constantly floating between studios in that arena because he's a bit of an introvert and can go months at a time without a gig.
harshleen singh Start learning graphic design principles, learn the open source software or get your parents to get you a student license for Creative Cloud for $20/month. Learn about careers associated with Graphic Design and What is going to interest you, like working for an ad agency, working for a magazine, etc.
Daniel. You should start interning first before you actually get a job. This is so you can get your experience ready while you get your degrees in college.
Yes. Your going to college. What you can do is start interning. Interning as in working to get experience in the field that your going to. That is just so you can get your experience that jobs ask for.
+MULTI If you're a beginner before you even think about that you should polish your skills and build a portfolio and think about the work you actually want to do.
I'm a 13 year old, any ideas on how I strt early? I have a little bit of experience with photoshop so on? But that's with just a windows laptop, no trackpad or anything, any ideas will help 😃
hi... I want to do a best graphics designer. But how. I know something about of illustrator & photoshop. But I don't know Basic's Graphics design. Please Help me....
This is a very good video sir. Prior to design school I had a decent idea about what i'd be making. It made me smh when i'd over hear students expecting $60k right out the gate, no matter what industry.
Ike Anderson It's not that it is impossible, it's just that most people are not positioning themselves to do that "right out the gate. If you were a graphic and web designer from the age of teen years using Adobe applications and already had clients when you got to college, had a growing social media following and decided to start something like an online digital magazine your first year of college and you scaled it over 4 years to where you had paid advertising and affiliate relationships, were pulling in paying clients and had passive revenue being generated from the brand you built... you might end up being 22 years old already making 50K whether you finished the degree or not. With that leverage and the experience of managing the other people who helped you produced those results you could walk into an interview for a position as an Art Department Manager or Art Director and Ask for $75K to $120K and the odds are you would get it.The only people who care about degrees in the world of Advertising and Marketing are, former teachers, programers, hiring managers and that's basically it. Art Directors and Creative Directors that know what they are doing and know what they want care about only 2 Things. What do you bring to the table to improve their situation TODAY, and do I LIKE you and can WORK with you 8-10 hours every day without either of us wanting to kill each other. That's it. Portfolio and Personality. Degrees get you past gatekeepers to decision makers. Scale you results high enough and you walk by Gate Keepers anyway.Produce results, 100% of the time. You show me a degree, I don't know what you can actually do. Show me that you scaled a nothing blog into a 100,000 views a month, now I'm interested. You won an award, that's nice, you already have clients, now I have CEO's I talk to about what the experience of working with you is like. You Got a 4.0 GPA, great you showed up and did what you were asked and you put in the time to study... You got published by a professional publication in your industry like Advanced Photoshop or Digital Arts or Imagine FX, now I know you're in the top X% of creative people in the field and have been acknowledged by people who know quality.If you want to make $60K right out of college, you can, just not because you got a degree, but because you used 4 years and all the time before that to scale and create value of $60-100K/year by building a brand, and developing the skills to deliver at that level.
hey, i'm portuguese i live in portugal now i'm 20 years, and my portfolio is www.behance.net/markfortez and i've never studied graphic design i love draws logos everything since little i just got my experience through curiosity, is there anyway to work on US with this skills or experience ? thanks anyway
and what about someone who have a degree from Institute outside of USA.. Algeria north Africa I have 1 year experience I'm interesting about work in USA I need help
some people here in Los Angeles want to pay $15 to $17 with 5+ years experience. MUAHAHAHA… maybe they should ask a homeless person who doesn't have to pay for rent.
I am going to learn Graphic Design to make a living out of the profession should I be a GD or Should I go with Web Development please tell me I am confused and BTW I am from Pakistan a 3rd world country and here and average household income is $250 anything more than $300 is considered a huge Income I want it to change. 😀 Please Reply
These videos are really insightful! Thank you for all of the information. I am currently a Sophomore in college studying Digital Media Arts with a multimedia concentration. I'm becoming more and more worried however that I won't get a job out of college, and I'm kind of confused with the process because I'm not exactly sure what I want to do with the degree. I use the Adobe Creative Suite as well as other programs for designing and editing, but I'm just not sure what to do/where to go with what my skills are. Any advice for a current student? Thanks!
your situation is very common. In my graphic design playlist I have a recent video on how to find jobs as a graphic designer, how to become a freelancer, and how to get hired. These videos should likely answer most of your questions. Making connections is going get you the job if your portfolio is good. The degree is just the insurance policy. Without one I got hired over people who did every single time, specifically because i could sell myself and my work. Positioning, Personality and Portfolio. It is a sale. if everyone who walks in has a degree and no experience with all the enthusiasm in the world, what is special enough about you to get you hired over them? If I'm hiring you for my studio and you pitch me on your degree, I'll be honest, I'd put you on the spot and ask you to explain how your degree or what school you went to directly impacts my bottom line or creates value for my customers? If you want to get hired you have to create value. your portfolio tells half that story, it got you in the door, its up to you to close.
Wow thank you so much for the advice! I definitely have a few connections, and that list is expanding every day (which is obviously good.) I am looking into doing design work as a freelance while in college, which will not only grow my portfolio, but also my connection list as well. Again, thank you so much for the advice, and I've been binge watching your videos for the past week or so! Have a nice Holiday and thanks again! Colby
Zaikohh TrickshottinglFIFA I'm and independent Graphic Designer running my own one man studio based on a hybrid model. I used to work as an in-house designer, and I used to work at an ad agency. It's not polite to talk about how much money you make, so I will suffice to say I make a good living, and it is my full time job without punching a clock and I also get to invest a decent amount in my business and hobbies.
