{"id":7879,"date":"2019-07-16T12:31:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-16T19:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/?p=7879"},"modified":"2023-09-28T00:36:46","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T07:36:46","slug":"digital-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/digital-design\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Digital Design and Why Is it Important?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital design is a general term that is more relevant now than ever before. Put simply, any kind of design that appears in a digital format (on an app or website), rather than in print (on a physical page), is considered digital design.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Quora, user Retika Gore gives a concise digital design definition: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><i>\u201cDigital design refers to what is created and produced for viewing on a screen.\u201d<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an increasingly digitized world, it\u2019s likely that as a designer, you will be working quite a bit with digital design. Whether you\u2019re a UX designer or a graphic artist, understanding the specifics of designing for digital platforms will help you take your career to the next level.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital vs. Print Design: How Are They Different?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At first glance, it may seem as though digital design and print design are very similar. However, there are some crucial differences to keep in mind when designing these two types of media.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different Kinds of Deliverables<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since digital and print designs appear in different places, it is up to designers to familiarize themselves with the types of deliverables they may be asked for.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among other things, digital designers may create:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banner ads<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infographics<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Website elements<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX wireframes<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graphics for reports and white papers (PDFs)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Print designers would be more likely to create:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brochures<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magazine spreads<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Book covers<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business cards<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Print ads&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are interested in a career as a digital designer, it\u2019s a good idea to read up on the types of projects you might be working on. Some digital projects, such as banner ads, have industry-standard formats:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"957\" height=\"899\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-3.png\" alt=\"chart showing standard formats for web banner ads\" class=\"wp-image-7880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-3.png 957w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-3-400x376.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-3-768x721.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-3-380x357.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-3-700x658.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-3-380x357.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A chart showing standard formats for web banner ads. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Standard_web_banner_ad_sizes.svg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other projects require specific skills that go beyond general design knowledge. For example, when creating an infographic, it\u2019s helpful to consider how to visually represent data in a way that is appropriate for online viewing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"656\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-2.png\" alt=\"infographic with information about best practices\" class=\"wp-image-7881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-2.png 685w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-2-400x383.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-2-380x364.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-2-380x364.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>An infographic with information about best practices. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dashburst\/8448339735\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daniel Zeevi, Flickr<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Role of Analytics in Digital Design<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another thing that makes digital design different from print design is the role of data and analytics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it might be difficult to directly track the performance of a physical flyer or brochure, in the digital realm you have direct insight into your design\u2019s performance through metrics such as likes, shares, downloads, and page views. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a digital designer, you might find yourself accountable for creating high-performing designs. This means that, beyond just creating an attractive visual, you will need to keep in mind your desired audience and how to capture their interest. In some cases, you may be asked to test several different iterations of a design to see which one performs the best (this is known as A\/B testing).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Related<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/digital-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/digital-media\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Is Digital Media and How Can It Help My Career?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interactivity in Design<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital design is also different from print design because it is interactive. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all types of digital design are interactive. In some ways, an infographic plays much the same role as a poster\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it\u2019s a static image.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> However, when it comes to web design, users are often dragging, dropping, and clicking on the elements you create.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interactive design <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/uxdesign.cc\/designing-for-another-dimension-the-digital-design-manifesto-a6f4fd0e2995\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is more complex<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than static design. Beyond being aesthetically pleasing, your design will also have to be usable\u2014this is the focus of UX designers (more on them in a bit).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-is-ux-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-is-ux-design\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What is UX Design?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1294\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM.png\" alt=\"Creating a website design layout\" class=\"wp-image-7890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM.png 1294w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM-400x267.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM-1200x801.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM-768x513.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM-380x254.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM-700x467.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.35.55-PM-380x254.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1294px) 100vw, 1294px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Creating a website design layout. