What can I do with a design degree?

Lots of creative people naturally gravitate to an art and design degree when considering what they would like to study at university. However, there is a common misconception that a degree in this field will lead to a lack of job opportunities after graduation. This is untrue. 

Firstly, it is important to note that there are many types of design degrees. Interior design degrees or graphic design degrees are popular for students who have a clear idea of a career path that they want to pursue. However, fine arts degrees, or any bachelor of the arts course, will provide a wide range of knowledge which will allow students to explore their options post-graduation. 

In our QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, there are 241 top universities which offer courses in art and design. The highest-ranked of these is the Royal College of Art in London, England however there are many great design courses on offer all over the world such as The New Parsons School of Design in New York, US which ranks third, Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy which ranks seventh, Tongji University in Shanghai, China (mainland) which ranks 11th, RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia which ranks 18th, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City, Mexico which ranks joint 27th and Helwan University in Helwan, Egypt which ranks 201-240. 

Read on as we discover some of the career options a student of design can consider. 

Fine artist

Potentially the most natural choice of career for a student of design is to be a fine artist. Fine artists can specialise in a variety of mediums: sculpting, oil or acrylic paint, watercolour, graphite, sketching or multimedia. They may also specialise in a specific subject matter for example landscapes or portraits.  

They will usually work freelance and earn their income by selling their work or having work commissioned. Many fine artists work in a gallery or studio and sell their pieces either online, or through exhibitions which they sometimes host themselves, and sometimes will be invited to take part in by a host organisation. 

Fine artists will need, first a foremost, a strong sense of creativity and experimentation. They will also need a strong sense of personal management as they will often work freelance with no fixed, regular working hours.  

It is important to note that most fine artists, especially in the early years of their career, will have a secondary job which pays regularly as income as a fine artist depends solely on selling a piece and so can be irregular. 

Interior designer

Another great career option for students studying art is interior design. This involves designing and managing the renovation of an interior space; domestic or commercial. It covers every stage of the process from discussing ideas with customers and surveying a building to find out what is possible to buying decor items, designing custom furniture, and working with surveyors to oversee the installation of a project.  

Many interior designers work within a larger company or firm however there are some who work freelance. 

A degree in art and design is a great starting point to be an interior designer, however other skills are also required in this role. Interior designers must be able to operate programmes such as computerised design and editing software. AutoCAD and Photoshop are the industry standard.  

They will also need specialist knowledge about building regulations and materials. It would be advantageous for any hopeful interior designer to study a bachelor’s or master’s degree specifically in interior design to make sure that they have all the relevant information to excel in the role. 

Graphic designer

Another great career option for someone who has studied design at university is graphic design. This career involves making graphic images with a computer programme which can be used for a number of things, for example, advertising materials, books and magazines, computer games, product packaging, websites, corporate visual branding and much more. 

Graphic designers may work in a studio or office as part of a company, but many choose to work freelance and may work from home. Industry standard programmes that a graphic designer might use are Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva and Procreate. 

In order to be a graphic designer, students will primarily need a good command of the relevant software. They will need to be able to be flexible when working, handle multiple projects at one time and work to a deadline. If they are working freelance, they will also need networking skills and the ability to manage their income effectively. 

Fashion designer

Fashion design is a popular career choice for students studying art and design. The role of a fashion designer includes researching current trends and forecasting future trends as well as collecting inspiration from the world in order to create a new collection.  

It is important to note that there a different types of fashion design. High-street fashion will mean designing clothes that can be purchased at a high-street retailer and must appeal to a mass audience. Ready-to-wear fashion is a small collection that an established designer will release which can be bought in stores or online. Haute couture fashion is a one-off garment made for a catwalk show that makes a statement about the brand in a more artistic way. 

Fashion designers will need to have some knowledge of computer programmes such as Adobe and AutoCAD when working on a design. They will also need excellent attention to detail and be able to carefully consider the impact of colour and material on a project. They need to be able to work well as part of a team and to work efficiently to meet tight deadlines. 

Illustrator

An illustrator will create drawings which can be used to tell a story or communicate an idea. Their work could be used in several different ways, for example: picture books, corporate brochures, magazines, greetings cards, calendars, and t-shirts.  

Many illustrators will work freelance and so it is expected that they will have an extensive portfolio that they can show to potential clients. 

Aside from creative skills, illustrators will need to be able to market themselves and manage their finances. Networking is also important in an illustrator role as they will often work freelance and therefore need to find connections and pitch themselves to clients. 

Animator

An animator may work with hand-drawn stop-motion animation or 3D computer-generated animations. Animators will communicate with their client or company in order to fully understand what is required of them, create storyboards for their animations and work in 2D and/or 3D to create an animation using computer software such as 3DS Max, Flash and Cinema 4D.  

They also often communicate with other teams and departments within an organisation such as sound technology, website designers, copywriters and printers. 