Roberto Blake yes it was rude of me, but i was asking the average of how much graphic designers in general make in that scenario i asked in my first question, not just you individually? if you could answer my first question again and pretend you are in that scenario, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Zaikohh TrickshottinglFIFA I wasn't saying it was rude of you, it would be rude for me to talk about it. If you're a Graphic Designer working for an in-house company that doesn't specialize in Design or Advertising, it could depend on a lot of factors, it could be $30K/yr-$50K/yr but it will also depend on your location. In general regardless of how big the brand is, In-House designers outside of the Advertising or Marketing industry itself are not paid very well (IMO). They are paid well comparivtively to the other employees, BUT they are not expected to have Creative/Artistic talent, in addition to Technical Skill, and their quality of work is not a matter of taste and subjectivity, so I think that given that they are undervalued.
I'm making way too much in my current contract position. I'm making $35 an hour worth hourly and only making newsletter designs. I'm not complaining though. I just do the meaningful work in my own time and with my own clients.
+WOWQueen if you're happy that is the important thing. I thought $35 an hour was a lot a few years ago, currently my consulting alone is a few hundred and hour and I can charge enough for design to be the creative director while getting designers 2-3 times what they normally charge while I manage the client relationship and keep the project in line. If you are trying to be comfortable that is one thing but if you're trying to climb the mountain you can't get comfortable 😉
A 9 year old is making legit money as a wedding photographer right now and is actually good and 15 year olds have been known to design and or photograph the covers of nationally syndicated magazines...12 year olds have been known to make best selling apps in the apps store... so you tell me....
Your pay as a designer really depends on your skill and the amount of clientele you have if you're freelance. Advice I would give to young freelancers is to understand each client's situation and work with them the best you can on price. When you push their budget to the limit, they tend to look for ways to reduce the amount of money they spend and that may mean replacing you as a designer for someone cheaper. The internet makes your competition worldwide.
Absolutely agree with this and will be covering that in a video about Freelancing. Thanks for the great comment!
With a graphic design degree you don't have to be a graphic designer you can be loads of other things graphic design opens the door to loads of opportunities as it is used everywhere you could be an animator, art director, media artist, web developer/ software and much more so money shouldn't be such an issue because you can do loads of this and try things out.
+sahra ebohon That applies to a lot of things, but it is almost a matter of positioning.
I love how you say we shouldn't take wages that people who did not take a formal education or any kind of training is receiving while being respectful and really brilliant while doing it keep up the good work man thank you for all the info you share with us!!!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it and have been watching the other videos. Let me know if there is a video I haven't done that you want to see.
Hey mate much love here from the Philippines! Thank God there's people like you who make tutorial like these which helps graphic designers like me continue learning new stuffs! thanks!
Thank God!
I've been searching and searching for videos my students would be interested in watching with little success. SO glad I finally came across this. Thank you!
EyeLean5280 Glad to help. I have over 100 videos on Graphic Design plus tutorials and several other videos covering photography, video and marketing!
Roberto Blake Thanks! I'm so excited to go through them all. Looking at your titles, I think there's a lot here my students will enjoy :)
I guess I'm a "rare exception". I've worked at three places-- one for 8 years, 10 years and going on 7 years at my current employer. I do like how he tells people not to undersell yourself. I made that mistake early on in my career but there was no Internet back then to tell me these things when I started out.
This video is outstanding. Anywhere else you look you get basic data compared to other specialties. I appreciate your taking the time to put this together. I am getting close to moving from 20 yrs in the Military to graphic Design and this was a big help in giving me an idea on where to start. Thanks!
Fernando Torres No problem!
This is great knowledge. I think you spoke for most industry positions. What you said goes many ways. Music for instance. Asking for what you want according to skill or experience level varys. However this is not the case anymore. People constantly degrade their skill and talent for a quick buck.
Great video and I loved the colorful explanation of how designers need to be valued, not settling for manual labor pay! I would add that there is a big opportunity for growth in this field, should a designer eventually become an Art Director or Creative Director. Then you're looking at double the highest salary you mentioned. Those positions of course rely on someone's leadership and directional skills as well. Another thing is I would advise avoiding working at print shops (dead end jobs on your resume that can result in better places stigmatizing you) or sites like the freelance ones you mentioned (many of the clients there treat designers like a commodity and don't pay very well). This industry is very competitive, particularly in the NY Metro area, so the first job you take is something you will be judged on for a long time.
I would agree with most of what you say in this comment. Print shops can be good for networking opportunities and experience. You don' have to let it be a dead end resume job and you can avoid even using it on your resume if you want, I bring it up because you can learn a lot and make some good contacts. As for the freelance sites, this is again something new designers can do to gain experience and real world projects, especially if they are still in school.. Great comment, thanks!
Thank you for your input, Roberto. The issue with print shops is that when you make connections through them, you can be viewed as a subpar designer because you worked there. If you are in school and you are there during that term, then it's fine to earn money there if you are also interning at a good place and only getting school credits. The freelance sites I mention can be beneficial to individual students, but as a whole, it affects the design community and clients expect to pay amounts less than what designers are worth. I would consider it just a step above spec work or super-low paying jobs.
