Graphic Design

The Graphic Design program at Oregon State University prepares students to take an influential role in the variety of disciplines that constitute contemporary design practice. We achieve this through individual and collaborative investigations in visual communications, creative problem solving, professional practice, theory, history, culture, and the self. We strive to create an environment that continually motivates human beings to actively engage in exploring, inquiring, and contemplating the world around us.

Position Title	Projected Growth (2014-2024)	Preparation Required	2015 Median Wage
Advertising and Promotions Managers Advertising and Promotions Managers Position Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or give-aways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis. Projected Growth: Average (5% to 8%) Median Pay: $113,610 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Inspect layouts and advertising copy and edit scripts, audio and video tapes, and other promotional material for adherence to specifications. Plan and prepare advertising and promotional material to increase sales of products or services, working with customers, company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies. Gather and organize information to plan advertising campaigns. Confer with clients to provide marketing or technical advice. Direct, motivate, and monitor the mobilization of a campaign team to advance campaign goals. Skills: Active Listening Social Perceptiveness Speaking Time Management Critical Thinking Pay and Growth More Information	Average (5% to 8%)	Job Zone 4	$113,610 per year
Art Directors Art Directors Position Description: Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications media, such as print, broadcasting, and advertising. Direct workers engaged in art work or layout design. Projected Growth: Slower than average (2% to 4%) Median Pay: $101,990 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Formulate basic layout design or presentation approach and specify material details, such as style and size of type, photographs, graphics, animation, video, and sound. Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements. Confer with creative, art, copywriting, or production department heads to discuss client requirements and presentation concepts and to coordinate creative activities. Present final layouts to clients for approval. Review and approve art materials, copy materials, and proofs of printed copy developed by staff members. Skills: Active Listening Speaking Judgment and Decision Making Time Management Complex Problem Solving Pay and Growth More Information	Slower than average (2% to 4%)	Job Zone 4	$101,990 per year
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary Communications Teachers, Postsecondary Position Description: Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. Projected Growth: Faster than average (9% to 13%) Median Pay: $70,290 per year Preparation: Job Zone 5 Position Duties: Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers. Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as public speaking, media criticism, and oral traditions. Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others. Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records. Skills: Instructing Speaking Active Listening Critical Thinking Learning Strategies Pay and Growth More Information	Faster than average (9% to 13%)	Job Zone 5	$70,290 per year
Copy Writers Copy Writers Position Description: Write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services. Projected Growth: Slower than average (2% to 4%) Median Pay: $69,130 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Write to customers in their terms and on their level so that the advertiser's sales message is more readily received. Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy. Write advertising copy for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services. Present drafts and ideas to clients. Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium. Skills: Reading Comprehension Writing Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Pay and Growth More Information	Slower than average (2% to 4%)	Job Zone 4	$69,130 per year
Craft Artists Craft Artists Position Description: Create or reproduce hand-made objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft. Projected Growth: Little or no change (-1% to 1%) Median Pay: $35,710 per year Preparation: Job Zone 2 Position Duties: Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials. Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery. Attend craft shows to market products. Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics. Apply finishes to objects being crafted. Skills: Complex Problem Solving Critical Thinking Social Perceptiveness Active Listening Service Orientation Pay and Growth More Information	Little or no change (-1% to 1%)	Job Zone 2	$35,710 per year
Curators Curators Position Description: Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution. Projected Growth: Average (5% to 8%) Median Pay: $56,990 per year Preparation: Job Zone 5 Position Duties: Plan and organize the acquisition, storage, and exhibition of collections and related materials, including the selection of exhibition themes and designs, and develop or install exhibit materials. Write and review grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials. Plan and conduct special research projects in area of interest or expertise. Confer with the board of directors to formulate and interpret policies, to determine budget requirements, and to plan overall operations. Train and supervise curatorial, fiscal, technical, research, and clerical staff, as well as volunteers or interns. Skills: Speaking Reading Comprehension Active Listening Writing Critical Thinking Pay and Growth More Information	Average (5% to 8%)	Job Zone 5	$56,990 per year
Fashion Designers Fashion Designers Position Description: Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends. Projected Growth: Slower than average (2% to 4%) Median Pay: $73,180 per year Preparation: Job Zone 3 Position Duties: Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments. Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects. Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements. Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas. Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Skills: Active Listening Critical Thinking Active Learning Coordination Judgment and Decision Making Pay and Growth More Information	Slower than average (2% to 4%)	Job Zone 3	$73,180 per year
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Position Description: Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques. Projected Growth: Slower than average (2% to 4%) Median Pay: $54,170 per year Preparation: Job Zone 3 Position Duties: Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork. Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods. Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced. Submit preliminary or finished artwork or project plans to clients for approval, incorporating changes as necessary. Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities. Skills: Active Learning Active Listening Critical Thinking Judgment and Decision Making Complex Problem Solving Pay and Growth More Information	Slower than average (2% to 4%)	Job Zone 3	$54,170 per year
