Artists & Designers
Artists and designers create visual concepts, functional products, and aesthetic experiences across diverse industries including entertainment, retail, publishing, and manufacturing. These professionals use traditional artistic techniques, digital tools, and specialized materials to develop everything from fine art and commercial graphics to product designs and theatrical sets. They typically collaborate with clients, directors, and creative teams to bring concepts from initial idea to final presentation within budget and timeline requirements.
π¬Career Video
π€AI Resilience Assessment
AI Resilience Score
Score 3/6: balanced factors means AI will assist but humans remain essential
How we calculated this:
50% of tasks can be accelerated by AI
+3% projected (2024-2034)
EPOCH score: 16/25
πKey Responsibilities
- β’Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
- β’Present final layouts to clients for approval.
- β’Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
- β’Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities.
- β’Confer with clients to determine objectives, budget, background information, and presentation approaches, styles, and techniques.
- β’Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound.
- β’Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members.
- β’Create custom illustrations or other graphic elements.
π‘Inside This Career
Artists and designers begin their days by immersing themselves in the creative process, whether sketching initial concepts at a drafting table, manipulating digital elements on high-resolution monitors, or working hands-on with physical materials in specialized studios. Some spend morning hours researching trends, gathering inspiration from various sources, or reviewing client briefs to understand project requirements. The work environment varies dramaticallyβfrom bustling agency offices where graphic designers collaborate on marketing campaigns, to quiet ceramics studios where craft artists perfect glazing techniques, to film lots where special effects artists coordinate with directors on visual sequences.
Mid-day activities often shift toward refinement and collaboration. Fashion designers might drape fabric on dress forms while consulting with pattern makers, while interior designers present mood boards to clients in showroom settings. Art directors lead creative meetings, providing feedback on team concepts and ensuring visual consistency across multiple project elements. Many artists alternate between independent creative work and collaborative sessions, moving fluidly between conceptual development and technical execution. Set designers coordinate with construction crews, while window display artists arrange merchandise in retail environments.
Afternoon and evening work frequently involves project completion, client presentations, or preparing pieces for exhibition. Fine artists document finished works for portfolio purposes, while commercial designers prepare files for production or print. Some professionals attend gallery openings, trade shows, or industry events to network and stay current with emerging techniques. The rhythm varies by specialization and project deadlines, but most artists and designers balance solitary creative time with collaborative interaction, technical skill application, and business communication throughout their working days.
πCareer Progression
What does this mean?
This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.
πEducation & Training
Requirements
- β’Entry Education: Bachelor's degree
- β’Experience: Several years
- β’On-the-job Training: Several years
- !License or certification required
Time & Cost
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Find jobs and training programs for artists & designers- Median salary: $59K/year
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π»Technology Skills
βKey Abilities
π·οΈAlso Known As
πSpecializations
This career includes 13 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.
| Specialization | Median Pay | AI Outlook | O*NET Code | Find Jobs | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $106,500 | π‘ | 27-1011.00 | View details | ||
| $99,060 | π | 27-1014.00 | View details | ||
| $79,290 | π‘ | 27-1022.00 | View details | ||
| $76,250 | π‘ | 27-1021.00 | View details | ||
| $74,750 | π‘ | 27-1019.00 | View details |
πRelated Careers
Other careers in arts-media
πData Sources
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