Herzing Blog

Examples of student work from the Herzing College graphic design program

When most people think "graphic designer," they immediately imagine someone who designs for websites, posters, or advertisements. But the truth is, there's a whole world of diverse graphic design career paths out there.

From film and television to book and album covers to sports gear and video games—talented designers are wanted across industries to communicate ideas in creative and compelling ways.

Wondering where you can work as a graphic designer? Here's a mini-tour of both traditional and emerging graphic design niches. Keep reading to see where design training could take you.

Getting ready to offer your graphic design skills to the world?

Before you begin applying for jobs or going after clients, it’s good to be aware of common missteps that can derail your efforts and damage your credibility.

After all, everyone makes mistakes—especially when they’re just starting out.

But knowing about the pitfalls you might encounter can help you navigate the field and get your design career off to a smoother start.

In this post, we outline five common blunders new graphic designers make and provide advice on how you can avoid them.

Let’s dive in.

Many students start off by working freelance after graphic design school. They're attracted to the idea of being their own boss, having control over their own work schedule, and pocketing profits directly.

But it's crucial for new grads to understand some of the drawbacks and challenges that come along with these (legitimately awesome) benefits. And how to set themselves up for freelancing success right from day one. 

So, let's walk through some of the typical pros and cons of freelance design work—plus a few important tips for students considering this career path after graphic design school.

Raymond Nestor had worked in IT for a couple of years before coming to Canada as a live-in caregiver.

Before long, he decided he wanted to do something different with his life. He had always enjoyed sketching and design, so he started looking into graphic design courses.

He wanted quality training that was flexible enough to fit around his work commitments. He enroled in the graphic design certificate at Herzing College and never looked back.

Shortly after graduating, he landed a job as an artist at The Sandbox, a gaming ecosystem that allows users to create and monetize virtual worlds and experiences.

We caught up with Raymond to learn about his experience in Herzing’s program and how it changed the course of his career.

Here’s his full story.

Updated December 2024

Digital designers and graphic designers are alike in many ways. Both produce visual images that communicate a message and meet a business objective. Both are paid to increase brand awareness and inspire consumers to action.

So what’s the difference between them?

It basically comes down to this: Graphic designers tend to focus on static images, while digital designers create graphics that incorporate motion and interactivity.

They must each consider different factors, but they rely on many of the same design fundamentals.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how digital designers and graphic designers compare.

Updated December 2023

Graphic designers are experts at using images to communicate ideas and solve problems.

They create logos, posters, banners, infographics, websites, game interfaces, album covers, magazines, product packaging, promotional videos, and more.

The final product needs to not only look good, but also meet specific branding and business goals.

Ultimately, a graphic designer’s job is to use visual elements to inform and inspire an audience.

But how do they go about doing that? What does a graphic designer’s daily routine look like?

In this post, we walk you through a typical workflow for a graphic design project.

Learn more about the steps designers go through and their role in project development.

Updated December 2023

This really is an exciting time to launch a career in graphic design.

The rise of digital media has created so many new opportunities for designers to stretch their skills, adopt new tech, and experiment with new product design ideas.

There are numerous ways to specialize in this field, and a broad range of skills to master.

In this post, we're breaking down the most important technical knowledge and characteristics needed to become a successful graphic designer.

Updated December 2024

Many people seem to think that graphic design is a dying industry.

They’ve heard that print has no future. And they figure that with all the user-friendly software options out there, anyone can throw a digital design together quickly and easily, without help from a professional.

The reality is very different.

It’s true that graphic design is increasingly focused on digital media like websites, animations, television shows, and video games. But print is still with us: think posters, album art, business cards, book covers, product packaging, etc.

And more and more companies rely on trained graphic designers’ expertise at using images to communicate ideas and inspire action (think websites and social media).

The bottom line? Skilled graphic designers are in demand, and many positions come with comfortable salaries.

Read on for all the details.

Did you know that graphic designers can build successful careers designing hockey equipment like pads and helmets?

No? You're not alone. Neither did Vince Arnone or his parents. In fact, Vince never even considered studying graphic design.

He started out in a sporting goods business program, on track to become a sales rep, when he realized he wanted something different.

For years, Vince had been playing around with hockey pad designs, even selling a few ideas as a freelancer. But he never believed it could turn into a lucrative full-time career.

Instead, he focused on side projects and taught himself some basic Adobe design skills. It wasn't until he tried landing a real graphic design job that Vince realized he needed more training.

He enrolled in the Graphic Design program at Herzing College, learned the software, honed his craft, and kept right on making those hockey pad designs.

Two short years later, Vince has been recruited as a Content Creator for TSN, and NHL stars across North America are wearing his custom designs.

Turns out becoming a hockey equipment designer isn't such a crazy idea after all.

Like so many people, Den DeBlois tried out a few different career paths before settling on graphic design. He worked in security, toured with a band, and dabbled in design software for years, before officially earning his diploma.

But once Den enrolled in Herzing's graphic design program, his career came into focus very quickly.

He was offered not one, but two graphic design jobs, just one month after graduation. Two years later, he's the Senior Graphics Coordinator at a global company with offices in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.