The top five reasons to pursue a graduate career in art and design

Few graduate careers offer such a wide range of work as art and design. You can do anything from designing new consumer goods to showing sculptures in galleries. People who choose a career in this area do so because they want work that has the following factors.

Creative independence

Creative independence means that rather than having a set system of how to solve a problem you are allowed to figure out your own solution. Graduates in the art and design sector will frequently be left to use their own initiative on projects. It is true that all but the most successful will have to keep one eye on the commercial viability of their work. But many are also recruited on the strength of their previous work, meaning that the jobs they get will take advantage of their style and approach.

Reputation and prestige

‘If there is a single quality that is shared by all great men, it is vanity.’ Yousuf Karsh

Reputation and prestige are both founded on the respect of one’s peers, critics and the wider world. The pull of future prestige is strong for artists and designers, especially for those who are relatively unknown at present. After all, Van Gogh’s talent wasn’t recognised until after his death, and the Lascaux cave paintings have long survived their artists and are still considered masterpieces. Many of those in art and design hope to be similarly recognised.

Ethical responsibility

Ethical business practice can be easier to accomplish in the world of art and design than it can be in other sectors. For example, it is easier to demand ethical sourcing of raw materials for art and design purposes than it is for business. This is because business is completely focussed on making profit on a large scale, whereas art is about creating meaning. Furthermore, because art and design are good at getting people’s attention, they are frequently used to support ethical and moral causes – even when causes conflict.

Exciting perks

For those who work in art and design, there are frequent opportunities to go to exhibitions, previews, launch parties, and any number of other events. Association with a certain organisation – or even simply being known in the sector – can be enough to get access to these events. Just as this sector produces more prestigious figures than almost any other, it is also in this sector where individuals have the most opportunity to meet these people. ‘Making it’ in the world of art and design can be hard work – and not always a one-way street – but for those who do, it can also be a lot of fun.

Visibility

Artists and designers can clearly see the end product of their labour. Think about the sound artist who knows that the sound effects in a particular movie were all their own doing, or the fashion designer whose clothes can be worn by their friends. They can get greater job satisfaction from the fact that their work has a significant noticeable impact on a finished product.

However…

There a few things to consider before you jump right in. Firstly, do you really want to turn your passion into your career? If art and design is something you use to escape from another aspect of your life, will you have to pick up another activity to escape from your career in art and design?

Secondly, art and design is not an easy business to get into. In order to do it you have to be both skilled and determined, something that is hard to sustain for long periods of time. Even if you can become established enough to make a living wage, job insecurity is a major issue – one you will face on a regular basis. It’s certainly something to think about.