Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Graphic Designer
What graphic designers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Review client feedback on a logo concept. From there, the day usually includes meet with clients to understand goals, develop design concepts, and design logos, layouts and graphics. Most work full-time; deadlines can bring long days. Freelancers set their own schedules.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a graphic designer working full time.
- Review client feedback on a logo concept.
- Sketch ideas for a new campaign.
- Design social media graphics in Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Lay out a brochure in InDesign.
- Present concepts to the marketing team.
- Revise designs and prepare print-ready files.
- Update the brand style guide.
Where graphic designers work
Designers work in studios, offices or remotely, at computers for most of the day.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time; deadlines can bring long days. Freelancers set their own schedules.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Meet with clients to understand goals
- Develop design concepts
- Design logos, layouts and graphics
- Select typography, color and images
- Prepare files for print and digital
- Revise designs based on feedback
- Maintain brand guidelines
Tools you’ll use every day
- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
- Figma
- Drawing tablets
- Font libraries
- Stock image services
- Project management tools
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Creative work
- Remote and freelance options
- Every industry needs design
- Visible results
What’s hard
- Competitive market
- Subjective feedback and revisions
- Tight deadlines
- Employment growth is slow
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love visual design
- I notice fonts and layouts
- I take feedback well
- I enjoy solving problems creatively
- I want remote or freelance options
- I’m comfortable with deadlines
Not sure? Take the free Graphic Designer fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Set up an ergonomic workstation
- Take screen breaks
- Respect copyright and licensing
- Back up files