A graphic designer adheres to a schedule to meet a deadline.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers "plan, analyze, and create visual solutions to communications problems." Their work includes point of purchase (POP) displays, magazines, product packaging, advertisements, annual reports and presentations. These materials are created based on requirements and guidance from managers or clients. Projects are generally deadline-driven. As part of a production team, the graphic designer adheres to a schedule that includes project inception, conception, mock-up, approval and final production in order meet the deadline.
Kickoff Meeting
A graphics designer will meet with a project manager, client or project team to discuss the project. This meeting may include a brainstorming session where ideas are generated and then reviewed. The meeting will conclude when one or two ideas that best illustrate the concept have been selected for development and an action plan and timeline has been set.
Development of Draft
The graphic designer begins to conceptualize, visualize and research ideas, designs and styles for the artwork. The designer takes into account the social context and culture of the audience to which the product will be presented. After considering the ideas from the kickoff meeting, the graphic designer will generate several sketches to further develop the concept.
Review
When the graphic designer is confident of having captured the message of the product in a draft, the draft is presented for review. The review is often done by the graphic designer's manager who will evaluate, make comments and/or request changes to the artwork. After discussing details for the next step in production of the piece, a date and time is set for the next meeting.
Present Mock-ups
Depending on the size and scope of the project, a finished piece may follow the review meeting. In large projects, there may be several reviews followed by the creation of a mock-up, a fully developed sample of the finished piece. This mock-up is presented to management, then the client, for approval. The go-ahead for production is given, likely with a couple of change requests, to the graphic designer.
Implementation
If the final product is to be printed in a printshop, the graphic designer prepares the file, sends it and discuss any specifics of the job with the printer. If it is a presentation, the graphic designer might provide support to the presenters that could include creating a cd or loading the presentation onto one or several computers. In some cases, the graphic designer might send the file to someone who will lay it out in a catalog or insert it on a Web page.
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