Explore the different graphic design jobs in Delhi and scale professionally with this article. Read on for details of each role and the skills required to excel in the field.
In today's fiercely competitive market, graphic design stands out as a versatile and financially rewarding career path for individuals inclined towards creative pursuits. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned professional seeking to broaden your portfolio and skill set, Delhi emerges as a prime location brimming with promising prospects in the field.
In this article, we explore various job roles available to those with graphic design skills in the city, shedding light on the essential skills demanded by each role.
Here’s a brief overview of what we cover in this article:
- Why take up a graphic design job in Delhi
- Graphic Designer
- Brand Designer/Communicator
- Visual Designer/Communicator
- Motion Graphics Designer
- Packaging Designer
- Social Media Designer
- Animator
- Advertising Designer
- Logo Designer
- Creative/Art Director
- Where to Look for Graphic Design Jobs
Let’s dive right in!
Why You Should Pursue a Graphic Design Job in Delhi
Graphic design has evolved into a highly lucrative career path, especially with the rise of social media and the deepening recognition of branding's significance in achieving business objectives. This has vastly broadened the horizons for graphic designers, who now engage with diverse channels such as websites, print media, and packaging, and delve into strategic domains like branding and marketing.
In Delhi, the opportunities are varied, ranging from logo designers to much more specialized roles such as animators. While salary ranges may depend on factors like company and expertise, entry-level graphic designers can anticipate an average starting salary of around 3 lakhs per annum with the potential to scale this up to 13 lakhs per annum.
Graphic Design Job Roles in Delhi
Given the promising landscape we just discussed, let's delve into the common graphic design job roles that one can consider pursuing for a career in Delhi.
1. Graphic Designer
The core responsibility of a graphic designer is to effectively, clearly and aesthetically convey important information to the audience. This could pertain to anything from creating static posts, to incorporating illustrations and animations or even visualizing data creatively.
Some common design-related roles that derive their foundation from and find application in the work of a graphic designer include package design, design for print, website design, logo design, layout art, and brand design. To effectively meet all these requirements, graphic designers often have to indulge in research for inspiration and to understand the end user better.
What skills do graphic designers need?
Graphic designers typically need both technical proficiency and knowledge of design principles to discharge their responsibilities. The most important technical and soft skills include:
- Familiarity with fundamental design principles
- Understanding of color theory and psychology
- Proficiency in software tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
- Basic knowledge of branding concepts
- Research skills
- Collaboration and communication skills
2. Brand Designer/ Communicator
Brand designers are creative experts responsible for creating a relevant and cohesive brand identity for a product or a service. This can vary from developing an entire brand identity from scratch to developing visual elements like logos, artwork, apps, packaging design or promotional collateral to align with the end user.
It is also common for graphic designers in this role to indulge in strategy and planning when developing the visual language of a brand. Since the idea here is to maintain a cohesive brand language, they often have to collaborate with clients and other stakeholders to ensure the image is consistent across channels. Depending on the industry or scope of work, brand designers might also have to work alongside multiple brands, necessitating project management skills in addition to design knowledge.
What skills do brand designers/communicators need?
While the scope of a brand designer’s work aligns closely with that of a graphic designer, they are required to have expertise in branding principles to create a unique and memorable brand image. Some key skills needed to excel in this role include:
- In-depth knowledge and experience of branding concepts
- Market research and analysis
- Strategy and project management
- Proficiency in graphic design skills
- Collaboration and communication
3. Visual Designer/ Communicator
Often used interchangeably with graphic design, the primary responsibilities of a visual designer/communicator are very close to those of a graphic designer. However, there are significant differences between the two job roles. While graphic designers are involved with creating design concepts, the focus of a visual designer is more so on the user experience delivered by the visuals on those products.
Visual designers solely focus on the user interface of a product, unlike graphic designers who indulge in other areas of design like print, brochure or packaging design. Hence, the day-to-day responsibilities of a visual designer/communicator would include the application of user interface principles to graphic games or e-commerce websites, wireframing and prototyping, collaboration with coders, and improving the user experience through the implementation of visual design elements.
