Career Exploration in Technological Design
Trade - Graphic Designer
Description - Graphic designers create visual concepts to portray information in a creative way. They
work alongside clients, art directors, and many other team members to design a product. An important
role for these designers is to be able to meet everyone’s needs, while staying within a budget. They use
creative elements such as colour, shapes, images, and calligraphy to create appealing designs and convey
ideas to an audience. This can include posters, billboards, and a variety of marketing tactics.
Expected Hours per day - Graphic designers typically work 40 hours per week but this can vary based
on the amount of work and the deadlines they have to meet. This career field is flexible with hours which
means that each designer gets to choose how many hours a day they choose to work. This can mean that
one day they work 4 hours while the next day they work 13 hours.
3 Possible Employers in the GTA -
Air Miles - Ux Designer - Remote
Air Miles Canada is hiring graphic designers across Ontario to create possible designs for them. They
have three goals; maximize customer experience, achieve business objectives, and ensure guidelines are
being followed. This job requires designers to work alongside internal stakeholders, product owners,
researchers and developers to achieve their three goals.
RE/MAX Gold Realty Inc. - Marketing/Graphic Designer - Brampton
RE/MAX is a real estate brokerage looking for graphic designers to create marketing tools such as flyers,
posters, greeting cards, business cards, sale signs, etc. This job requires designers to work in a fast-paced
environment and create visually creative products associated with the company’s branding.
Flora Graphic & Printing Inc. - Graphic Designer - Brampton
This job requires the designer to consult clients to determine the content of the illustration. The designer
would have to make decisions in order to create the best possible product for their client. This designer
would have to work in a fast-paced environment and under pressure with tight deadlines and a large
workload. Overall this job requires the designer to be able to work successfully with clients.
2 Locations where education/training is available
Centennial College - Graphic Design
Location - Toronto
Program Length - 3 years/6 semesters
Credential - Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Humber College - Advertising & Graphic Design
Location - Lakeshore
Program Length - 2 years/4 semesters
Credential - Diploma
Required High School Credits
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- English: Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent course
- Media or Visual Arts
- Any type of technology course
- *Extra* Yearbook or photography club
Earning Potential
Starting pay - $44,677
Afterwards (depending on job title) - $60,000 - $110,000
Qualifications Required
- Diploma in art and design
Works Cited
Centennial College. “Graphic Design.” Centennial College,
https://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/graphic-design/. Accessed 8
February 2023.
“Graphic Designer job description template 2019 (Ready-to-Use) | Workable.” Workable resources,
https://resources.workable.com/graphic-designer-job-description. Accessed 7 February 2023.
“Graphic Designer - Salary, How to Become, Job Description & Best Schools.” OnlineDegree.com,
https://www.onlinedegree.com/careers/computers/graphic-designer/. Accessed 7 February 2023.
“Graphic Design | ontariocolleges.ca.” Ontario Colleges,
https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/arts-and-culture/graphic-design?q=&page=3.
Accessed 8 February 2023.
Guide, Step. “What Does a Graphic Designer Do? (2023 Guide).” BrainStation, 2023,
https://brainstation.io/career-guides/what-does-a-graphic-designer-do. Accessed 7 February 2023.
Humber College. “Advertising and Graphic Design - Humber College.” Faculty of Media & Creative
Arts, https://mediaarts.humber.ca/programs/advertising-and-graphic-design.html. Accessed 8
February 2023.
