A lot of graphic designers start out in graphic design school
Trying to make it in the art world is extremely difficult. There are so many people who try and so few people who do it successfully. Poor artists are even more common than poor jazz musicians. Basically, getting discovered is almost impossible. Until you find a rich art patron who really likes your work, you won't have any luck.
That is why so many artists get into graphic design work. Graphic designers are the success stories of the art world in my opinion. With graphic design jobs, you get to do it all. Not only do you get to design logos, work on marketing and branding strategy, and do other business stuff like that, but you also get to do beautiful, expressive layout. Working as a graphic designer really allows you to make a reputation for yourself, and that reputation can be the beginning of a great career.
A lot of graphic designers start out in graphic design school, but just as many of them start out in a college art school program or in computer programming. Freelance graphic design, a matter of fact, is becoming one of the most popular fields in high tech right now. A lot of web designers don't work for any major company. Instead, they have an eclectic mix of different skills that allows them to formulate a unique business plan that is all their own. These graphic designers will know a good bit of web programming, quite a bit of art, be skilled at website optimization, and know how to do marketing and branding as well. Clients both small and large will pick these guys up rather than work with the major graphic design firms a lot of the time.
Of course, the majority of graphic designers still work at the old-fashioned firms. These are great places to make your career. The great thing about being a graphic designer is that a lot of the people who are your clients are also major players in the art world. After all, people who really appreciate good logo design also appreciate
art quite frequently. Working for world-class businesses, you can really get an in to the art world if you play your cards right. It is all a matter of taking advantage of the opportunities as they come. Networking in art, as in any other field, is 80% of success. The other 20% -- the talent - is crucial, but it is not the most important thing when you are beginning.
