Graphic Designer: Be Your Own Boss

Introduction
If you’re planning on being a graphic designer, you will most likely be self-employed, doing freelance work. That is not to say that you cannot get a salaried position, you can, but it is a very competitive field and finding a job will be difficult. Finding freelance work will be much easier, especially if you’ve been compiling a good portfolio.

Job Function
I had an actual job as a graphic designer at a magazine once, but they fired me because, well…to be perfectly honest, because I’m lazy. Now I stick to freelance stuff, since that way no one knows how incredibly lazy I really am. I’ve worked on album covers, magazine advertisements, website layouts, billboards, soda packaging and book covers. It doesn’t matter what you’re working on, whether it’s something you feel strongly about or something you will forget you were ever involved with after a week, designing is rad. You sit back and sketch ideas, try out everything you can think of, until you come up with something that is eye-catching, beautiful, profound…something sellable. Lifestyle
It can be hard to get started, and even after you have gotten a break or two, making money will probably be an issue. You can expect to be the starving artist, at least for a little while. The amount of work can be a few minutes out of your week, to every single waking hour of that week; it all depends on the current project and if and when inspiration hits you. It’s best to compile a lot of designs that could be used for all sorts of things, and then just put in the relevant information when a job comes up. This system will not always work, but it will get you out of a jam here and there. As I said before, I am lazy, lazier than most, and if a person like me is able to survive, than you, who is probably much more energetic and determined than I am, should be able to be a success, so long as you have the talent.

Additional Information
This job is cool, most of my time is spent eating cereal and watching cartoons, because freelance graphic design never requires one to leave their home. Working with that magazine was weak, but there is something to be said for a steady paycheck.