Creative ability is one of the most important requirements of an animator, as they need to be able to produce and reproduce images of characters and objects accurately. Equally as important is a good command of the computer programmes that are now used frequently in the industry. 

Photographer or videographer

Photography and videography are great careers for someone studying design. Photography jobs can be offered in a wide range of employment sectors such as advertising, fashion, art, editorial, commercial and for events such as weddings.  

Videography jobs could also be required for fashion, editorial and commercial projects, and events, but may also be required for filming for television and cinema.  

If a photographer or videographer is working for a company, they may be given a specific brief to work within, whereas working with domestic clients may mean they have more artistic liberty.  

In both employment situations, they will be expected to make decisions about lighting, location, camera angle and the positioning of the subject. 

A good knowledge of cameras, lenses and light equipment is an important part of working as a photographer or videographer. Sometimes, especially if working with a large company, camera equipment will be hired. However, sometimes the photographer or videographer will be expected to have their own. 

TV, theatre and film set designer

Set design for TV, theatre and film is a great career option for students of design. The job includes considering concept ideas for the sets, locations, lighting, props and graphic projections for a theatre performance or film project.  

Set designers may specialise in one specific field or work in a variety of fields and will often work closely with a creative and construction team as well as producers, directors, lighting and sound effect teams, costume designers and choreographers.  

Many set designers work freelance and will form close professional relationships with certain directors who they will frequently work with when a new project comes up. Others will be employed by a production company and will be assigned projects on a more regular basis. 

TV, theatre, and film set designers need to have good communication skills and be able to work well with other teams. They also need an understanding of the film and theatre industry and how their creative decisions will affect others working on the projects, as well as how it will be perceived by, and enhance the experience of, the audience. 

Web designer

For students of design who also have a good knowledge of computer programming and IT, web design could be a career option. A web designer will think about the appearance and utility of a website, how it will represent the brand or owner and how it will be used by the audience.  

They will consider logos, browsing features, colours schemes, product displays and interactive features. They will not only design and help to build the website but also to fix any problems that may arise. 

While creative ideas and artistic knowledge are very important when designing a website, technological knowledge is also a foundational component of the skills needed to excel in this career.  

The technical skills required include coding, programming, graphics production and the use of content management systems such as WordPress, Adobe Business Catalyst and Google Web Designer. 

Teacher

Finally, lots of design degree graduates opt for a teaching role. Art teachers can work with students of any age, from early years to adults at all levels of education. The duties of an art teacher will vary depending on the students’ age, and the academic level at which they are teaching.  

Their role may include guiding and encouraging students to explore different artistic mediums, depicting different subject matter, and testing different artistic styles. They may also teach their students about the history of art and analyse the work of contemporary artists. 

To excel in a career in teaching, you will need great communication skills in order to discuss ideas and understand students’ questions fully. Working with younger children will also require a lot of patience and innovative thinking to ensure that they are able to engage with the lesson.  

When working with children, it is important to note that there will likely be legal checks required to ensure the children’s safety. In the UK, DBS checks are used but this will vary from country to country. To become a full-time teacher in compulsory education, you will also need a postgraduate qualification in teaching. 

Frequently asked questions

What degree do you need to be a graphic designer?

If you aspire to have a career in graphic design, the first thing an employer or client will be interested in is your portfolio. A degree in graphic design or any design-based degree will be a wonderful opportunity to build a portfolio while expanding your skills.  

While any art degree would be an asset to your CV, a degree in graphic design specifically has the advantage of exposing you to industry standard software and allowing you to develop those skills before entering the world of work. 

What degree do you need to be an interior designer?

Many interior design employers will require a degree specifically in interior design. This is because, not only are there multiple software applications that students will need to have experience in, but also there is industry and country-specific knowledge regarding building codes, conservation of historic sites and architectural limitations that interior designers need to be aware of.

Which design course is best?

In the 2024 QS University Rankings by Subject, the Royal College of Art ranks highest for art and design degrees.

What do graphic designers do?

Graphic designers create images with computer software which can be published in a variety of ways including in advertising materials, in books and magazines, in computer games, on product packaging, on websites and for corporate visual branding. 

What are fine arts?

Fine arts are more traditional mediums of art, for example, paintings, sketches, or sculptures. It is made as a form of artistic expression as opposed to being decorative or visually appealing. A piece of fine art is not intended to be useful in any way but will often contribute to intellectual discussions and socially prevalent themes of its time. 

What should I do after graduating with an art degree?

 

While studying at university, you may have found that there is a certain medium that you prefer working in or a certain subject that you want your work to portray. After graduation, you should consider which pieces of work that you produced during your studies you would like to include in your portfolio.  

Continue to produce high-quality pieces which you can use as examples of your work to show an employer. Alongside this, you should consider whether you want to work freelance, which is common in the art industry, or in a company.  

You should also do some research about your chosen career paths and consider your finances when deciding what career you want to pursue and whether it is necessary to take on more than one job.