Are you a creative or artistic person looking for a way to translate those skills into a lucrative career?  Or perhaps you often look at ads or websites and know intuitively how to make them more visually appealing?

If this sounds like you, then a job in graphic or web design would be perfect for you! Graphic design and web design are very similar; actually web design is a type of graphic design. Many web designers are trained in graphic design, but not all graphic designers have the technical skills to do web design.

Newspapers, magazines, and marketing materials like brochures are all designed by graphic designers. There are other careers within graphic design, too, like animation or game design. Web designers, on the other hand, work primarily with the internet. They design web pages, websites, and e-marketing materials.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that graphic designers made an average of $42,400 in 2008. They also predict that they will face a competitive job market.  If you make sure to get training in computer design software, Web site design, and animation, however, you have the best opportunities.

First Step - Education

Whether you want to be a graphic designer, web designer, or animator, the first step is to get a degree in the subject.  There are many programs out there to choose from, and you are certain to find one that is specially suited to your goals.

In graphics and multimedia programs, students learn to create effective designs that communicate visually in both print and multimedia environments.

If you already know that you want to be a web designer, you can take courses specializing in that field. Students taking these courses will gain knowledge of desktop publishing, java systems, server side web programming, infrastructures, visual basics, and operating systems.

There are two-year and four-year programs available in either specialization. Also, if you are already in graphic design or marketing and want to specialize further there are certificate programs you can take.

Whatever your education needs, make sure you visit Education Connection to find a school that is right for you.