What Are The Different Types Of Artistic Jobs
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Careers In Art And Design
Art and Design include a wide range of disciplines, from art history to interior design to illustration. Art and Design career professionals typically choose a particular specialisation at university to improve their skills in that particular discipline/field. Below are career options for design and careers in art with details about each.
Is There A Difference Between The Art Industry And The Design Industry
Careers in art and design are all about creating things which are appealing to the eye. Art is traditionally created purely for its aesthetic appeal, whilst design tends to revolve around a product. You might even say that design is art with a function. The two different areas may seem worlds apart in their purpose, but the people who work in art and design all tend to have an essential mix of practical skills and a talent for using colour, space, shape and form.
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Digital Portrait Artist Cliff Roth
Cliff Roth paints digital portraits using Google+ Hangouts on Air, creating the works live on video the equivalent of a modern day street caricature artist. His subjects include a number of famous people, including Guy Kawasaki. While it is free to attend one of Cliffs Hangouts and potentially be painted, $40 guarantees you will get one. The portraits are completed in 10 60 minutes using Adobe Photoshop CS5 and a Wacom Cintiq 21UX .
Cliff studied Art, Photography and 3D Design at Hopatcong High School, taking as many classes as he could, followed by introductory courses at Country College of Morris. He also completed The Art of Caricature, an online course by Jason Seiler.
Live speed-painting has allowed Cliff to amass a huge Google+ following, with almost 300,000 in his circles. It has also boosted the number of paid commissions he gets .
Arts And Design Careers

Workers in this group create products and concepts that have practical or aesthetic purposes.
Overall employment in arts and design occupations is projected to grow 2 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations though slow, the increase is expected to result in about 20,500 new jobs over the decade. In addition to new jobs from growth, opportunities arise from the need to replace workers who leave their occupations permanently. About 94,500 openings each year, on average, are projected to come from growth and replacement needs.
The median annual wage for art and design occupations is $48,220, which is higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760.
Craft and Fine Artists
Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create original works of art for sale and exhibition. Craft artists create objects, such as pottery, glassware, and textiles, that are designed to be functional. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, create pieces of art more for aesthetics than for function.
Industrial Designers
Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day. Industrial designers consider the function, aesthetics, production costs, and usability of products when developing new product concepts.
Interior Designers
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Sample Occupations And Jobs
Below is a sample of the many types of occupations pursued by graduates of this program.
1a. Sample Occupations
Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Detailed career profiles are available in the Career Centre. Some occupations require further education and experience.
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* Resources
1b. Sample Job Listings
Below is a sample of delisted positions that have been posted on UofT’s Career Learning Network . To access current listings, login to CLN and click on Jobs.
- Program Assistants, Living Arts Centre
- Concept Artist/Modeler/Animator, Jaded Soul Tattoo
- Communications Assistant, Credit Valley Conservation
- New Media Programmer, Corus Entertainment
- Graphic Design Artist, First Media Group
- Art Sales and Marketing Representative, Sullivan Entertainment
- Gallery Assistant, Eskimo Art Gallery
- Curatorial Assistant, Blackwood Gallery, UTM
- Arts Counsellor, Centauri Summer Arts Camp
- Exhibit and Conservation Assistant, Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre
- Historical Interpreter, Art Gallery of Ontario
- Bilingual Program Assistant, Ontario Arts Council
- Studio Assistant, Pottery-A-Go-Go.com
- Scientific Illustrator, Department of Biology, UTM
1c. Sample Areas of Employment
- Art Galleries / Auction Houses
- Company Marketing Departments
Jobs You Can Do With An Art And Design Degree
Many students who choose to study for an Art and Design Degree do so because they have a specific job in mind. However, if you want to study it, but have no clue what to do afterwards, heres some good ideas
The beauty of an art and design degree is its flexibility. Many students in the UK opt for this study path because they have a specific career in mind, however, for all those students who are undecided or have changed plans midway, there are plenty of options once you graduate.
An art and design degree will have covered the fundamental design principles, but as a graduate you get to decide exactly how youll use that knowledge, and in what arena. You could go a slightly less conventional route and become an art valuer, a museum or gallery curator, or even a fine artist. But if your heart is set on pure design, then consider the following jobs you can do with your degree…
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Can You Get An Art And Design Job With Just A Certificate
Certificate programs in art and design, or entry-level design courses are available to students who are looking for short courses. The certificate programs are designed to meet the immediate creative goals as well as the long-term aspirations of students. A sequence of electives is typically included in the program, depending on the specific needs of the student. A portfolio review is typically required to complete the program. Some colleges and art institutes also offer foundation courses in arts and design through certificate programs.
