Who's the Boss? (Of a Graphic Designer)

In an era where individuals have so many career choices, making a commitment to a single professional path can be difficult. The more information you have to make a decision, the more likely you'll be able to make the right one.

Today I'm going to describe the jobs of people who may preside over your work as a graphic designer. Before you jump into a graphic design career, you'll want to know the kind of job your boss does (after all, you might end up doing it someday).Here's a breakdown of the type of people who might manage your work as a graphic designer employed at a design firm.

Production Managers. A production manager's job is to oversee projects, making sure they are staffed appropriately, and that progress is made in a timely fashion. They also make sure that project staffers are not exceeding established budget limits.
Creative Directors. CDs, as they are known, manage a group of designers or a firm's design department. They usually have several years of experience working in some related field of design and also have a good sense of the business side of design, working with clients, managing staff, and tending to administrative and organizational issues.
Art Directors. Your clients may often be the art directors of the company that hires your graphic design services. They usually work in the advertising department of an organization, where their job primarily involves creating and implementing ad campaigns. They often hire graphic designers to help them carry out their communications strategy.

Know Your Turf

Before you settle on a graphic design career, you'll want to get a good sense of the types of jobs performed by those who manage graphic designers. It's also helpful to know a little about positions that you might advance to at some point during your career as a graphic designer.

Design Programs

Programs by Location

Who's the Boss? (Of a Graphic Designer)

Know Your Turf