Graphic Designers Graphic Designers Position Description: Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects. Projected Growth: Little or no change (-1% to 1%) Median Pay: $51,640 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts. Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type. Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design. Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites. Review final layouts and suggest improvements as needed. Skills: Active Listening Operations Analysis Speaking Writing Critical Thinking Pay and Growth More Information	Little or no change (-1% to 1%)	Job Zone 4	$51,640 per year
Interior Designers Interior Designers Position Description: Plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design. Projected Growth: Slower than average (2% to 4%) Median Pay: $55,510 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, and purpose and function. Advise client on interior design factors such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination. Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success. Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans. Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval. Skills: Active Listening Speaking Reading Comprehension Service Orientation Social Perceptiveness Pay and Growth More Information	Slower than average (2% to 4%)	Job Zone 4	$55,510 per year
Marketing Managers Marketing Managers Position Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services. Projected Growth: Faster than average (9% to 13%) Median Pay: $140,660 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors. Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers. Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections. Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction. Compile lists describing product or service offerings. Skills: Active Learning Active Listening Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Social Perceptiveness Pay and Growth More Information	Faster than average (9% to 13%)	Job Zone 4	$140,660 per year
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Position Description: Plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions. Projected Growth: Decline (-2% or lower) Median Pay: $29,790 per year Preparation: Job Zone 3 Position Duties: Plan commercial displays to entice and appeal to customers. Arrange properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, or other accessories, as shown in prepared sketches. Change or rotate window displays, interior display areas, or signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion. Place prices or descriptive signs on backdrops, fixtures, merchandise, or floor. Consult with store managers, buyers, sales associates, housekeeping staff, or engineering staff to determine appropriate placement of displays or products. Skills: Active Listening Critical Thinking Speaking Judgment and Decision Making Coordination Pay and Growth More Information	Decline (-2% or lower)	Job Zone 3	$29,790 per year
Multimedia Artists and Animators Multimedia Artists and Animators Position Description: Create special effects, animation, or other visual images using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products or creations, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials. Projected Growth: Average (5% to 8%) Median Pay: $70,300 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs. Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion. Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters. Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking. Skills: Active Listening Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Time Management Coordination Pay and Growth More Information	Average (5% to 8%)	Job Zone 4	$70,300 per year
Multimedia Artists and Animators Multimedia Artists and Animators Position Description: Create special effects, animation, or other visual images using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products or creations, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials. Projected Growth: Average (5% to 8%) Median Pay: $70,300 per year Preparation: Job Zone 4 Position Duties: Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs. Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion. Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters. Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking. Skills: Active Listening Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Time Management Coordination Pay and Growth More Information	Average (5% to 8%)	Job Zone 4	$70,300 per year
Printing Press Operators Printing Press Operators Position Description: Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses. Projected Growth: Decline (-2% or lower) Median Pay: $37,020 per year Preparation: Job Zone 3 Position Duties: Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments. Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions. Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job. Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration. Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required. Skills: Quality Control Analysis Operation Monitoring Active Listening Monitoring Reading Comprehension Pay and Growth More Information	Decline (-2% or lower)	Job Zone 3	$37,020 per year
Set and Exhibit Designers Set and Exhibit Designers Position Description: Design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles. Projected Growth: Faster than average (9% to 13%) Median Pay: $54,920 per year Preparation: Job Zone 5 Position Duties: Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed. Read scripts in order to determine location, set, and design requirements. Develop set designs based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations. Attend rehearsals and production meetings in order to obtain and share information related to sets. Confer with clients and staff in order to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, and/or promotion requirements. Skills: Active Listening Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Coordination Operations Analysis Pay and Growth More Information	Faster than average (9% to 13%)	Job Zone 5	$54,920 per year
Web Developers Web Developers Position Description: Design, create, and modify Web sites. Analyze user needs to implement Web site content, graphics, performance, and capacity. May integrate Web sites with other computer applications. May convert written, graphic, audio, and video components to compatible Web formats by using software designed to facilitate the creation of Web and multimedia content. Projected Growth: Much faster than average (14% or higher) Median Pay: $70,660 per year Preparation: Job Zone 3 Position Duties: Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media. Perform or direct Web site updates. Write, design, or edit Web page content, or direct others producing content. Confer with management or development teams to prioritize needs, resolve conflicts, develop content criteria, or choose solutions. Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems. Skills: Programming Critical Thinking Operations Analysis Active Listening Complex Problem Solving Pay and Growth More Information	Much faster than average (14% or higher)	Job Zone 3	$70,660 per year

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Graphic Design

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