Art And Design Career Outlook
Many careers in art and design require a bachelor’s degree, including most positions in fashion design, interior design, and graphic design. Even employers that don’t require an advanced degree may prefer candidates with an associate degree over candidates with only a high school diploma.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers data about job growth, median annual salaries, and the typical education requirements for an entry-level worker in this field.
Career outlook for art and design careers depends on several different factors, such as location and demand. The BLS reports that median annual salaries for art careers range from about $28,000 to about $94,000 there is a lot of variation depending on the career path.
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A Growing List Of Art Careers
Whether you love photography, graphic design, painting or any other art-related speciality, career options are limited only by your imagination. Art education propels people towards creative and unexpected destinations many of which have not even been discovered yet. As noted in Need a Job? Invent It, in the New York Times:
knowledge is available on every Internet-connected device, what you know matters far less than what you can do with what you know. The capacity to innovate the ability to solve problems creatively or bring new possibilities to life and skills like critical thinking, communication and collaboration are far more important than academic knowledge.
It is hoped that the 25 hand-picked, creative, inspirational people below will awaken your imagination and remind you that the world needs those with artistic skill.
What Can You Do With An Art Degree
There are many career opportunities for those who earn art degrees. Depending on the concentration of your degree, you may be able to work in industries such as arts administration, education, media, communications, technology and more. Some career professionals work directly with art, while others apply an artistic vision to careers outside of the world of artthese jobs build upon the foundational creative skills that students learn while earning their degrees. Whether you have a background in fine arts, visual arts, film, design or art history, there’s a career out there to suit your specific needs.
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Personalised Sticker Designer Emily Lopez
A huge number of people take monthly photographs of their babies to document their growth. When Emily Lopez had her own children, she began creating personal, custom designed baby stickers to help with this process and then selling them via her Etsy store PurplePossom. Emily has a degree in public relations and graphic design.
PurplePossom has made over 50,700 sales through Etsy at an average price of $11 $18 NZD .
Chief Design/creative Officer Or Art Director

Remember when we started this journey and I asked you about your Instagram aesthetic? Take your ability to frame individual photos and compile them in a cohesive, representative gallery-style format that draws in followers, then take that ability to an awesome new level. You may have the skills to be an art director already.
As the chief design officer, chief creative officer, or art director at a company, you would be responsible for the visual style of every component of that company. You would oversee the creation and development of the companys website, social media profiles, digital content including emails and ads, physical products including brochures and news bulletins, and even little things like company business cards and letterheads.
You would work directly with web developers, visual designers, and management to oversee the creation and execution of a visual style that helps the company turn a profit in its given field.
According to Glassdoor, art directors make an average of $78,000 annually. Employment growth is slow, at only 2 percent, but as technology changes and creative officers become more involved, that prediction will likely change.
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Is There A Demand For Art And Design Professionals
The demand for particular art and design careers depends on several factors, including location. The BLS projects 1% growth — much slower than the national average — for careers like art director and fashion designer from 2018-2028. However, the projected growth for multimedia artists and animators over the same time period is 4%, which matches the national average for all occupations.
Fashion Apparel And Textile Design Careers
Fashion, apparel and textile design focus on using the physical properties of textile and fabric to suit our needs and to create aesthetically appealing as well as functional dresses to wear as well as other products for several uses.
Fashion design careers focus on aesthetics as well as creating useful clothing. Although fashion design does include runway collections and the likes that are focused more on art and aesthetics, by and large fashion, textile and apparel design seek to find a balance between appearance and usefulness. Some fashion design, apparel, and textile design careers are listed below:
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What Specific Roles Are Available In Art And Design
Fine artist
Fine artists create and sell their original artwork, often specialising in mediums such as painting, drawing or sculpture. There are no formal qualification requirements for a career in this area, but if you are interested in studying fine art and your first degree is not in a related subject, you might want to explore your options for studying fine art as a second undergraduate degree. You usually need a degree in fine art or a related subject for postgraduate courses in fine art.
Illustrator
Illustrators work to a brief to create designs for products such as books, cards and clothes. Relevant qualifications include fine art or illustration, though ability and experience are equally important. You can start out by taking on small or unpaid commissions and freelancers can register with the Association of Illustrators to access resources and opportunities for self-promotion.
