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What advice do you have for those who want to study marketing and graphic design in college/get into the business?

What advice do you have for a senior in high school who wants to study marketing and graphic design in college/get into the business? I'm trying to grow my portfolio and get Adobe certified but I was wondering if there was anything else I could do to improve myself. Thank you so much and have a blessed day!

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Thank you comment icon If you want to study marketing make sure you enjoy advertising and sales. Charles R Smith
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Michelle’s Answer

Hello, Amanda !

I am happy to read about your ambition with graphic design ! Marketing and Graphic Design are two very exciting careers that work well together and very often interplay. So far, you are doing all the right things. You've started a portfolio, and plan on getting a graphics certification. Definitely continue with that and if there are any other graphics certifications that you can do, I advise doing it.

I also advise getting your degree in Graphic Design as you said you intend to go to college. I think the degree in Graphic Design would be more specific and more geared toward the type of career you want. During the course of study in college, you will take courses like business digital media, and many other courses that are useful in marketing. I would also suggest that if you can find a related marketing course in the Business Administration department, do take one that teaches the basics of marketing. Your two interests blend well together,

I advise that you begin looking at colleges this year and decide if you'd like to study where you are now or relocate. Some of the good schools for this are in New York.

I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
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Jackie’s Answer

Years ago marketing used to be split between "traditional marketing" (e.g. print, broadcast [TV], out-of-home [billboards], direct mail, etc.) and "digital marketing" (e.g. email marketing, online advertising, social media, websites, etc.). These days technology is being injected into all areas of marketing so understanding the technology landscape is crucial--getting Adobe certified is a great first step, you can also look into Google certifications or even Salesforce's free learning platform. AI was mentioned in another answer and undoubtedly will be a game-changer but I don't think it will replace the need for good, smart, strategic people who can guide AI to create meaningful marketing assets and campaigns.

Classes are great and I'd never recommend against continued education, but I will say that the vast majority of what I've learned in the marketing world has been from hands on experience. If finding an entry-level job is difficult, you could always try contacting local small businesses and offering your marketing services at a reasonable hourly rate as you build your portfolio (e.g. help with their social media accounts, Google pages, messaging, branding, etc.)
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Alison’s Answer

While there are already some insightful responses here, I feel it's important to inject a word of caution. The fields of marketing and graphic design are currently undergoing significant changes due to the rapid advances in Generative AI technology. I would recommend gaining as much knowledge as you can about the ongoing transformations in these fields. This advice isn't meant to dishearten you, but to emphasize the need to understand how the landscape of careers in marketing or graphic design in the next few years will differ vastly from what it was recently.
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Stefania’s Answer

Hello Amanda!
What an exciting future ahead. In the world of graphic design, showing what you can do is going to be much more important than telling people what you can do so growing your portfolio and planning on certifications will definitely help you, and of course eventually gaining experience through internships, etc. Marketing is a more flexible field, and you can enter many different paths, depending on your passion points. One of the most important things you can do is build relationships in these fields so whenever you have an opportunity to be around other individuals (whether they are in the fields or not) talk, talk, talk to people. Let them know your plans because networking is often the key to opportunity and they may suggest people to add to your network. Start a LinkedIn profile if you don't already have one! Good luck!

Stefania recommends the following next steps:

Build a LinkedIn Profile
Check out job descriptions for starter positions in both fields, do you like what you hear? Do you see yourself doing it? What are the key skills they are looking for?
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Tonya’s Answer

Hi Amanda! Have you had the opportunity to shadow anyone in the business? If you can find someone at a company or graphic design studio near you (maybe through LinkedIn) you could ask if you can visit for a day to see what they do. Anything you can do to show you are aware of what the actual job entails will help you hone your interview skills!

Certs are important in graphic design, but so is real life experience- even if it’s just doing a few “day in the life”. With regards to marketing, are you interested in product marketing, service marketing, business to business or consumer? They are all different strategies. Some companies incorporate them all! Again, try to find a company you could shadow and see what a marketing manager does.

Good luck!!!

Tonya recommends the following next steps:

Find one or more companies to shadow
Interview someone in the field and find out what they recommend or better yet, what they wish they had done.
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Jessica’s Answer

Absolutely, Michelle's advice is spot on. You're already on the right track to making a name for yourself as a top-notch graphic designer in the marketing industry! My educational journey led me to major in graphic design at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design. This opened doors for me in various marketing departments across diverse fields such as architecture, military/government, dining, entertainment, and childcare/youth programs. The strong connection between these two careers has inspired me to further my education to eventually lead creative teams with a Master's in Marketing.

- It's crucial to create an online portfolio where potential employers can view your work. Sites like Wix or Behance are excellent platforms for showcasing your projects without much effort.
- Certifications in Adobe programs can significantly boost your resume. Aim for industry-standard software like Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, AfterEffects, and Premiere Pro.
- While still in college, consider securing an internship in a marketing department doing graphic design. This will rapidly enhance your professional skills, expand your portfolio, grow your network, and could even lead to recommendations from colleagues for future jobs. Check out career fairs at your school and area, consult with your college counselor about internship opportunities, or directly contact companies you're interested in to see if they have internship programs you can apply to.

Stay persistent, keep updating your portfolio, and you'll soon find yourself thriving in a successful marketing/graphic design career!
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