DzignrGrl agreed I will be sure to address that in my video about not taking spec work
Super helpful since I am graduating in two weeks. Thanks again Roberto Blake!
Not a problem! Thanks for watching.
Im a graphic designer and I GUARANTEE you that designers don't make much money, so if you want to be rich, DO NOT study graphic design.
+Andy Zaturno graphic designers make what they have the leverage to negotiate and 99% of people will not be rich no matter what profession they chose. The prospect of riches is a poor reason to choose how to spend most of your life... Also you can't just extrapolate your own personal experience to the entire profession. Its just projection... David Airey, Jacob Cass, Radim Malanic, they aren't unicorns.... What about every successful design practice featured in Advanced Photoshop...?
To add, working as a UX/UI/visual designer in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley (such as San Jose, Sunnyvale) pay waaaay more than LA or NYC, because it's the 'heart' of the tech world. The more skills(as well as experience) you have the more value you are to a company and the more you can demand.
They also pay more because living in California is expensive so most of it goes into living expenses
60k isn't the same in California vs somewhere like Virginia where you'd be rich
60k? no....try.....higher
Thank you. I've been waiting for someone to say it like this.
Thanks Eric Vazquez
very helpful way you have expressed the information, in the process of negotiating a salary with my employers, definitely been feeling my time and the amount i'm getting don't feel satisfying. Questioning my value as an artist when doing so, also in a part-time position. Named my ideal price range so hopefully they will settle between an agreeable range.
Man you have helped me out soo much with your videos & the advice you qive out. I totally appreciate you for doing these vids... I'm looking to b a graphic designer myself & I wanted to learn the basics & I have already learned SOO much from you. Thanks again you ROCCKKKK😌😁😸😏👍
You make very informative videos, thank you. I'm so set on this field and have been since high school, but I hate the money I'm investing into college and the realistic pay I will be getting even as a senior designer. Bums me out a little.
adam seay Yeah, it can depend on where you are, that is a big factor in how much you make, and how much demand there is. I will do a video on that actually but I always advice Graphic Designers to avoid small towns and to move away from them for college or in general. Not a high demand for your skill set and people won't value it appropriately. You have to live in or near a metro area.
Roberto Blake This is invaluable advice and could be a video in and of itself. Small towns often aren't a hub for creative professionals to interact with and bounce ideas off of and also the demand for your services won't be on par with metro areas.
Nice video, I'm on the verge of becoming a designer outside of my own personal life and this has really helped!
Jack Spivey Awesome Jack!
great man, we needed this talk
I'm currently enrolled in Indiana University Pursuing A B.A & a Masters Degree in Graphic Designer.
I might add Italian & French as a Minor.
I do freelance work now as a graphic designer. It's only my first year in college, and I will be entering my second year in the fall, so I really found this video to be very helpful.
Art Warrior glad it helped you.
Roberto Blake thank you! I have a question. I love graphic design, and i just changed my major to architecture.
I have been doing graphic design freelance for about a year now. I want to continue doing this. Could you give me any advice?
Art Warrior that's way to broad to address in a comment, but I've done over 100 graphic design videos that can help you
Roberto Blake Alright, thank you. I will watch more of those. Is there one you could recommend to me?
Art Warrior
probably the one on becoming a freelancer.
Thank you for your words of insight.
Im 14 and love graphic design, im quite experienced in making RUclips banners(channel art) and RUclips avatars(channel logos) and can also make Wallpapers quite well, but have never really tried making a website design or apps, how do you think i should start learning to design websites?
Great video Roberto, very true about asking for what you think you are worth salary-wise.
Indeed. Thanks!
Man, your videos are amazing. Thank you for the push and inspirational words. They all hit home. Im definitely applying a lot of this info ASAP. Much respect Roberto.
I needed this...
Much appreciated, Roberto
YourSoulPrince You're welcome!
Great video. Excellent point about the $15hr unskilled laborer.
Thanks
+El McCall
Unkilled laborers should not be making more than $10/hr
Hi, i never showed my design to professional designers. But people like it. Though for now i put my price very low because i don't have the confidence to set it high and risk of losing clients because the design didn't worth the money. Advice needed. Thanks!
Hey Mate, I've been watching your videos (which are great thanks!) and you often ask for inspiration on a next video. What I would love to see if you haven't done it already is 'how to go about winning design competitions'. The content I am looking for is, firstly how to choose which contest to enter that will ultimately benefit you, win or lose, understanding the briefs and creating content the judges want to see, the thought process you would undertake when coming up with your initial idea and and displaying the content in a way that puts your design into it's ideal situation. Thanks
The hard truth is there is no real secret to winning design competitions because you can't know who will be judging it and you can really get any intel on them and understand who they are. It is the difference between working with an actual client. All you can do is take your best shot...
Thank you so much! Brilliant and informative video for sure!
Muhammad Adib Zailan your welcome!
I like your series of videos man! Keep sharing!
Thanks John
Thank you foor these bunch of precious advice !!
+Alassane THIOMBANE sure
Thank you for the great video. Informative as always. : )
Thank you Bella!
This video was exactly what I needed today! I'll be applying for a new position soon (shifting from production design to in house or agency design hopefully) and was thinking about my salary requirements. I should know by now to always come to Roberto Blake with all my design questions instead of google! ;) I end up on your channel either way haha! Thanks for consistently putting out great content!
Pink Glasses Productions Thanks for watching!
All truth. Great video, thank you.
+Baby1mAStar Glad you enjoyed it!
