3 reasons why Communication Design (Graphic Design) is highly sought-after

The industry today including businesses of all kinds has grown through the adoption of technology for various needs and one of the key areas driving this growth is the digital media. Gone were the days when only print media was the active means of transmitting information from businesses to prospective customers, buyers, viewers etc. Digitalization in the 21st century has revolutionized communication to a level where companies, businesses, schools, entrepreneurs and what have you have the dying need to keep up with the pace of advancement in information transmission. 

We will look into this topic to understand the reasons why a lot of students desire to read Communication or elsewhere Graphic Design in the tertiary.

Opportunities to offer

Worldwide opportunities for professionals in the field of Communication Design keep opening all the time. Whether for digital marketing for businesses, advertising design services for firms, industries, political posters, or communication media both in print or traditional media like television, and radio, a myriad of opportunities are becoming evident day in and day out. Currently, product manufacturers desire high sells and hence the need for package designers who create functional and attractive packages that are able to sell products.

I created a package for one of Ghana's locally made products and as the product was being sold, a lot of people commended the package graphics as well as the user interaction and functionality.  More on a package solution for a locally manufactured product. Packaging design is a field that only trained professionals can thrive and make useful impact because there are many regulations and standards products and their respective packages must meet before release into the market. A well-established product manufacturer whether launching a new product or rebranding definitely needs a highly skilled professional for a crucial service as this. 

Talk of the multimedia industry, advertising, photography, gaming, the opportunities for graphic designers to make impact as they get compensated is so vast. This does not mean their are not challenges to succeed even as a professional.

The demand for design professionals keeps growing

As the need for well-trained professionals in design grows, there are also some people who learn some design softwares and begin to operate. This in a way is one of the reasons why some designers in for example Ghana or other parts of the continent do not have the needed remuneration or respect for their services. Some clients do understand the value and power of design but others do not hence undergoing a structured education in Communication or Graphic Design provides evidence of a person's expertise in providing design services. Freelance design, photography, animation, game design, and illustration all provide a lot of opportunities to tap into as a designer in this thriving age of technological advancement.

A professional in this field has a high potential of becoming a fulfilling entrepreneur

Having mentioned all this while how opportunities there are for designers, others will have to find their way into operating as entrepreneurs as they practice. For instance, after design school, some set up printing houses, other design firms to offer various services in social media content creation, designers of communication elements like flyers, posters, billboards, advertising posters, book designers, video editors, and animators among others. The practical-oriented nature of the field gives and empowers the designers create jobs of their own in cases where the aim is not to work in any firm but operate as an entrepreneur since that gives much time to work on as many projects as possible without any restriction.

In KNUST the program is known as Communication Design which is a four year course whilst in University of Education Winneba, it is offered as Graphic Design. Interrogation with some students in other departments like sculpture, publishing, textiles ceramics and even in other colleges show that there is high demand for this program. This is no doubt the reason why the cut off point is competitive and it is one of the best courses to ever find in the Art Faculty in the tertiary.  

It is even surprising to know how some professionals divert to take a professional course in design in order to tap into the growing opportunities. One teachers I knew who had a degree and taught in a secondary school later in his career took a course at the university in Publishing before he retired. This move helped him to work as an entrepreneur and was able to get a steady stream of income even after retirement. Design is a field full of mixed experiences if only the practitioner is open-minded to work to solve problems.

The notion that art is not relevant should therefore be eroded because those who say such a thing may be have no idea how useful professionals in this field are to their businesses and to the country at large.