Info on Working as a Graphic Designer in Ohio

The state of Ohio, with a population exceeding 11.5 million, many large cities and countless commercial companies, is a place that nearly 8,000 professional graphic designers call home.  Thousands of companies throughout Ohio employ communications design experts for numerous assorted visual design tasks.

Ohio Schools and Training Programs for Graphic Design

Many dozen colleges and Universities in Ohio offer degree programs in graphic design.  Popular Columbus design schools include Franklin University and Ohio State.  Cincinnati colleges for graphic design include Antonelli College and College of Mt. Saint Joseph.  Cleveland features Cleveland State University and the world famous College of Notre Dame.  Similar educational opportunities in other parts of Ohio include University of Akron, University of Dayton and Kent State.  Alternatively, many aspiring Ohio artists earn graphic design degrees online.  Among the largest design colleges with online degree programs are The Art Institutes, ITT Tech, University of Phoenix and DeVry. 

Graphic artists at design schools throughout Ohio typically major in Communications Design, otherwise known as graphic design.  A typical graphic design degree program at an Ohio design college would probably involve course work in computer science, mass communications, marketing and psychology, as well as drawing, photography, digital graphics, traditional visual media, animation, typography and related subjects.

Working as a Graphic Designer in Ohio

Some Ohio graphic designers work for leading local advertising agencies like SBC Advertising in Columbus, Nas Recruitment in Cleveland, Doreen Robideaux in Toledo, the Hardman Group in Akron and Focus-FGW in Cincinnati, to name a few.  Other local artists design film credits, promotional displays and other materials for motion picture producers like Live Technologies in Columbus, Production Assistance in Cleveland, Showcase Video Productions in Toledo, Energy Alliance in Cincinnati and EMG Video Productions in Akron, to list a mere sample.

Communications designers in Ohio are also hired by art galleries, museums, colleges, real estate offices, news syndicates, software developers and many other commercial businesses.  Statewide graphic design jobs include high tech illustrations, medical charts, video games, visual educational products, company and brand logos, instruction manuals, book covers, web pages, product packaging and street signs, among many others. 

Businesses across America support more than 280,000 graphic designers.  Salaries for communications design professionals in Ohio depend partly on education, experience, skills and availability, not to mention geographic location.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean annual income for an Ohio graphic designer is around $42,940, with an average hourly rate of approximately $20.65.  Roughly half of all professional U.S. graphic designers earn between $30,000 and $60,000 a year, although the BLS did not obtain data for the unreported salaries of self employed professionals. 

Skills of a Graphic Designer

Most graphic design work consists of page layout, which is basically the manipulation and arrangement of visual objects and their backgrounds.  Qualifications for professional graphic design work include advanced verbal and written communication skills, proficiency with professional software applications, web design experience and a solid understanding of typography.  Desirable personality traits of professional graphic designers are a long attention span, a great deal of patience, extreme attention to detail and punctuality, not to mention genuine artistic talent.