@Roberto Blake Iam not a designer but i watch your channel sine the rules that you give are applicable to any field.
Everytime with each video Roberto is amazing :) #dfxyzbs
Great Video. Very Well spoken speaker. Thanks!
+Torcha Harrison Thanks.
Thank you Roberto, you're awesome!
Thank you for this vital information.
Well said thank you for this information...
Great advice!
My wife went to collage to be a Graphic Designer and she is very good but I am the bread winner in the family. I love your videos. Great work
+ohneziel And why exactly would he have to do that?
+NaniSore cause u joined feb 26th, 2011
lol Sucks to be the man of the house! She gets to spend all her money on herself!
great video
I'm glad you mentioned freelancer and elance.com because where I live is a freakin deadzone..
I will need to do a video on Graphic Design from Anywhere. Because a lot of people in small towns and countries struggle with how to be successful.
I would DEEPLY appreciate that, please do.
Thanks!
thanks for the information sir
I need advice... and I think you are the right person to ask. I am working 40 hours every week at an print agency. I make $16 an hour. I have my bachelors degree in Graphic Design. I have close to 300 projects to show for on my portfolio with all satisfied clients. I use Indesign, Illustrator & Photoshop fairly well. I dedicate myself to every project I receive and I make deadlines earlier than expected. I want to make more money. I think its time that I start looking for another job. But I've noticed that many graphic designers these days are expected to know basic HTML and know how to work wordpress. Is this something that I can do easily? I have a basic knowledge of HTML. But I just want to know what should I expect from a big corporate.
Thank you for all your videos. You have truly inspired me.
+yeliz karagozlu Big Corporate jobs are as much who you know as what you know. If you know someone that can get you a gig as a Print Production Manager then why would you need HTML? Thinking about what someone needs and why matters.
If you feel you can learn HTML it doesn't hurt or you could spend that time building a network of contacts in your field of expertise instead of trying to win on the merits of a skill you have little to show for...
Most designers make the devastating mistake of building a great portfolio and never building their professional network. You can't just invest in the work and not your relationships.
THANK YOU!!!
No problem!
Great stuff as always man. Can you do that video on making yourself less of a risk?
I'll try it might be a while since I already have some videos shot and planned.
maybe you need to make a video about what a person should do or when he becomes a senoir designer
I've been thinking of covering that and a video on Art Directors and Creative Directors, both becoming one and working with them. Good suggestion. Actually great suggestion!
very cool video!!
Tony Clark Thanks
no worries. i'm a comic book artist but trying my hand at the graphic design world now. so this was a cool video. i haven't posted any videos yet but i'm going to soon.
Excellent point at the end. Why the hell should anyone pay over £45,000 in tuition fees and maintenance loans for a degree when they are going to come out and struggle to compete with designers or any profession for a value that is lower than they deserve.
I'm a great illustrator and I struggle
that's becouse you are a poor bussiness person, same with me, i am great designer but didn't do well in business until i started to learn business , it's all about selling yourself, invest in business knowledge and you will see changes.
Answer this question. Why I do get turned down on a graphic design interview? especially on phone call?
What do recruiters want from you?
Tim
In some cases it could be experience, you may have experience but not in the specific thing the client needs, or they may be looking for someone who can "do everything". It all comes down to how each person qualifies value. Do you have skills in both print and web? do you have illustration skills? how much do you know about online marketing and social media? There was a time when it used to be enough or be fine to specialize, but in the current economic climate there is the expectation to leverage designers to do as many things as possible because many employers just don't feel comfortable for paying some one to do "just do design work" and they don't see enough design problems in their organization that need solving. Part of the reason they don't see them is because they are not designers, but you can't say that in an interview LOL. Ultimately good interviews come down to being calm, clear, confident and concise. Added to that you have to be qualified for the particular thing they want and they won't always tell you what that is. There is a saying, they best games to play are ones you've already won. If people are in love with your portfolio before the call, and were able to do a search in Google and find enough positive information on you, the odds are you already have "won". If your portfolio, resume and background haven't wowed them, its an uphill battle. This can also be circumvented if you've done some work they are already aware of, or you are otherwise "on their radar" via someone they know, etc.
Great video! It is unfortunate that many of us are having a hard time finding work that is worthwhile. I have so many people ask me if they have to pay me to work. Or be like "hey can you do a logo reveal. I have $30..." There have been people where they pay me for work (a flat project fee), then have me do countless changes to original project that was supposed to be "done". I do want to draw up a contract to protect myself. Do you have any suggestions? Or could you do a video on that? Thanks!
I've been thinking of doing a video like that, though I hesitate to give any legal advice beyond making book and software recommendations on tools that help with that sort of thing. I can definitely appreciate how hard it can be. Best thing you can do is stand firm. Other people lacking a budget is not your problem and you are not obligated to give your talent away or burden yourself. You can tell them revisions and extras will cost money because its going over on your time and you have other client work you have to do and its not fair to them. Most people know when they are being difficult and when you are firm and call them on it they cooperate more. Just sure that while being firm you are still polite and respectful.
Ah I understand. I suppose legal contracts can be a bit tricky. What I was trying to get at was get enough freelance work to serve as "experience" because in my area, companies won't hire you unless you have 2-3 years of work experience... which I can't get because EVERYONE requires some sort of work experience. I had a hospital look at my work that I was really close to landing, but unfortunately, he didn't see in my portfolio what he was looking for, even though I could do it. I would say that building up portfolio work is a bit hard whenever no one wants to pay you for the work you're doing. I should no longer settle for free or cheap labor anymore, even for "experience" or "word of mouth"
THANK YOU
Miss. Phyllis Renee Foster Thank you for watching!
