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Art and Design Career

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TSR Wiki > Careers > Career Options > A-Z of Careers > Art and Design Career

 
 
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Find out how you could join the Chartered Society of Designers.

What does a career in art and design involve?

As long as the economy continues to do well, people will keep spending money (in fact, even with the economic climate as it is atm, people are still buying things to improve their lives). That’s great because the sort of things people buy - anything from CDs and computer games to clothes and jewellery - have all been designed. In fact, these days, practically everything is ’designed’. On the other hand, many goods are now manufactured overseas. This means that art and design opportunities are not always as plentiful as you’d think. There’s also competition for jobs in this country from well-trained overseas students.

Interested in becoming a painter and decorator? Then follow this link.

Why should I apply for a career in art and design?

A career in art and design could see you working in advertising, architecture, entertainment, fashion or foods - working on labelling, packaging, or even coming up with new concepts. There are so many different areas where art and design skills are important that it offers a varied and absorbing career choice. Our increasing reliance on goods will mean that there will be plenty of opportunities for committed individuals - but with so much international trading going on, a second language could be a very good addition for anyone considering a career in the advertising side of designing.

Training and Applicants

Careers in art and design are really popular. That means there will probably be someone with a few more qualifications or that bit more experience competing for the same job. Don’t let this put you off. For most jobs, being persistent is half the battle! Degrees are useful, though not essential, for some areas. Budding fashion designers, for instance, can start by making clothes for friends, then progress to selling on market stalls and then to shops. Areas like photography and cartoonist/animator are more to do with talent, personality, luck and contacts (work experience is very helpful). Other jobs, such as schoolteacher or art conservation officer, do require degrees.

Don't forget that because of the competition, having a range of skills other than your artistic and creative flair could set you above other applicants.

What opportunities are available within the sector?

Artistic or design-related skills are used in many work areas but you might not immediately think of them as art and design jobs. For instance, hairdressing and floristry both need arty skills. Other jobs are more obviously art and design-based, such as graphic designer or fashion designer.

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