How to become a Junior designer

It's no secret that a career in the creative industries is extremely competitive, but by mapping out a clear career path from the start, you can sharpen your focus and gain that all-important edge. Here you'll find some top tips to help you prepare for a junior designer role, and our new graphic design jobs board will help you land your first step up the creative career ladder – you'll be an art director before you know it!

1. What a junior designer job entails

A junior designer job is an entry-level position, generally aimed at creatives with between zero and three years of commercial design experience. At this level, you'll work closely under the supervision of more senior designers, who will provide mentoring as you learn the ropes in design conception and implementation.

During your first few years you'll be assigned the smaller aspects of multiple projects. Depending on the company, you could find yourself doing anything from laying out pages and making colour corrections, to designing stationery and website banners, to sitting in on client meetings.

2. What a junior designer job doesn't entail

Here's what a junior designer isn't: someone who solely pours the coffee, organises the stationery drawer, answers the telephone or runs errands. If you find yourself in this position, talk to your senior designer, map out your expectations and ask for new work. If the situation doesn't improve, it might be time to move on.

3. Do I need a degree?

You don't necessarily need a degree to become a junior designer – although the benefits of learning design theory and design thinking, plus the freedom to develop your own ideas outside of client briefs, shouldn't be underestimated. Bear in mind, too, that some job adverts will specify being educated to degree level.

However, while a relevant degree will stand you in good stead when it comes to getting on the graphic design career ladder, it by no means guarantees you paid employment. Talent, experience and confidence will often triumph over a degree.

"The most important things that Landor looks for in a candidate are talent and attitude," says Peter Knapp, global creative officer at Landor Associates. "Spirit and raw ability are things that are preloaded."

4. Typical junior designer starting salary

Starting salaries vary wildly depending on sector and geographical location. As a junior designer in the UK you can expect to pocket anywhere between £20,000 and £25,000. According to Major Players' 2018 salary survey, the national UK junior designer average salary works out at £23,000.

5. What experience you need

Relevant work experience – and lots of it – will stand you head and shoulders above the competition, so it's good practice to have at least one placement or internship (and preferably more) on your resume when it comes to looking for your first junior designer position. Of course, you'll also need a standout design portfolio – see this design portfolio inspiration to give you some ideas.

"Fear put me into the industry in the second year of my degree," recalls award-winning designer and art director Craig Ward. "I did a string of terrifying placements, and when I graduated I was ready to make the most of my final placement, which became my first job."

Placements and internships show that you have valuable real-world experience and, crucially, that you've started to translate your hard-won skills and knowledge of design theory into practice. The more you can chalk up, the better placed you'll be when applying for a job as a junior designer.

6. Specific skills you need

As well as a strong understanding of design and the processes required to do it, you’ll need to be good at problem-solving (you’ll be expected to come up with creative solutions) and pretty handy with programs like Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC and InDesign CC.
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Communication skills also rate highly. After all, being a brilliant designer isn't much use if you can't explain your decisions to clients.

"You need to be hard working, passionate and reliable, as well as prepared to do the less desirable jobs," advises Ben Topliss, a freelance creative who previously worked at LOVE, and quickly rose through the ranks after graduating.

7. In-house or design agency?

As a junior designer in a studio or agency, you'll be involved in strategy and creative problem-solving, producing graphic design, advertising or visual communication work for a wide range of different clients.

As an in-house junior graphic designer at a large organisation like HSBC, Google or the government, you'll work as part of a team of designers who are responsible for the company's marketing and advertising material, website and so on.

Pros here include stability, predictable working hours and potentially better pay. The cons? Working on a single brand for too long can limit your portfolio – this is a particular risk for junior designers – and numb your creative juices.

8. How to progress

Progression from junior designer to a middleweight position or senior designer is normally possible within around three to five years, after which the next step might be art director, creative director or a more managerial position with the studio or firm.

"Work hard and build good relationships with as many people as you can," advises Topliss, adding that it's essential to develop both your reputation and book of contacts before you take the next step.

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