YOUR WELCOME, YOUR ARE VERY INTELLEGENT, ABOUT YOUR CRAFT,
I WOULD LIKE TOO CREATE, T- SHIRTS AND PAPER BAGS, AND I'M TRYING TOO LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN ON HOW TOO DO, AND WHAT TO DO, SO I CAN BE SUCESSFUL AT CRAFTING AN CREATIVITY AND I THANK YOU, FOR YOUR INPUT. ON THIS, TOPIC.
THANK YOU.
Amen, brother!
***** Thanks for watching!
Hi Roberto, great information and thanks for the insight. What are your thoughts on graphic design websites that offer design services in a "contest" type format. Sites like DesignCrowd and CrowdSpring seem like a good idea at first but in the long run I feel they are a waste of time. I have tried both of these sites out of curiosity and found that a lot of the clients expect full service design work for a fraction of the cost. They constantly want designers to make changes and edits but then they turn around and choose another design. All the man hours put into the project were a waste of time and these clients can not be billed due to site restrictions and policies. These site are somewhat ruining a Graphic Designer's ability to charge a fair price for services rendered in my opinion.
Greg Booker I'll have to cover this in another video. I have mixed feelings, because I think for students who still don't know what they are doing they are a good exercise whether they pay out or not if you don't have the creativity or discipline to figure out how to fill up your portfolio.For working designers I don't think they are a good use of time. I'm hoping that the idea of "I need to fill up my portfolio" will be countered by the: Create Awesome Guide to Building a Design Portfolio. Designers don't realize that they can put self initiated or made up non-client work in their portfolio or that if they are going to work for free it should be for charities and causes that can give them a recommendation and that sometimes they lead to paying projects.
Roberto Blake
Thanks for the response Roberto and I will stay tuned for your video on this subject.
When you noted salary fluctuation depending on area/industry (like publication or advertising), do you've any thoughts on what one should expect when entering branding/visual identity? Keep up the awesome work!
+Lisa Doherty It mostly relates to your target market and experience, communicaiton skills and confidence, so it's impossible to give you a hard number on this
Sure. Figured it'd depend on a couple factors. Thanks anyway.
wow i am glad to have found your videos iv been looking for this tyoe of info for awhile, definitely subscribing, im going into graphic design this sprig semester, or graphic media is what its called at the school im going too idk if that changes anything or not?
its likely the same
My biggest problem is with negotiation. I probably will take your advice and read some books on it. Are there any in particular you recommend?
Micah Buzan I will make a video about this but I would recommend Creative INC since it has a section on this: amzn.to/1JtutOB
I'm 15 and I've been designing for around 3-4 years now, this is something I'm looking to do for the rest of my life (Or at least as a part time job, since I'd rather run a business or become a film maker or collide all of them and make a media type business) but right now I'm mainly doing Social Media design, Logo Design, Advertisement design & Web Design/Development, I'm wondering how I can get a job where I can have a monthly pay because right now as a freelance Designer I'm making anywhere from $300 and sometimes up to $700 a month and I'd like to have a monthly pay + freelance money coming in + my Film Business money (which isn't too much but it's not bad since I just started it, mainly shooting ads and music videos in my city plus some short films here and there) so if anyone has an answer or a video I can check out I'd really appreciate it because I'd love to have a steady pay, and I'm also wondering if it maters if I'm only 15, because I've had a few opportunities to have a Graphic Design job then they stopped talking to me about it once they figured out I was 15, so should I just wait until I'm older to get a Graphic Design job and just do freelance or just keep looking until someone hires me?
AvoidTheBeast Wow, your doing so many great jobs at a pretty young age.
I'm 13 and I've been designing for 2 years, I learned from my dad because he does it for a job and I plan on doing it as a job too :).
I'm a Graphics designer as well :) I started last month I do realistic stuff on my channel check the out!
AvoidTheBeast WOW how are you earning already
I am 11 and going to learn Graphic Design should I?
Great video you have. I was wondering if you could explain to me what differs a freelance Graphic Designer from a private company employed Graphics Designer in relation with their income. i'm making a research about this matter and i hope you could give me your concept about this. Your video is pretty helpful, thank you :-)
+Myca Alumbro I think I have covered it in a more recent video.
What do you think about design contests for beginners?
Borislav Alexandrov I'll do a video on this as well as internships.
Roberto Blake
I'm gonna waiting for this video.
Subscribed and wait for you answer thank you :)
Im a graphic designer online who works for a U.S company. I earn $1000 to $2000 a month lol.
Im in Copenhagen and im thinking about how i really wanna work in an agency/bureau where they help medium to large companies do branding, marketing and graphical design.. Do you think its a good position?
+Michael Trier-hofby It can be if you can land the job.
+Roberto Blake Can do whatever i want man :D
Hey roberto.
I am johnmark and i just wanna ask some questions about graphic design. i used to do design class in my school last year. And now i only know some stuff on photoshop. Not that much tho. And i applied to whitecliff school of art in new zealand and i got in but its only 6 months. And there's another school that has graphic design but its only 41 weeks then thats it. Does the graphics design takes that short ? Or is it longer than that?. And how long did you study graphic design?