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/pixnio.com\/objects\/electronics-devices\/iphone-pictures\/web-design-layout-sketch-laptop-keyword-mobile-phone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pixnio<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific Types of Digital Designers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital designers can be broken up into several different categories. Let\u2019s discuss them here:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Graphic Designers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the term \u201cgraphic designer\u201d is very general, for the purpose of this article we can think of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/become-graphic-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">graphic designers<\/a> as digital designers working with static images. These designers might be creating an infographic, a report, or a digital illustration. Their main concerns are aesthetics, readability, and branding. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Web Designers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Web designers focus on the layout of websites, and may also design some of the interactive elements that appear on them. They should have a basic understanding of coding and the functionality of websites or apps. Web designers need to understand the prevailing trends in web aesthetics, and they also need to consider <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/accessible-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/accessible-design\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">accessibility<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and ease of use.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UX Designers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-does-a-ux-designer-do\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5182\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX designers<\/a> focus specifically on usability. Among other things, they design preliminary plans for websites, apps, or products (known as \u201cwireframes\u201d). UX designers are often expected to collaborate with researchers and create several different versions of their designs for testing with real users. Their designs should be primarily based on data, as well as aesthetics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1296\" height=\"858\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM.png\" alt=\"A UX wireframe\" class=\"wp-image-7889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM.png 1296w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM-400x265.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM-1200x794.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM-768x508.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM-380x252.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM-700x463.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.34.55-PM-380x252.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1296px) 100vw, 1296px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A UX wireframe. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/baldiri\/5734993652\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Baldiri, Flickr<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Does a Digital Designer Do in a Typical Day?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you\u2019ve learned how digital design is different from print design, let\u2019s talk about what it\u2019s like to be a digital designer. If you are thinking of becoming a digital designer, this section can help you decide what kind of lifestyle you would like to pursue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital Design Freelancers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some digital designers <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/freelance-ux-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/freelance-ux-designer\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work as freelancers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These designers take on their own clients. They are solely responsible for structuring their workday, finding clients, invoicing, and other tasks related to running a small business. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A day in the life of a freelance digital designer might look like this:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Workplace<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the great things about working in digital fields is that the work can be done remotely. As a freelance digital designer, you will have a lot of choices when it comes to your workspace. You can work from a home office, a co-working space, a cafe, or even from abroad as a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/d\/digital-nomad.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">digital nomad<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1296\" height=\"862\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM.png\" alt=\"A coworking space in Vancouver\" class=\"wp-image-7888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM.png 1296w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM-400x266.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM-1200x798.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM-380x253.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM-700x466.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-27-at-5.33.58-PM-380x253.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1296px) 100vw, 1296px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A coworking space in Vancouver. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/gotovan\/31392420497\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GoToVan, Flickr<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Client Work<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of a freelance digital designer\u2019s day will be taken up by client work. This could mean working on long-term contracts (for example, collaborating with a client to design their new website) or one-off projects (like creating a single infographic).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Administrative Responsibilities<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned above, being a freelance digital designer involves some administrative work. This might include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating and maintaining a portfolio website<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reaching out to clients through job boards or cold emails<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Networking<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating and sending invoices<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Positive Points and Main Challenges<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Becoming a freelance digital designer is a good option for someone who enjoys variety and challenge, has good sales skills, and can tolerate a relative level of financial risk.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you prioritize stability or find it difficult to motivate yourself to work on tasks, then being a digital design freelancer might not be the best choice for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working at a Design Agency<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design agencies, marketing agencies, and web development agencies often hire designers to work as part of a team serving outside clients. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Workplace<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design agencies may be small startups or large enterprises. Most hire full-time employees to work in-office. Increasingly, some agencies are also choosing to work with remote teams. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Responsibilities<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a digital designer at an agency, you\u2019ll spend most of your day working on client projects.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re not doing client work, you may spend time on professional development, internal design projects, or\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you\u2019re in a senior position\u2014managing other designers.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Positive Points and Main Challenges<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design agency positions tend to be fast-paced and offer an exciting range of challenges and responsibilities. At an agency, you will get to work with many different clients, often in a variety of industries. This makes agencies a great place to learn more about the world of design. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, because of their profit margins, agencies sometimes offer lower pay than in-house positions (of course, this doesn\u2019t always apply<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014the specifics depend on your job).