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What Is a Visual Designer? (+ How to Become One in 5 Steps)
Learn about the role and career path of a visual designer, including tips for getting started in the field.
October 5, 2022
Article
Learn more about the skills and certifications you need for a career in UX/UI, graphic design, virtual reality, the metaverse, and more.
Explore popular design and product courses
Skills you'll gain: Storyboarding, Wireframing, UI/UX Research, Responsive Web Design, User Experience Design, Design Thinking, User Research, Information Architecture, Figma (Design Software), Usability Testing, User Story, Web Design, Design Reviews, Usability, Presentations, Design Research, Persona (User Experience), Ideation, User Centered Design, Mockups
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
The University of Sydney
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Brainstorming, Prototyping, Ideation, Design Strategies, User Experience Design, Product Development, Design, Usability Testing, User Feedback
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Color Theory, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Typography, Generative AI, Document Management, Design, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphic Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Document Control, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Logo Design, Workflow Management, File Management, Adobe Creative Cloud, Data Integrity, Creativity
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Design and product cover a wide variety of skills and careers, from user experience (UX) design to product design to virtual reality and the metaverse. With so many options and opportunities available, it can be tricky to know where to start. On Coursera, you'll find expert resources to support your goals, whether you're just starting out or are ready to take the next step in your career. Explore design and product topics, including:
A UX designer usually focuses on a portion of the design process, making sure a product is optimally designed for user experience. A product designer might focus on the entirety of the process, including ensuring a product fits a company’s business needs. UX designers might also work more heavily in the initial design stage of the product, while product designers often work to improve existing products.
A product designer often works with UX designers and is generally expected to have a good understanding of UX principles. Plus, sometimes the two titles are used interchangeably, which can lead to understandable confusion.
Learn more in the article "Product Designer vs. UX Designer: The Difference Explained."
It can be easy to confuse a digital designer with a graphic designer, but there are differences. The key distinguishing feature is digital design's interactivity. A digital designer employs movement, animation, audio, video, and other interactive elements for digital formats such as websites and apps. A graphic designer's output is more likely to be static and intended for a format like print.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)*, web development and digital design roles are projected to grow much faster than average. A 16 percent growth rate is estimated for these jobs between 2022 and 2032. The median pay in the US as of 2022 was $80,730 per year, according to the BLS.
*US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Web Developers and Digital Designers, www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm." Accessed January 26, 2024.