Thank you
pls reply ASAP :)
Everyone has different learning styles. The main thing I learned in college was graphic design principles and gain access to software I didn't have at the time.
Today you can learn most of that on your own or through online courses and videos.
You can learn anything as fast as you want to. It doesn't have to take 4 years or even 4 months.
You learn more in 6 months of doing something forva job than years of university because practical application trumps everything.
The real value of school is access, and networking opportunities. if it offers that then great. If you want to be a graphic designer study working graphic designers.
Some "designers" for example charge $300 for logo design. Other designers charge $3000 for logo design. Then a client is confused and asking "Bob here is willing to do a logo for $300. Your estimate is outrageous". I try to explain to client that Bob won't create the quality and won't research their cometition and won't position their brand above the competitor but the client is thinking "how to hire cheap labor to solve their problem" vs how attract more customers through more professional brand/logo redesign. I've lost some clients that way because I could not effectively convey them why I cost more even though my work was published in brand identity books, even CA mentioned me and I've won my share of awards. The client was a mid size business with $10 mill in revenue yet they were counting peanuts when it came to their logo identity. Also, I'd like to request a video from you : How to convey a client for better design without hurting their feelings? You've replied to my question yesterday by providing an example of : "You have such great product or service and your logo doesn not convey that message" could you please make a video in depth on that subject? I also know many designers even ad agencies do spec work for the client how their logo/website could look like with redesign. I would like to hear your thoughts on that subject. Thank you.
+AlexUSA США There are computers that cost $200 and there are computers that cost $2000. Which one are they going to entrust their work to be on and trust their files on for the next 5 years. I may make a whole video around this or tie it to a freelancing video or maybe I will cover it in the email newsletter or the podcast. But the reality is that if they don't have an "investment mentaility" and are even bringing it up or price is the thing they are most concerned about, you are probably dealing with the wrong type of cleints and need to market yourself to attract better ones...
make a video on graphic designers when they graduate college and get their 1st job.
riiaq gfx What do you mean? What their first job is like or how to get one? you're not being clear.
when there fresh out of college after graduation, how do they get a job.
riiaq gfx
Reference the 10 or so videos I've done covering this....
What do you Think about SCAD? Is it better scad or parsons for Graphic design??
la marti Parsons puts you in a location with better internships and overall connections. NYC is higher pay and more job opportunities.
If I was to Get in to Graphic Design / Photo & Video Editing & Be Able to Make A Professional Flash Website with out knowing code using a macbook pro what software would you suggest & pricing please ? Thanks You seem like you would know ,
+Dylan Reed Use wordpress or Adobe Muse!
who makes more graphic designers or programmers?
so in graphic designing do you charge them by how long it takes you to complete a project (when charging by the hour)
hello , i just completed my degree and im looking for doing a diploma in graphic designing , the academy is pretty good . and i do sketches , i'm quite ok with a pencil . should i be opting for this career ? and what is your advice for me ?
Hi, I'm from Malaysia. I'm just 16. Athough I learn all abount science in secondary school now because that's my mum order but I still love design&art so much. I would like to ask about is that fine if I continue to chase my dream that I really want to be a designer in Malaysia?Or maybe I should study hard to learn at abroad design university?Or maybe I should just continue to learn about science in university because I'm in science class ?
+ Jia En Ng I'm also from malaysia. You know what, I think you should go for it! After you end your spm, you can go to art college and take graphic design.
+amityofyouth I just worry about it might hard to get a job in future, nowadays too many people who are talented in art. Anyway thank you! I wont give up easily
Jia En Ng I also thought the same thing once, but aslong you're passionate about it will be okay :)
+amityofyouth Okay Thank you 😄
+Jia En Ng hi dear i am from malaysia too and I had scored pretty well in spm too. Actually I was just like you, I actually studied in science stream but I am super passionate in design! In the end, I follow my passion and I am in my degree now. So I would like to advice you to follow your passion, because passion is the thing that drives you to a better future! That's not true that science is always for the smartiesss! :) just go ahead for your passion
Hey Roberto, I just had an interview for my first design job. It pays 10.50 an hour. Does this seem low when Upstate NY minimum wage is 9.75
For any skilled labor job that seems abnormally low...
+Roberto Blake yeah I agree, but they're aren't too many jobs in this area and may be a foot in the door. Thank you for replying. appreciate it
+Lil Mao creative agencies are a great way to start getting your foot in the door. They also do a good job at making sure you get paid a decent salary. You should check out Creative Circle and the Creative Group. Maybe they are in your area. Hope everything works out.
+WOWQueen what is it?
+Lil Mao creative circle and creative group are creative staffing agencies. They provide mostly temporary contract work.
tying to find a good. book for art of negotiation books. any ideas?
I've been asked to work for free just because im a student (a 4th year student), the pay would've been "experience". The worst thing is they ask for good skills on almost the entire Adobe Creative Suite AND photography too all for free and I would have to work for 4 hours like a part time. Of course I don't take these lame scams but it's sad how undervalued graphic design is where I live.
+Samuel Betancourt (Xeyph) Market yourself outside of where you live, market yourself as a freelancer do not feel compelled to promote your education or leverage it, just "show your work" and work with people willing to pay for it. You need experience, work for free with family and friends and get experience out of the way. Hold your projects up as your experience. Years don't mean crap. Work in the industry for 10 years and only do 50 projects? That's not experience it is time, there is a difference. Counter punch. When someone tells me they have a film degree, I usually respond with "How many videos have you shot and edited?" Degrees impress people who also have them and are being smug most of the time. Time in the game is the same thing. I've shot and edited over 1000 videos. That is the only credential I need. I've have a great body of design work. I have not degree in writing, I make somebodies salary writing for design and tech blogs and magazines? Why I wrote 1000 articles for free on my own first. Execution is how you project value and how you negotiate it and gain leverage.