What skills do visual designers/communicators need?
- Knowledge of motion design, animation, and graphic design principles
- Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and other website-building languages
- Foundational knowledge of UI/UX design
- Proficiency in graphic design tools
- Strong collaboration skills
4. Motion Graphics Designer
Motion graphics designers, also known as motion designers, create moving artwork. The major scope of their work includes adding motion to static designs through a combination of animation, audio, and visual effects. Animated logos, moving illustrations, special effects, and kinetic typography are all examples of motion graphics.
The scope of motion graphics has expanded exponentially in recent years, now going beyond an application in films and television and transitioning into video games, advertising, branding, and marketing collaterals. Creating storyboards and creative concepts, conducting research, and implementing ideas through technical skills remain the primary tasks within this role, in addition to collaborating with other stakeholders.
What skills do motion graphics designers need?
Motion graphics designers need proficiency in a range of tools. Key skills also include:
- Knowledge of fundamentals of animation
- Proficiency in tools like Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Adobe Animate
- Fundamental graphic design principles
- Storyboarding and storytelling skills
- Communication and collaboration capability
5. Packaging Designer
The packaging designer has evolved into an independent specialized role over the years. Their primary responsibilities cater to designing functional and aesthetically pleasing packaging to effectively represent the identity of a brand. Collaboration with product owners and having a deep understanding of user needs becomes one of the most important responsibilities within this role.
Other responsibilities include creating sketches, brainstorming, and prototyping with different designs to best reflect the offerings of the product. This can often necessitate basic knowledge of branding and marketing concepts to meet client briefs.
What skills do packaging designers need?
Key skills essential to becoming a packaging designer include:
- Knowledge of graphic design principles
- Experience or familiarity with industrial design
- Understanding of branding and marketing concepts
- Knowledge of different materials and familiarity with the packaging process
- Communication and collaboration with stakeholders
6. Print Designer
A niche role within the umbrella of graphic design, print designers focus on the creation of visual designs that cater to print media like brochures, magazines, business cards, etc. This includes overseeing the entire design process, right from developing creative concepts and digital mockups, to finalizing the dimensions and technical specifications for printing.
Since the final product is for print media, whether physical or digital, designers must also have in-depth knowledge of typography, color, font size, arrangement of letters and spacing, as well as designing layouts to create unique products. A background in graphic design is therefore necessary to scale professionally as a print designer.
What skills do print designers need?
Some essential skills for this role include:
- Typography skills like knowledge of different fonts, sizes and layout techniques
- Understanding of color theory and color psychology
- Familiarity with various printing standards and techniques (GRACol, G7, SWOP)\
- Proficiency in Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
- Knowledge of different printing materials
- Collaboration and communication skills
7. Social Media Designer
Social media designers are engaged in designing collaterals and creatives developed with the intention of promoting a business, individual, or organization, on social media platforms. These can vary from banners, illustrations, posters, and static advertisements to even animation or short videos.
Like several other branches of graphic design, those working in this sphere are also required to collaborate with different stakeholders. The question of maintaining a consistent brand image and identity also plays an important role since social media designers regularly have to promote businesses or deliver important messages to connect with a much broader audience.
What skills do social media designers need?
Important skills that a social media designer must have include:
- Understanding of graphic design principles and tools
- Familiarity with dimensions of different types of creatives on social media platforms
- Basic video editing/animation skills
- Collaboration and communication skills
8. Animator
Much like motion graphic designers, animators also work with the concept of movement in graphic design. However, their exact scope differs from that of a motion graphic designer. Animators primarily create an illusion of movement through the production of multiple images called frames, which when sequenced together create a sense of motion.
These designs or frames can be both digital or hand-drawn and vary from 2D and 3D animation to model-making, stop-motion, or computer-generated animation. Given such a large scope of work, animation can be an interesting career choice where designers get to work on television shows, video games, and social media apps.
What skills do animators need?
