Sales & Marketing

How to become a Graphic Designer

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

6–18 months

Typical pay

$45k–$68k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required — not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   3–6 months

   Learn the fundamentals

   Typography, hierarchy, colour and grid. Software is the easy half.

2. 2

   3–6 months

   Learn the tools

   Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop, or Figma for digital work.

   Course that covers thisFigma + Adobe XD Guide: Learn UI/UX Design With 12 ProjectsUdemy · around $19.99 →
3. 3

   3–6 months

   Build a portfolio of real briefs

   Three or four projects with a stated problem and your reasoning. Not a gallery of pretty images.

4. 4

   3–9 months

   Start in-house or at a small agency

   In-house teaches process; agencies teach speed and range.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Graphic Designer

   Browse jobs now →

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