Do you have an idea about how much 3d animator makes in year in usa I'm a college student and I've herd from some one that graphic is one of the worse job in the states when it comes to income
When it comes to income for Graphic Designers it comes down to where you live, what industry you work in and what skills you actually have. Also your experience. if you work in a small company outside a metro area whether you are a designer or programmer you can expect a crap salary. If you live in a metro area and work at an agency or magazine it will be better. If you're a business savvy freelancer you cam make 6 figures as a graphic designer.
As for 3D for a 9to5 day job there isn't much demand. There are only a handful of companies specializing in it and get regular work from larger studios, and aside from hiring out temps 2 to 6 months at a time they have a close staff of people they know, usually friends from college etc. So I would say if you plan to go into that arena you have to network just about as much as you work.
I have a friend constantly floating between studios in that arena because he's a bit of an introvert and can go months at a time without a gig.
I'm 14 I want to become a graphic designer what steps can I take right now to learn and get a head step
harshleen singh Start learning graphic design principles, learn the open source software or get your parents to get you a student license for Creative Cloud for $20/month. Learn about careers associated with Graphic Design and What is going to interest you, like working for an ad agency, working for a magazine, etc.
I need to put a portfolio together for college and I don't know where to begin. Any advice?
Reference my videos on this that already covered it from just about every angle...
Daniel. You should start interning first before you actually get a job. This is so you can get your experience ready while you get your degrees in college.
interning how? I'm about to start college
interning how? I'm about to start college
Yes. Your going to college. What you can do is start interning. Interning as in working to get experience in the field that your going to. That is just so you can get your experience that jobs ask for.
Hey I am a begginer and i would love to know where should i start. is there any websites i can work for money and train my skills ?
+MULTI If you're a beginner before you even think about that you should polish your skills and build a portfolio and think about the work you actually want to do.
+Roberto Blake Thanks for the advice! see you in 2 years!
I'm a 13 year old, any ideas on how I strt early? I have a little bit of experience with photoshop so on? But that's with just a windows laptop, no trackpad or anything, any ideas will help 😃
Read and learn the history of design and learn about graphic designers and what they do day to day for a living.
+Roberto Blake thanks! Also thanks for a great response time!! You get a subscribe for replying so fast😄
+Roberto Blake oh and would you be able to check my banner? Made it today and by myself... Could I improve in any way?
+Hari Manoj have Instagram?
No bro ..why?
hi...
I want to do a best graphics designer. But how. I know something about of illustrator & photoshop. But I don't know Basic's Graphics design. Please Help me....
Rajib Ahmed If you don't know the basics of graphic design, learn them. Photoshop won't cut it. Watch ***** and his RUclips channel as well.
This is a very good video sir. Prior to design school I had a decent idea about what i'd be making. It made me smh when i'd over hear students expecting $60k right out the gate, no matter what industry.
Ike Anderson It's not that it is impossible, it's just that most people are not positioning themselves to do that "right out the gate. If you were a graphic and web designer from the age of teen years using Adobe applications and already had clients when you got to college, had a growing social media following and decided to start something like an online digital magazine your first year of college and you scaled it over 4 years to where you had paid advertising and affiliate relationships, were pulling in paying clients and had passive revenue being generated from the brand you built... you might end up being 22 years old already making 50K whether you finished the degree or not. With that leverage and the experience of managing the other people who helped you produced those results you could walk into an interview for a position as an Art Department Manager or Art Director and Ask for $75K to $120K and the odds are you would get it.The only people who care about degrees in the world of Advertising and Marketing are, former teachers, programers, hiring managers and that's basically it. Art Directors and Creative Directors that know what they are doing and know what they want care about only 2 Things. What do you bring to the table to improve their situation TODAY, and do I LIKE you and can WORK with you 8-10 hours every day without either of us wanting to kill each other. That's it. Portfolio and Personality. Degrees get you past gatekeepers to decision makers. Scale you results high enough and you walk by Gate Keepers anyway.Produce results, 100% of the time. You show me a degree, I don't know what you can actually do. Show me that you scaled a nothing blog into a 100,000 views a month, now I'm interested. You won an award, that's nice, you already have clients, now I have CEO's I talk to about what the experience of working with you is like. You Got a 4.0 GPA, great you showed up and did what you were asked and you put in the time to study... You got published by a professional publication in your industry like Advanced Photoshop or Digital Arts or Imagine FX, now I know you're in the top X% of creative people in the field and have been acknowledged by people who know quality.If you want to make $60K right out of college, you can, just not because you got a degree, but because you used 4 years and all the time before that to scale and create value of $60-100K/year by building a brand, and developing the skills to deliver at that level.
hey, i'm portuguese i live in portugal now i'm 20 years, and my portfolio is www.behance.net/markfortez and i've never studied graphic design i love draws logos everything since little i just got my experience through curiosity, is there anyway to work on US with this skills or experience ? thanks anyway
what is a inhouse company?
and what about someone who have a degree from Institute outside of USA.. Algeria north Africa I have 1 year experience I'm interesting about work in USA I need help
9iw khhkhk
n7arrach brk kho
follow your dream
I'm going to UT Austin to get a degree in interior design
+Chris Rongey :)
i m designer
When he says salary does he mean monthly payment or yearly payment.
some people here in Los Angeles want to pay $15 to $17 with 5+ years experience. MUAHAHAHA… maybe they should ask a homeless person who doesn't have to pay for rent.