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In-House Digital Designers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIn-house\u201d digital designers work directly for a company, designing their products or creating marketing materials and other assets. In-house designer roles are more likely to carry a senior-level title (like \u201ccreative director\u201d), or a title that requires a specific technical skill set (like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/product-designer-vs-ux-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/product-designer-vs-ux-designer\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cUX designer\u201d or \u201cproduct designer\u201d<\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Workplace<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with agency work, in-house designers generally work full-time at their company\u2019s office, although some companies may also hire remotely. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Responsibilities<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As an in-house designer, you will spend all your time working on your company\u2019s projects. You will be responsible for helping your team execute its vision, and ultimately driving the success of your company.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Positive Points and Main Challenges<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While in-house design has a reputation for being more repetitive than agency work, of course, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/stories-from-upstatement\/in-defense-of-the-in-house-designer-3b3ee4448fe0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this isn\u2019t always true<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. As an in-house designer, you\u2019ll have the chance to explore a single type of work more deeply and can become more invested in the success of your company. An in-house position can provide a great opportunity to deepen your design knowledge in a specific field.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"bg-leaf-50 p-4 my-3\"><h4 class=\"fw-bold text-center\">Get To Know Other\tDesign Students<\/h4><div class=\"row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-3\"><div class=\"col\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/josh-abenojar\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1671828193\/Student%20Success\/Josh_abenojar.jpg\" alt=\"Josh Abenojar\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Josh Abenojar<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Senior Consultant, User Experience Design at Booz Allen Hamilton at Booz Allen Hamilton<\/p><\/div><div class=\"w-100 d-block d-md-none mt-3\"><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/josh-abenojar\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/nicky-arthur\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1635255723\/Student%20Success\/Nicky_Arthur_125x125.png\" alt=\"Nicky Arthur\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Nicky Arthur<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">UX Designer at International Baccalaureate<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/nicky-arthur\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/anna-peterson\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1689828270\/Anna_Peterson_4.png\" alt=\"Anna Peterson\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Anna Peterson<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">UI\/UX Designer at Thumbstopper<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/anna-peterson\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Average Salaries for Digital Designers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve now seen that there are many different ways to build your career as a digital designer. With that said, what is the average digital designer\u2019s salary?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salaries can vary widely based on specialization, of course. Most freelance graphic designers charge anywhere from $15-$65 an hour (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/research\/US\/Job=Freelance_Graphic_Designer\/Hourly_Rate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to PayScale<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), while senior UX designers <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-designer-salary-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-designer-salary-guide\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can make up to $137,000 per year<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/research\/US\/Job=Digital_Designer\/Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PayScale reports<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that the salary for digital designers of all kinds in the U.S. ranges from $39,000 to $79,000 per year, with an average of $53,855 per year.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-3.png\" alt=\"Screenshot showing the average digital designer salary\" class=\"wp-image-7885\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-3.png 833w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-3-400x203.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-3-768x389.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-3-380x193.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-3-700x355.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-3-380x193.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Screenshot shows the average digital designer&#8217;s salary. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/research\/US\/Job=Digital_Designer\/Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PayScale<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Related<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-designer-salary-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-designer-salary-guide\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The State of UX Salaries in 2019<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital Designing Courses and Education<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As an aspiring digital designer, there are many routes you can take to meet your goals.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While some technical schools (like the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/design.njit.edu\/bachelor-arts-digital-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Jersey Institute of Technology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) offer general digital designing courses, most schools subdivide digital design into other labels, like \u201cgraphic design,\u201d \u201cweb design,\u201d or \u201cUX\/UI design.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve decided that digital design is the career for you, it may make sense to get specific about the field you want to work in, and then search for degrees, online courses, or offline bootcamps that provide a strong mix of training and practical experience in that field.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rm has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efeff6\"><strong>Since you&#8217;re here<br><\/strong>If you want to work in design, you can. It\u2019s that simple. With our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/ux-career-track\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX Bootcamp<\/a>, we&#8217;ll help you launch your design career in 9 months or less. Browse our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/resources\/guides\/ux-design-salaries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free UX salary guide<\/a> to see what you could be making<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Digital design is a general term that is more relevant now than ever before. Put simply, any kind of design that appears in a digital format (on an app or website), rather than in print (on a physical page), is considered digital design. On Quora, user Retika Gore gives a concise digital design definition: \u201cDigital [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":8119,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[],"marketing_tags":[1476],"class_list":{"0":"post-7879","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-design"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7879"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7879"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48344,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7879\/revisions\/48344"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7879"},{"taxonomy":"marketing_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing_tags?post=7879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}