Graphic design jobs that aren't in advertising?

January 26, 2009 3:17 PM

How can I be a successful designer without working in advertising?

Here's the deal: I'm 27 and have been working as a producer/project manager in advertising, entertainment, and tech since I graduated college (BFA in film). I've been taking design classes at night (graphics, packaging, web) and really enjoy the work. Thinking about going back to school full time for a design MFA. The thing is, when I get out, I'd want to be able to get a high-paying, fun and creative job.

I do have a BFA in film, and live in Los Angeles, but I've done my time in the movie industry and really hate the people and the attitude. I really liked the lifestyle and people in advertising - and the designers and art directors all seemed happy and creatively satisfied - but the idea of making ADS forever just makes me feel dirty and sick inside. My question is - what jobs are out there for designers that do not involve creating advertising?

posted by emily37 to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

--In-house publications for large corporations
--Academic/university positions designing brochures, course materials, websites, etc.
posted by availablelight at 3:30 PM on January 26, 2009

I'm 28, and I'm a creative director in Los Angeles. Trust me, there are lots of options. There may not be as many right now, given the economy, but advertising is just one facet of graphic design employment. Have you looked at the want ads for designers? Anybody that needs anything designed needs a graphic designer. Seriously. But don't look at design firms. Look at companies with individual graphics needs. If you want to stick with a firm, however, find the right one. Are you opposed to package design? Corporate identity design? Web design? Figure out exactly what you want first. That will help.
posted by katillathehun at 3:32 PM on January 26, 2009

I faced a similar dilemma and decided to start a small design and development firm focusing our efforts on non-profits, museums, educational institutions and small businesses--particulary those that do good work that don't undermine progressive causes. So far, so good--best of luck to you--just don't steal all our New York area business!
posted by pinto at 3:35 PM on January 26, 2009

Response by poster: I'm not opposed to corporate ID stuff - I actually think working on the big-idea level to help a company find its brand/niche/etc is really interesting. I guess it's just the overwhelming feeling of guilt I get when I think about making evil, evil advertising. In one of my design classes I will come up with a concept - and say 'oh! this would be so perfect for a spec ad campaign for X Big Corporation!' and then I immediately feel like crap, because ugh, who wants to feed the Big Advertising machine?? Maybe there are packaging firms that work with smaller companies? Maybe I could do pro bono websites for non profits on the side? I don't know! Before I jump into a career that I know I will like the WORK of, I need to be able to justify the morals of it as well.
posted by emily37 at 3:38 PM on January 26, 2009

Response by poster: and @pinto - I'm in California :)
posted by emily37 at 3:38 PM on January 26, 2009

This really isn't too difficult.

There are a ton of design agencies out there who don't do advertising (though most will do ads as well).

From the top of my head (and these are some of the really big ones)
http://www.hugeinc.com
http://www.bigspaceship.com
http://www.method.com
http://www.aqka.com
http://www.razorfish.com
http://www.organic.com
http://www.ideo.com/

One thing you need to realize though is that most of these have corporate parents that are large advertising conglomerates. They'll do ads.
posted by bitdamaged at 4:10 PM on January 26, 2009 [2 favorites]

Thinking about going back to school full time for a design MFA. The thing is, when I get out, I'd want to be able to get a high-paying, fun and creative job.

this sounds like you are putting a lot of focus on peripheral aspects of wanting this career. there are a lot of ppl out there who went through design programs and most of them i wouldn't consider good designers—you need talent to begin with and a good program hones will hone that talent. if you haven't got any to begin with, doesn't matter what you do, you'll never get very far in this field. that said, a couple of things to consider:

1. an MFA in design really doesn't mean a whole lot. most design MFA programs are grounded in design theory rather than practical design experience. an MFA certainly doesn't guarantee you a higher salary. in fact, it doesn't at all. which leads to…

2. depending on where you land eventually (traditional design studio, ad agency, in-house for a corporation—say a nike), your salary will depend on what level your talent/work is considered to be at when you graduate. most likely, unless you've had a lot of work experience already as a designer, then you will probably start as a junior designer, or a mid-level designer at the highest. check the AIGA site for salary comps across the nation and in your region of the country. on average, a junior designer starts around $20-25K and a midlevel designer starts at $30-45K.

In one of my design classes I will come up with a concept - and say 'oh! this would be so perfect for a spec ad campaign for X Big Corporation!' and then I immediately feel like crap, because ugh, who wants to feed the Big Advertising machine??…Before I jump into a career that I know I will like the WORK of, I need to be able to justify the morals of it as well.

3. look, if you want to become a designer, you need to get over this attitude. a designer's job is to SELL through concept and visuals—whether that be a product or an idea, be it for a large corporation or a small business. you're in the business of selling so you'd better get used to it.

but to answer your question directly, if you don't want to work in an ad agency, then your choices are a design studio, or an in-house design department for a company who uses design on a regular basis.
posted by violetk at 4:41 PM on January 26, 2009

Having worked in the corporate environment for 10 years, I say stick with the advertising scene... ugh.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:50 PM on January 26, 2009

Environmental graphics and wayfinding.
posted by the jam at 7:15 PM on January 26, 2009

I freelance design and illustrate. I sort of had these thoughts a few years back when things started melting down around me. Here's my advice

"skip the MFA and go take a design internship somewhere." That was the best thing I ever did. Sure I barely made enough to eat on, but I was able to learn some design skills that no MFA would teach me (I looked into the MFA program and all it was was design theory and history...not very practical).

But as one poster said, it all comes down to talent and skill.
posted by Hands of Manos at 5:16 AM on January 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

something else to think about. the smaller the company you work at, the more you need to be able to know how to do. my impression is that at these smaller design studios, you have to do the design, art buying, print production, prepress, maybe even manage your clients as well, all by yourself. whereas in a big agency there is more opportunity to specialize. so if your goal is to go small, you should do what you can to learn all the aspects of the business and not only concentrate on design itself.
posted by apostrophe at 6:20 AM on January 27, 2009

There are so many options for graphic designers. Advertising is only one small area and as a business owner, it is a very small part of the services I offer. Web design is a very creative and growing area of the design industry and you don't need to have the HTML skills. You can just work on the design and get the developers to build the site. There are companies that manage the design and send the files to India to get built. If you can skill yourself up in this area it is very creative area of design.
posted by liquidcreativity at 11:12 PM on May 17, 2009