Critical Sources of Information on Graphic Design

By Kelly Richardson
kelly.richardson@graphicdesignschoolreview.com
Graphic Design School Review Columnist

If you're fresh out of high school or you're looking for a mid-career change, it's a good idea to do your research before you jump headlong into a degree program. Here are a collection of resources that will help you to complete your due diligence before you get started in the graphic design field.

Graphic Design Associations
The following associations provide a diverse collection of information on graphic design that will help you decide what and where to study.

• American Institute of Graphic Arts. The AIGA promotes the graphic design field by sponsoring creative contests, insights into the career field by working professionals, and announcements on the latest happenings in the industry.
• International Council of Graphic Design Organizations. This is a worldwide body that provides graphic design information, resources, events and news from the design world. This is an international design community.
• Design Council. The Design Council is the UK's primary site for information on graphic design. For breaking news on happenings across the pond, this site is the clearinghouse. It includes career paths and degree sources.

Miscellaneous Resources
There are also a collection of resources that feature quality information on the graphic design industry. The government site provides authoritative career information, and the open directory Web site lists graphic design firms.

• Occupational Outlook Handbook. The gold standard for government information on the graphic design profession, the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook provides information such as salary potential, employment outlook, and training and qualification requirements.
• DMOZ Open Directory Project. This collection of information on graphic design is a part of an open Web directory with millions of professional contributors. It is a virtual conference covering the graphic design business.

To find out more about getting into the field of graphic design, consult one or all of these sources.

About the Author
Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.