OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.
Create or reproduce hand-made objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
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.
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.
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
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.
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.
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
Plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.
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.
| Position Title | Projected Growth (2014-2024) | Preparation Required | 2015 Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
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:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 4 | $113,610 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 4 | $101,990 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 5 | $70,290 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 4 | $69,130 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Little or no change (-1% to 1%) | Job Zone 2 | $35,710 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 5 | $56,990 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 3 | $73,180 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 3 | $54,170 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Little or no change (-1% to 1%) | Job Zone 4 | $51,640 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Slower than average (2% to 4%) | Job Zone 4 | $55,510 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 4 | $140,660 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Decline (-2% or lower) | Job Zone 3 | $29,790 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 4 | $70,300 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Average (5% to 8%) | Job Zone 4 | $70,300 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Decline (-2% or lower) | Job Zone 3 | $37,020 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Faster than average (9% to 13%) | Job Zone 5 | $54,920 per year |
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:
Skills:
|
Much faster than average (14% or higher) | Job Zone 3 | $70,660 per year |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.
Create or reproduce hand-made objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
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.
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.
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
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.
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.
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
Plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.
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.
Explore career information and other resources specifically tailored to Graphic Design majors.
Career Development Center
A110 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone: 541-737-4085 Fax: 541-737-0532
Hours: M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Drop-In: M-F, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Contact us with your comments and questions.