Types of Graphic Design: Exploring Various Design Disciplines

Key takeaways

Graphic designers work in many different areas, including UI/UX design, visual branding, and marketing and advertising.

• Other types of graphic design include product and packaging design, print and publication design, and motion graphics design.

• Based on the type of graphic design you’re interested in, you might pursue careers like web designer, brand designer, promotions designer, layout designer, product designer, and visual effects artist.

• You can build the skills necessary to begin in any type of graphic design role through a degree, a nontraditional program, or certification, and demonstrate your work in a portfolio.

Explore six areas of graphic design you can specialize in, as well as the job titles and salaries specific to each role. If you’re ready to start preparing for a graphic design role, enroll in the Google UX Design Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to apply foundational UX concepts, like user-centered design, accessibility, and equity-focused design, in as little as six months. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a career certificate for your resume.

What is graphic design?

Graphic design is the art of creating visuals that communicate a message or idea. Graphic designers use text, images, and other visual elements to create cohesive and aesthetically pleasing designs for various uses. To create balanced, proportionate, and engaging visuals, you’ll use design elements and principles, such as colors, shapes, sizes, textures, lines, and white space.

Graphic design salary and job outlook 

According to Glassdoor, the median total graphic designer salary is $63,000 [1]. 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that graphic designer jobs will grow by 2 percent from 2024 to 2034 [2]. Although that is slower than the average 3 percent growth rate for all industries [2], Next Move Strategy Consulting reported that the global market size for graphic design reached $52.32 billion in 2024. They project the market will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 4.6 percent through 2030, reaching a market value of $70.53 billion [3].

What are the different types of graphic design? 

Various types of graphic design exist across different industries, including UI/UX design, visual branding, marketing and advertising, product and packaging, print and publication, and motion graphics. You can explore these design types, job titles, and median salaries to determine if you want to start a graphic design career in that field.

User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design

User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design involve creating websites, apps, and other interactive projects that prioritize how users engage with a product. While jobs like web designer, user interface designer, user experience designer, and application designer have slightly different responsibilities and roles, all require graphic design skills to create aesthetically pleasing, enjoyable, and easy-to-use products.

In UI design, you may work on a product’s overall aesthetic or focus on more minute details, such as the number of individual interactions a user has as they click, scroll, and otherwise navigate the website or app. In UX design, you will take a more holistic view of the user’s total experience with the product.

If you specialize in user interface design, you may have a job title other than “graphic designer.” A few other job titles you might pursue in user interface design and their median total salaries include:

• Website designer: $73,000

• User interface designer: $132,000 

• Mobile app designer: $87,000

• User experience designer: $151,000

Visual branding

Visual branding is a type of graphic design in which art and images are used to tell a brand’s story and support its brand marketing efforts. Brand assets like logos, typography, colors, characters, or mascots create consistent marketing materials that help potential customers recognize and associate your imagery with the brand.

If you specialize in branding, you may have a job title other than “graphic designer,” especially as you build your skills and take on more varied responsibilities. A few other job titles you might pursue in visual branding design, and each one’s median salary, include:

• Brand designer: $81,000 

• Visual designer: $106,000

• Art director: $108,000

Marketing and advertising design

Marketing and advertising design is a type of graphic design in which you create the visual components of advertising. In this field, your work may overlap with visual branding, as you may help create logos and make other creative decisions. You may help set the marketing strategy directly or work with other professionals, such as a creative director.

If you specialize in marketing and advertising, you may have a job title other than “graphic designer.” Other job titles you might pursue in marketing and advertising, and the median salary in each graphic design role, include:

• Marketing designer: $76,000

• Promotions designer: $77,000

Product and packaging design

Product and packaging design is a type of graphic design in which you create products that people enjoy using or their packaging. You’ll ensure your designs contribute to your company’s marketing message and branding experience, translating them into 3D visuals.

If you specialize in product and packaging design, some of the job titles you’ll encounter, and the median salaries of these roles, may include:

• Product designer: $119,000 

• Packaging designer: $69,000

Print and publication design

Print and publication design is a branch of graphic design where you’ll focus on creating engaging printed materials and publications. Despite the prevalence of digital media, you can explore many types of print and publication designs, from printed promotional or marketing items to the layout of magazines, books, or catalogs. In this role, you will use images, shapes, and text to create an engaging layout that appealingly presents information and draws readers in.

If you specialize in print and publication design, you may have a job title other than “graphic designer.” A few job titles you might pursue in print and publication design, and their median salaries, include:

• Layout designer: $85,000

• Magazine designer: $85,000

• Print designer: $65,000

Motion graphics design

Motion graphics design allows you to utilize your animation skills to create cartoons, video game elements, animations, or special effects for television or movies. You will use specialized software to create graphics that move, often working in a team with other professionals, such as artists, directors, designers, and clients.

If you specialize in motion graphics or animation, your job title may differ from “graphic designer.” Some potential roles in motion graphics design, along with their median salaries, include:

• Motion graphics designer: $95,000 

• CGI animator: $92,000

• Visual effects artist: $77,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of June 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

How to become a graphic designer

To become a graphic designer, you’ll need to gain the education and skills necessary to succeed in the field. You can consider certifications to make your skill set more attractive to potential employers and work on building a portfolio to demonstrate your skills.

Step 1: Complete your education.

Most graphic designers will earn a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field. However, you don’t need to earn a degree to begin taking on graphic design work. You can also focus on learning the necessary skills through nontraditional programs. You’ll need to learn how to use graphic design software, design principles, and essential tools to create your preferred type of graphic design.

Read more: Your Guide to Graphic Design Degrees

Step 2: Pursue certifications.

You can pursue graphic design certifications to help demonstrate your skills. The most common kind of certification you will find in this industry is a software-related certification offered by the vendors of those applications, such as:

• Adobe Certified Professional (ACP)

• Apple Final Cut Pro certifications

You can also explore Professional Certificates to help you learn job-specific skills, like the Google UX Design Professional Certificate.

Step 3: Build your portfolio.

You can use your graphic design portfolio to demonstrate your skills to potential employers. Create a portfolio that reflects your best projects, a range of projects, or projects specific to the type of graphic design job you want.

For example...

To become a brand designer, you can create mockups of the brand assets for a fictional company to demonstrate your thought process and skill.

Support your career progression with these learning resources

Discover career insights and industry trends by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Or if you want to keep learning more about the field of graphic design, check out these free resources:

• Explore career paths: Graphic Design Career Paths: Explore Roles & Specializations

• Learn key concepts: Graphic Design Terminology

• Watch on YouTube: Why Every Logo You Know Started Here: Inside a Graphic Designer’s Career

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses.