Hot Jobs In Design

From scissors to cell phones, design is part of your life. Find out how to make it part of your future too.

"Any artist will tell you that it's their dream to be paid for being creative," says David "Scruff" Belson. "That's why I love my job!"

Creation in Animation

Belson, who works as an animation designer in Boston, didn't start out as a designer. "I have a degree in audio engineering," he says, "which has helped me to be detail oriented and focused on the end product." Belson adds, "In both audio and animation, you need to see where you're going, or else it's a mess."

After working as a clerk in a used record store and as a bicycle messenger, Belson landed a job at Howie Green Design, a small design firm. "I work as part of a team of six designers," he explains. "Each of us specializes in a particular process; my specialty is Flash (a computer program for the Web) animation." Belson has recently completed a Web site project for a college and has designed animation for everything from music videos to mental health training spots on the Internet. In his spare time, he also hosts a weekly program on the Boston College radio station and maintains his own Web site.

Surprisingly, Belson has no formal training in animation. "I played with programs and learned," he explains, "and I learned the most from my mistakes."

While he loves the diversity of the projects he designs, Belson is concerned about keeping up with new developments. "For every wonderful thing I create, there's always someone out there trying to do a better job," he says. "You need to stay current with new cultural trends and new software, or else you're in trouble."

Designers Are Everywhere!

For every object, from skyscrapers to sneakers, there's a designer involved in the development process. Designers generally specialize in one of four categories of design work, each tied to the category of product they design. These are fashion design, industrial design, graphic design, and architectural design. Designers in all fields value creativity and functionality, however. Many people in this career area work for small private design firms, some work for large corporations, while others are self-employed. Frequently, designers work in partnership with engineers.

All designers need to have a good understanding of art concepts, and they must be able to communicate their designs to others. Often that means they need to master sophisticated computer software such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) programs, and be able to give presentations to customers. In addition, designers must always keep in mind the needs of the people who will use their products, so that the end result is usable as well as attractive.

Always in Fashion

Who wouldn't want to be the next Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, or Tommy Hilfiger? While top-name designers come to mind when we think about fashion design, there are thousands of relatively little-known fashion designers in the United States who create the clothing, footwear, and accessories that we wear every day.

Most fashion designers work for apparel manufacturers or clothing stores and specialize in categories: children's clothing, sportswear, or fashion accessories, for example. Some fashion designers are self-employed and create one-of-a-kind designs for individual clients. All fashion designers must have a good understanding of fabric and other materials, as well as an excellent sense of style and an awareness of current trends. A career in fashion design usually requires a two- or four-year college degree in fashion design.

Designing Things

"Industrial design is a great career because it touches on so many areas: toys, sneakers, kitchen gadgets," says Karen Griefer. "You can design anything!"

After graduating from the Massachusetts College of Art with a degree in industrial design, Griefer found a job in a large computer manufacturing corporation. She was assigned to the tough problem of making computer cases attractive and functional. "The corporation had guidelines that prevented me from designing anything too sassy or splashy," Griefer explains. "I also needed to consider engineering specifications and factors like ease of removal and replacement."

Griefer solved the problem by working with the two air-intake panels. "I think I created a look that gave the computer a different edge," she says. "[The case] was visually interesting and made the product stand out."

Industrial designers like Griefer use their creativity to make products appealing, attractive, and user-friendly. While industrial designers work with all kinds of products and packaging, they usually specialize in a type of design, such as automotive, aeronautical, or electronics. These designers frequently collaborate with engineers and must have a good understanding of ergonomics (the coordination of design specifications with human factors), as well as a good sense of what is artistically attractive. Most industrial design jobs require a four-year college degree.

Griefer recommends that future industrial designers learn how to draw and use computer design tools, such as CAD and three-dimensional modeling software. "Your design is only as good as how you can communicate it," she explains.

She also offers this unique advice: "Go ahead and take things apart. Figure out how things are manufactured. Ask yourself, 'Why does it look this way?'"

Graphic Design

If you passed a billboard today, opened up a magazine, or surfed the Internet, then you were looking at the work of a graphic designer.

Judy Litt, of About.com, defines graphic design in the following way: "In a nutshell, graphic design is creating a pleasing layout from text and graphics. That design might be a brochure, a logo, a Web page, or an advertisement. The list doesn't end there either."

Graphic designers work with all kinds of different materials and techniques to create attractive visual images that express just the right message for their customers. These designers may work with photography, video, digital images, line drawings, or paintings to develop their products. Most often, graphic designers work in the publishing and advertising industries to create eye-catching layouts that grab the viewer's interest. The boom in Internet publishing and advertising has created an increasing demand for graphic designers who are skilled in the use of computer software for Web page development. Along these lines is a new career--information design. Information designers design Web sites and also help corporations improve the way they use and manage information.

Most graphic designers work for corporations or graphic design firms, although some are self-employed. Some training after high school is usually required for a job in graphic design.

Building the Future

Steve Peppas is an architect who works for Polshek Partnership, a large firm in New York City that specializes in the design of buildings for cultural, educational, scientific, and governmental institutions. He typically works with a team of other architects and consultants to manage all parts of a project from concept to construction. "The process of designing a structure is really enjoyable for me," Peppas says, "and I love to see the building actually take shape."

Architects have the toughest requirements for professional certification of any career in the design area. But that makes sense--after all, we expect our homes, schools, and high-rise structures to be safe. A degree in architecture takes five years to complete. Then there is usually an internship requirement. Finally, in order to be a licensed architect, the candidate must pass the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE).

Peppas recommends that someone planning to become an architect have a good understanding of drafting techniques. The architectural design process involves evaluating the clients' needs, developing and presenting a proposed design to the client, and preparing final plans for the structure. Architects must be knowledgeable about building codes, zoning laws, and environmental regulations. They must also be able to communicate their ideas through plans and drawings and by giving oral presentations. After the final plans are ready, architects work cooperatively with contractors and builders to see the project through to completion.

Employment opportunities for architects fluctuate with the health of the nation's economy. When the economy is strong, there are more construction projects; but when money is tight, there are fewer opportunities.

Designs You Live With

Interior designers plan and create the interior environments of buildings so that the end result is safe, functional, and attractive. These designers may work within existing structures to organize space to fit the client's needs. They also select fixtures, furnishings, floor coverings, and wall treatments to meet their customers' needs and tastes.

Interior designers must complete at least two years of college-level interior design coursework, although completion of a four-year college degree program is recommended. Licensing is required in some states, and certification by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), which requires an internship and exam, is considered standard for the industry.

Like architects, interior designers must have a thorough knowledge of building codes and regulations. As in other design career areas, interior designers may work for corporations or large firms, or they may be self-employed.

Art in Action

A career in design requires some technical ability to communicate plans and concepts, but the real soul of design is an understanding of art. In the end, all designers are artists who create objects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional to meet the needs of the people who will use them. Whether the product is a gown, a garage, or a golf tee, there was a designer behind it.

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