Animators have to consistently blend art with technology, necessitating proficiency in a range of skills. These include:
- Hands-on experience in a range of software applications, particularly Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, and Autodesk Maya
- Technical knowledge of rendering images, audio in videos, and image composition
- Design principles of animation and motion in design
- Storyboarding, sketching, and storytelling
9. Advertising Designer
Designers working in the advertising space, particularly for developing campaigns, qualify as advertising designers. The role is a sub-unit of graphic design where the focus is primarily on attracting the audience towards a product or service through targeted campaigns.
The position of an advertising designer is inclined more towards management where routine responsibilities typically include collaborating with art and creative directors to put in place a strategy and vision for the campaign. Other responsibilities include creating layouts and designs for advertising campaigns, conducting research to understand the end-user needs, delineating the scope of the project, and effective application of design principles to attract more traffic.
What skills do advertising designers need?
An advertising designer must possess the following skills:
- Knowledge of graphic design principles like color psychology, typography, layout, etc
- Research methodologies and understanding of market trends
- Project management skills
- Collaboration and communication
10. Logo Designer
A logo designer specializes in the entire process of developing logos that align with the overall brand image of a company or organization. Logo design plays a crucial role in helping customers remember and understand a company’s offerings, contributing significantly to brand awareness and visibility. Hence, logo designers are often deeply involved in the brand identity process and must ensure consistency in their design.
While text and image are the two most common types of logos, there has been a steady rise in logos that utilise multisensory elements. The famous Netflix logo that features a piece of background music is just one example of how the role of a logo design is ever-growing.
What skills do logo designers need?
Key skills that one requires for this role include:
- Proficiency in graphic design principles and software tools (colour psychology, typography, etc)
- Foundational knowledge of marketing and branding
- Market research and competition analysis
- Collaboration and communication
11. Creative/Art Director
Creative or art director is a senior position that involves conceptualising the design vision of a company or brand. Designers under this role have to typically manage other team members, develop a creative vision, and also oversee budget and project limitations.
Graphic designers with significant market and industry experience are often in charge of the position and are required to have in-depth business, marketing, branding, and project management skills.
What skills do creative/art directors need?
Since this is a senior position, the skills required are also quite extensive and dynamic. Some expected skills include:
- Experience in different aspects of graphic design like packaging, print, logo, etc
- In-depth knowledge of marketing and branding
- Understanding of business goals
- Budgeting and project management
- Strategic, critical, and creative thinking
- Collaboration and client management
Where to Look For Graphic Design Jobs
Given the vast scope of graphic design, finding the right job that aligns with your specific skill set can be challenging. Here are some avenues you can refer to when searching for jobs in this field:
- Online Job Boards: Websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Naukri and Monster are excellent platforms to find opportunities in your desired graphic design role. You can customise search by location, job title, and other filters to find positions that match your skills and experience.
- Design Websites: Several design websites like Behance, Dribbble, Creativepool, and Coroflot are specifically tailored to creative professionals. These allow designers to share their work, network with professionals and organically find new opportunities. Take AND learner Sreya Sara Binoy’s Campaign Design Project on Behance, for instance, which allows potential recruiters to surf through her work.
- Freelance Platforms: Websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr connect businesses and recruiters with freelancers open to opportunities. While these platforms may not offer traditional full-time employment, they can be a good way to gain experience, build your portfolio, and make connections in the industry.
- Social Media: Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook are valuable resources to stay updated on job openings and industry trends. Posting your design process and portfolio on social media can be a quick way to attract more clients.
While these platforms can be a great way to scale professionally, it is important to note that graphic design is a competitive field. Remember to tailor your portfolio, resume, and cover letter to each job application and highlight your unique skills and niche when applying or interviewing for a job.
For more guidance on how to tackle a graphic design interview, here’s a blog you could consider: 17 Graphic Design Interview Questions (and How To Prepare for Them)
Next Steps
We hope our article on the best graphic design jobs in Delhi could offer valuable guidance in your career journey.
In case you need further assistance, here are some of our resources you can consider:
- Watch this session by design veteran and AND’s Academic Head, Prachi Mittal, and our Course Lead, Soumya Tiwari.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Pursue our Graphic Design courses - all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and some even offer a Job Guarantee.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
