Design Careers: Fashion, Interior, Jewelry, Graphic Designer Jobs

There are many opportunities in the design industry, including working as a clothing, graphic, interior or jewelry designer. If you are creative and artistic, a job in design might be great for you. Don't have a four-year degree? Don't worry. There are some great jobs in design out there that don't require a degree.

Working in Design

To be a successful designer, no matter what your specialty, you should be able to:
  • Market yourself.
  • Maintain a keen, distinct aesthetic sense.
  • Problem-solve quickly.
  • Respond to new trends.
  • Work independently.
  • Work with close attention to detail.
 
In addition, there are some skills that are job-specific. Interior designers need to be familiar with blueprints and building codes. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is gaining popularity in fashion design, but sketching, sewing and pattern-making are still vital. For a jewelry designer, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination are essential.

Jobs in Design

Designers are everywhere�they work to design websites, shoes, cars, and buildings. Common jobs in design, and what they design, include:
  • Clothing designers: apparel and footwear
  • Graphic designers: digital and print products
  • Interior designers: commercial and residential buildings
  • Jewelry designers: all types of jewelry.
 

Facts and Figures

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in almost all fields of design are expected to increase between 2006 and 2016. One exception is the jewelry design industry, which will likely experience a 2 percent decrease. One field with an anticipated increase in jobs is the interior design field, with an expected 19 percent job increase by 1016.
 
Salaries widely vary in the design industry, and some jobs are more lucrative than others. In 2006, the US Bureau of labor Statistics reported the following average annual salaries:
  • Fashion designer: $62,610
  • Graphic designer: $39,900
  • Interior designer: $42,260
  • Jewelry designer: $29,750.
 

Education, Training and Work Experience

Technical and vocational schools offer a range of training options for many jobs in design. Some four-year colleges also have programs that will earn you a bachelor's degree in design. As the design industry has jobs that vary so widely, you'll find that different fields of design will have different training and educational requirements. As a designer, you may find that employers requiring only vocational or technical school completion may require you to undergo additional training.
 
If you are interested in breaking into the designer industry, the best way to do so is to get some training in your preferred field, and get the first job you can. You may start with an entry-level position, but if you educate yourself, work hard and gain experience, you will eventually climb the ladder of success.

Related Associations and Groups

Along with the advice included in this article, you're also free to contact the following professional associations for more information:
  • American Institute of Graphic Arts
  • American Society of Interior Designers
  • Fashion Group International
  • Jewelers of America
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design
  • National Council for Interior Design Qualification
  • Society of Illustrators, Artists and Designers.
 
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