Graphic designer
Graphic designers create clear and eye-catching graphics for media products such as websites, magazines and advertisements. Most graphic designers can enter the industry through a combination of relevant qualifications and a strong portfolio.
Interior designer
Furniture designer
Furniture designers research, produce and improve designs for furniture, keeping themselves informed about current trends. A strong portfolio of work, relevant work experience and a willingness to make speculative applications are good places to start.
Art teacher or lecturer
Curator
Art therapist
Font Designer Daniel Mcqueen
Daniel McQueen is a young, entrepreneurial typographer and owner of Ten Dollar Fonts a website where selected designers sell font licenses to the world. After studying both Design and Photography at St Bedes College, Daniel gained a degree in Visual Communication from CPIT School of Art and Design, with a focus on typography.
When his fonts began to gain attention on the social media website Tumblr, Daniel decided to sell licenses to his fonts. Worried that his work would get lost amongst the crowd on an existing font marketplace, he created his own website. Ten Dollar Fonts gained the attention of several well known designers and features prominently in social media.
Daniel gives advice for new graduates in an interview with Zoe Nash of Design Assembly:
if youre like me and youre not excited by the idea of working for someone else, my advice would be as simple as do something for yourself. Have projects that you enjoy and take it seriously. Be patient and stick at it, you never know where it could take you. Even if you do have a full time job, have creative outlets and work hard at them. Youre young and most likely dont have to support anyone but yourself right now, so there is no better time to put your ideas to work. Daniel McQueen
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What Else Can Art And Design Professionals Do
Event Stylist every event has a concept that is reflected in the overall design as conceptualized by the event stylist. The event stylist provides service for all kinds of events and ensures that the vision of the client comes to fruition. This job is projected to grow at 8% through 2029.
Makeup Artist the art and design majors expertise in balance and colors can be very useful, especially in films and theater productions. The makeup artist may do freelance work or may be employed by a production team. This job is estimated to grow by 7% from 2019-2029, with the highest in the field of theatrical and performance art, which is projected to grow by 10%.
a keen eye for detail is needed to be an effective photojournalist, and art and design majors can do this job with their background in photography. The photojournalist is able to tell a story through a single visual. While the demand for photojournalists is declining due to the proliferation of amateur photos through crowdsourcing, nothing will replace the trained eye of the photographer that has a solid foundation in art and design.
Is A Career In Arts And Design Right For Me
If youre a creative person who has good artistic abilities, a career in the field of arts and design can be a sound option for you.
However, depending on the exact profession you are targeting, you will also need additional skills, such as communication and business skills, time-management abilities, or computer skills.
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Useful Resources & Next Steps
Career Resource Library
The Career Resource Library contains information about a wide range of occupations in all industries, resume and cover letter resources, effective work search methods, graduate/professional school preparation guides and more.
Appointments
- Attend a one-on-one appointment with a career counsellor or an employment strategist to discuss what career options might work for you and determine a job search plan.
- Meet with an academic or departmental advisor, who can guide you in achieving academic success. Contact the Office of the Registrar or your department for more information.
Career Planning by Year
Visit our Career Planning by Year page for ideas of important career related activities for each year. You can visit us in the Career Centre to find out more about career areas that interest you.
Additional Web Resources
Top #100+ Art And Design Careers For Creative Students

Design careers include just about everything that requires creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. When we speak of art and design careers here, we include all sorts of careers ranging from fine arts to UI and UX design.
When one talks about art it is usually just fine arts or traditional arts that come to mind. However, art is an umbrella term that encompasses all sorts of creative careers ranging from painting and sculpture to filmmaking and classical dance. Art refers to all sorts of fields that essentially appeal to ones senses be it visual, audio, or audio-visual.
A lot of people believe that artistic and design careers are something that they should explore on the side. However, your hobbies and passions can be your career too! This article is here to tell you just that. Theres an array of creative art and design careers out there for anyone who wants to pursue a career in a creative field full time.
Topics covered
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What Can I Do At Uni To Increase My Chances Of Employment
- Start to build a portfolio with examples of your work.
- For some of the roles listed above, you can volunteer at an art gallery to show commitment, network and learn more about an area.
- Join an art society â they often provide workshops and an opportunity to build your portfolio.
- Start to advertise your work online by creating a website or blog and by using social media.
- Get as much work experience in your area as you can.