Louisiana is a haven for creative types, particularly in principle cities such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. Each of these cities is home to a number of art galleries and studios, advertising agencies, web design studios, film production studios and graphic design firms of all sizes. While the Pelican State is a great place to find work in creative industries, such as Graphic Design, it is also a great place to live, study, and learn.
For starters, Louisiana is home to more than 80 colleges and universities. Many of these schools offermultiple programs for aspiring artists and designers, ranging from certificate programs to advanced degrees. Next, Louisiana offers an abundance of creative inspiration thanks to the state’s many mysterious Bayous, grand plantation homes, New Orleans’ famous French Quarter, and so many scenic lakes and rivers you’ll lose count. It’s no wonder Hollywood makes itself at home here often. The Big Easy, Angel Heart, All the King’s Men, The Client, Eve’s Bayou, Interview with a Vampire, JFK, The Pelican Brief, and Vendetta are just a few Hollywood productions filmed in Louisiana.
Louisiana Graphic Design Schools
Louisiana has a number of traditional schools and technical schools that offer Graphic Design and other similar programs. One of the state's best schools—Louisiana State University (LSU), is home to the Arts, Visualization, Advanced Technologies and Research (AVATAR) Initiative. This multidisciplinary hiring initiative establishes a “university-wide faculty focus on the intersections among art, technology and
computation, creating new research areas in virtual environments, digital art, electroacoustic music, animation, video game design, scientific visualization and more.”
Scroll through the list below to review what LSU has to offer, as well as other options for design students.
Baton Rouge
Louisiana State University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Graphic Design, Studio Art with Concentration in Digital Art; M. F. A. Graphic Design
Hammond
Southeastern Louisiana University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Graphic Design, Art with Concentration in New Media and Animation
Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Graphic Design, Animation and Computer Arts, or Media Art
Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design
Natchitoches
Northwestern State University of Louisiana - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Fine Arts with Concentration in Graphic Communications
Thibodaux
Nicholls University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design
More Graphic Design related programs to consider:
- Savannah, Atlanta, Hong Kong, France, and Online via SCAD eLearning
- Animation – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Film and television – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Motion media design – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Illustration – B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Interactive design and game development – B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Sequential art – B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Visual effects – B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#7) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#15) - 2019
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#6) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#13) - 2019
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#27) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#24) - 2019
- Top 10 in Florida for Graphic Design (#4) - 2019
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#21) - 2019
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#28) - 2019
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#40) - 2019
Employment and Salary Trends for Louisiana Graphic Designers
Louisiana is home to 1,760 salaried graphic designers, up from 1,140 in 2006. Considering the economy, and the Louisiana’s ongoing effort to rebuild, a 50+ percent increase in employment of graphic designers is nothing short of spectacular. Salaries for Louisiana graphic designers are on the rise as well. In 2006,
Louisiana graphic designers averaged $32,860. By 2010, the average salary had increased to $37,630.
Nationwide, the mean annual wage for graphic designers was $48,140 in 2010. The lowest paid graphic designers earned less than $26,110 (median), and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,660 (median). The middle 50 percent earned between $32,600 and $56,620 (median). Earnings for individuals such as freelancers, partners, and higher-level workers vary, but they are typically higher
than earnings for salaried graphic designers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, solo designers who freelanced or worked under contract reported median earnings of $57,000, while graphic designers with ownership or partnership interests in a firm or who are principals of the firm in some other capacity average $95,000 per year. The Bureau reports that senior designers earn a median salary of $60,000 and design directors, (the creative heads
of design firms or in-house corporate design departments) average around $95,000 a year.