Jack Thompson ouch
Sorry but what currency are we talking about here? I'm kind of lost. 30k what?
ThisusernameistoolongtobeacceptedbythetermsofusethatIdontgiveashitabout US Dollars.
I am going to learn Graphic Design to make a living out of the profession should I be a GD or Should I go with Web Development please tell me I am confused and BTW I am from Pakistan a 3rd world country and here and average household income is $250 anything more than $300 is considered a huge Income I want it to change. 😀 Please Reply
These videos are really insightful! Thank you for all of the information. I am currently a Sophomore in college studying Digital Media Arts with a multimedia concentration. I'm becoming more and more worried however that I won't get a job out of college, and I'm kind of confused with the process because I'm not exactly sure what I want to do with the degree. I use the Adobe Creative Suite as well as other programs for designing and editing, but I'm just not sure what to do/where to go with what my skills are. Any advice for a current student? Thanks!
your situation is very common. In my graphic design playlist I have a recent video on how to find jobs as a graphic designer, how to become a freelancer, and how to get hired. These videos should likely answer most of your questions.
Making connections is going get you the job if your portfolio is good. The degree is just the insurance policy.
Without one I got hired over people who did every single time, specifically because i could sell myself and my work. Positioning, Personality and Portfolio.
It is a sale. if everyone who walks in has a degree and no experience with all the enthusiasm in the world, what is special enough about you to get you hired over them?
If I'm hiring you for my studio and you pitch me on your degree, I'll be honest, I'd put you on the spot and ask you to explain how your degree or what school you went to directly impacts my bottom line or creates value for my customers?
If you want to get hired you have to create value. your portfolio tells half that story, it got you in the door, its up to you to close.
Wow thank you so much for the advice! I definitely have a few connections, and that list is expanding every day (which is obviously good.) I am looking into doing design work as a freelance while in college, which will not only grow my portfolio, but also my connection list as well. Again, thank you so much for the advice, and I've been binge watching your videos for the past week or so! Have a nice Holiday and thanks again!
Colby
Colby Simpson no problem Colby, CreateAwesome isn't a catch phrase, it's a business model anyone can use to create the success they want in life.
Say you are a graphics designer for a clothing store like footlocker or any other high industry, how much do you expect to earn?
Zaikohh TrickshottinglFIFA I'm and independent Graphic Designer running my own one man studio based on a hybrid model. I used to work as an in-house designer, and I used to work at an ad agency. It's not polite to talk about how much money you make, so I will suffice to say I make a good living, and it is my full time job without punching a clock and I also get to invest a decent amount in my business and hobbies.
Roberto Blake yes it was rude of me, but i was asking the average of how much graphic designers in general make in that scenario i asked in my first question, not just you individually? if you could answer my first question again and pretend you are in that scenario, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Zaikohh TrickshottinglFIFA
I wasn't saying it was rude of you, it would be rude for me to talk about it. If you're a Graphic Designer working for an in-house company that doesn't specialize in Design or Advertising, it could depend on a lot of factors, it could be $30K/yr-$50K/yr but it will also depend on your location. In general regardless of how big the brand is, In-House designers outside of the Advertising or Marketing industry itself are not paid very well (IMO). They are paid well comparivtively to the other employees, BUT they are not expected to have Creative/Artistic talent, in addition to Technical Skill, and their quality of work is not a matter of taste and subjectivity, so I think that given that they are undervalued.
Thanks, your advice is so helpful!
Zaikohh TrickshottinglFIFA No problem!
I'm making way too much in my current contract position. I'm making $35 an hour worth hourly and only making newsletter designs. I'm not complaining though. I just do the meaningful work in my own time and with my own clients.
+WOWQueen if you're happy that is the important thing. I thought $35 an hour was a lot a few years ago, currently my consulting alone is a few hundred and hour and I can charge enough for design to be the creative director while getting designers 2-3 times what they normally charge while I manage the client relationship and keep the project in line. If you are trying to be comfortable that is one thing but if you're trying to climb the mountain you can't get comfortable 😉
+Roberto Blake wow! Well I know I have a bit of way to go before I charge that amount. I'm steadily climbing and starting my own thing.
I heard it's somewhere between $48,000 to $72,000.Is that good?
Cristiano Ronaldo It depends on where you live, cost of living and the situation.
Roberto Blake right
How early/late should someone start?
As soon as they can, but it's never really too late.
Roberto Blake So can an 8 year old start design if they know the basics xD?
P.S No, I am not the 8 year old. Its just a question about age.
A 9 year old is making legit money as a wedding photographer right now and is actually good and 15 year olds have been known to design and or photograph the covers of nationally syndicated magazines...12 year olds have been known to make best selling apps in the apps store... so you tell me....
Roberto Blake Welp I am starting design then.
its all about supply and demand nothing else
That's naive, there was no demand for the iPhone until there was. There was no demand for the automobiile....
Things are so different in the Caribbean. You can have a degree and still be making pennies.
Internet means you’re not limited to the local market at all... you’re watching and interacting with a video in the US...