The Benefits of Getting a Graphic Design Degree in Oklahoma

June 14, 2022

Graphic design is a professional visual arts discipline. This form of visual communication typically seeks to convey a message, which could be educational, political, social, cultural, commercial, or personal in nature. Successful graphic arts communication can achieve a wide variety of goals, such as elevating brand awareness or driving purchasing behavior.

As a career field, graphic design involves an intriguing interaction between art and technology. In decades past, graphic artists might have created their work by hand. However, advanced digital tools now allow designers to elevate their work to amazing new heights. Although many designers do still create in the traditional methods, students who pursue a graphic design degree will learn to leverage all the tools and methods available to us today.

Although many newly minted designers choose to pursue their own entrepreneurial ventures, many other graduates choose to practice their craft in specific industries and sectors.

If you are considering pursuing a degree in the graphic arts, Oklahoma Baptist University offers an exceptional degree program that will set you on the right track for success.

What Can You Do with a Graphic Design Degree?

Virtually every industry and sector uses graphic design to some extent, even if it’s just for logo design, marketing and collateral materials, or website design. Some sectors, including publishing, advertising, merchandising and gaming, rely heavily on the skills of designers on an ongoing basis. These skills are also highly valued in education, packaging, manufacturing, and governmental agencies.

Some of the most common types of jobs that graphic design graduates pursue are illustrator, animator, industrial designer, art director, advertising consultant, brand manager, typographic designer and layout artist.

One of the most common areas of specialization in this field is that of web developer or digital interface designer. Digital designers use all the principles of graphic design to create the best possible user experience (UX). UX is relevant to all sorts of digital interfaces, ranging from software and apps to websites, e-commerce platforms and beyond. Another possible area of focus in digital design is the user interface (UI), which is a component of the UX specifically focused on how the user interacts with digital artifacts.

Graduates can elect to work as freelance designers or take a position with an agency, company, or organization. As a freelancer, you have the ability to choose your client base and decide how much work you want to take on at any given time. In exchange for this freedom, however, you take on all the risks and liabilities of being a business owner. As an employee, you might enjoy an increased level of security, but you typically must answer to someone in a supervisory capacity.

How Much Do Graphic Designers Make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graphic designers earn an average of $59,970 per year, or $28.83 per hour. However, this statistic is not truly representative of any specific industry or specialization within the field.

Once we look further into the data, the financial outlook for designers becomes significantly more lucrative. For example, designers working with financial investment firms earn an average of $86,730. Those who work in the software publishing industry earn an average of $94,780.

When we delve into the average salary for digital designers, we find that the average annual salary jumps to $77,200. Those individuals who work in the advertising industry earn an average annual salary of $71,930, while those who go into computer systems design and related services average $75,450 annually. Those designers who go into the publishing industry (non-internet) earn an average of $123,870 per year.

You might also be wondering how much demand exists for graphic designers today. According to the BLS statistics, the demand for graphic designers is expected to remain strong. In fact, it might not surprise you to learn that the demand for digital designers is higher than average, with a projected growth of 13% between 2020 and 2030. An interesting note is that the COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have accelerated the demand for graphic designers. This increased demand can be attributed, at least in part, to the fact that companies have significantly increased advertising spend and because digital media use has increased.

Which Schools Have the Best Graphic Design Degrees in OK?

Although you have multiple options for pursuing a graphic arts degree in Oklahoma, consider the highly respected Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design degree program at Oklahoma Baptist University.

This program has been structured specifically to prepare graduates for the unique challenges of today’s competitive job market. It includes a comprehensive course of study that includes advertising design, interactive design, package design and more.

OBU graphic design students have had their work featured on national broadcast media outlets and they have designed for multiple national brands. Our students are frequent recipients of the prestigious American Advertising Award (commonly known as the Addy Awards), bestowed by the American Advertising Federation.

To learn more this amazing Oklahoma graphic arts degree program or the Warren M. Angell School of Visual and Performing Arts at OBU, contact us today.