Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

by Steven D. Heller (Author), Teresa Fernandes (Author), Steven Heller (Author) "I remember being starved for visual stimuli, even before I knew what that meant..." (more)
Key Phrases: most fulfilling aspect, graphic design profession, good work environment, New York, Design Client, Don Morris (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Up-to-date profiles of today’s career opportunities in graphic design–a new edition of the successful guide

This user-friendly guide offers a clear and comprehensive review of the types of careers available to today’s graphic designers. Drawing on years of experience at the top of the field, Steven Heller covers the major design industries–from architecture and industrial design to television, film, and publishing–as well as advertising, corporate, editorial, and other key design disciplines. This edition has been fully updated to address the latest developments in the field, including the evolving digital design disciplines that are creating some of today’s hottest job opportunities. Complete with dozens of interviews with leading graphic designers and more than 600 striking illustrations, Becoming a Graphic Designer is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in launching–or revitalizing–a graphic design career.

From the Inside Flap
Becoming a Graphic Designer provides a comprehensive survey of the graphic design market, including complete coverage of print and electronic media and the evolving digital design disciplines that offer today’s most sought-after jobs. This visual guide has more than 600 striking illustrations and features the latest mate-rial on interactive design, information design, motion, and more.

Drawing on years of experience in the business, veteran designers Steven Heller and Teresa Fernandes cover everything from education and training, design specialties, and work settings to preparing an effective portfolio and finding a job. They profile major industries employing graphic designers and explore advertising, corporate, editorial, and other key design disciplines.

The major industries covered here include architecture, interactive design, television and film design, publishing, and more. Dozens of up-front interviews with leading graphic designers let you see how companies such as Wired magazine, Martha Stewart Living magazine, and MTV hire and work with employees. These inside perspectives offer invaluable real-world insights on what different industries and positions are really like. And a resource guide to design publications and organizations points the way to further information and guidance.

Complete with easy-to-use, compact sections, useful sidebars, and sample design pieces, this outstanding guide is invaluable for anyone interested in launching or developing a career in graphic design.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (March 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047117677X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471176770
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #269,658 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Design Career Guide, November 20, 1999

By	Simulacrum - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design (Paperback)

Everyday, more and more university students are choosing some area of design as a career field. This guidebook is divided into four major information sections: Design Specialties, Design Businesses, Design Options and Design Education, followed by a Resource Guide, which consists of the names and addresses of design-related organizations and publications. Interwoven with these sections are portions of interviews with about 90 design professionals on such subjects as How I Became a Graphic Designer; Advice to Designers; On Personal Style; Major Influences; and The Future of Graphic Design. Other informative features include How Many Graphic Designers Are There? What Do They Earn? and The Optimum Portfolio. For the curious but uninformed, this is very likely the best introduction available. (Copyright by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol. 15, No. 1, Autumn 1999.)

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming a Graphic Designer : A Guide to Careers in Design, December 7, 1999

By	Jason Williams "3d235" (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design (Paperback)

Coming from a graphic design student in my senior year, this book has been so helpful in pointing me in the direction of where I want to go after I graduate in the spring. BUY THIS BOOK! You won't be disappointed. The insight of the designers featured in this book is very informative.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, June 22, 2000

By	Aimee Hamilton (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design (Paperback)

I can't believe this book. It encompasses everything an aspiring graphic designer needs to know, including art schools, design organizations, and what you need in a portfolio. My teacher lent me this book, and I didn't want to give it back! Get this book!