Graphic designer

Professions Published

The work of a graphic designer may focus on a website, an advertisement or background illustrations of TV news, for example. Possible workplaces include graphic design offices and advertising agencies. The profession requires good visual eye, creativity, customer-orientation and cooperation skills.

Graphic design offices. Marketing and communication agencies. Media companies. Publishers. As an entrepreneur.

Browse job postings: Graphic designer

Graphic designers must be visual and creative. The profession requires the ability to understand the needs of the client who ordered the work. In addition, the ability to put yourself in the shoes of the recipient of the message is also needed.

Different assignments require graphic designers to find solutions for integrating different media, materials and publication methods, which must be done within the limits of the resources provided. Collaboration and teamwork skills are also important, as is the ability to explain and justify visual solutions.

Strong IT expertise is required, as the work is done with various design software. Commercial competence and a strong general knowledge base are useful. Ideation and negotiations may take place in English, for example, which is why language skills are also needed. The rapid development of the field requires the willingness to learn and adaptability. Graphic designers must also have high stress tolerance.

You can study graphic design at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture and at the University of Lapland’s Faculty of Arts. The higher university degree is Master of Arts (Art and Design) and the lower is Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design). 

At universities of applied sciences, you can complete a Bachelor of Culture and Arts degree and specialise in Graphic Design. 

You can also complete a Vocational Qualification in Media and Visual Expression, in which case the qualification titles are Implementer of Media Services and Implementer of Visual Expression. The qualification can also be completed through an apprenticeship. 

Search for study options (studyinfo.fi)⁠

Median salary

3551 €/mo

Private sector

3578 €/mo

Public sector

3381 €/mo

The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.

Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries

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