Thinking about how to become a graphic designer in Kenya has a lot to do with a job that typically comprises creativity, technology and good communication. All businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs are busy creating visual forms of information that help promote their business or, to communicate something with their customers, which is why, today, there is a tremendous amount of demand for graphic designers in Kenya.
Depending on what type of graphic design project you work on, you will find that graphic designers play a crucial role in the ever-changing digital economy. If you’re able to figure out how to become a graphic designer in Kenya, you might find an interesting and rewarding career in a fast-paced developing industry. Institutions such as Excel Global College provide excellent training and preparation for the future graphic designer by giving them the opportunity to gain hands-on practical experience and knowledge of the creative industry before they apply for a job in this very competitive marketplace.
What Is Graphic Design?
Graphic design is an art form that uses many forms of visual content to convey information, thoughts, or messages effectively. Graphics are created using a combination of images, color, typeface, illustrations, and layout, to create designs that will draw in a person’s attention and help accomplish a particular objective.
Examples include:
- Corporate logos & Branding
- Social media Graphics
- Business Cards & Brochures
- Posters & Flyers
- Web Page Layouts
- Mobile App Interfaces
- Product Packaging
- Digital Advertising
As more companies continue to invest in both digital marketing and online branding, there will continue to be an increasing need for professional graphic designers in Kenya.
Why Choose Graphic Design as a Career in Kenya?
The demand for graphics designers and the growth of the profession can be attributed to the fact that businesses of all sizes need graphics design to create impactful visual communication.
Designers are Needed by All Types of Businesses
Graphic design is an important communication tool for businesses of all sizes. Whether it is a start-up, multinational corporation or a government organization, graphic design will be required to communicate effectively.
Freelancing is Common in Graphic Design
Most Kenyan designers have the opportunity to work as freelancers. This means that they can find online, freelance clients around the globe and work remotely using the internet.
Designers have Creative Freedom
Graphic designers are given the opportunity to be creative while creatively solving business problems. Many career paths exist for graphic designers in branding, digital marketing, web development, user interface and experience, motion graphics, advertising, and many other specializations.
Educational Requirements: How to Become a Graphic Designer in Kenya
A lot of students wonder if they need a university degree to become a graphic designer.
It is possible to become a graphic designer through many paths.
To help you make a decision that is right for you, I want to provide you with three options:
1. Certificate Program
2. Diploma Program
3. Professional Graphic Design Training
Certificate programs are like entry-level jobs for graphic designers. They teach students basic design principles, software tools, and creative concepts. For students just getting started, a certificate program can provide a quick way into the graphic design field.
Diploma programs provide students with a more well-rounded education and also allow students to gain hands-on practice completing real-world graphic design projects.
Professional graphic design training at institutions such as Excel Global College will allow students to develop the skills needed to be an employee in the graphic design industry, focusing on practical assignments, developing a portfolio, and applying graphic design in real-world situations.
Best Courses to Study for Graphic Design in Kenya
If you want to be a graphic designer in Kenya, you must follow the correct path through your education.
Areas of Graphic Design
There are many areas of Graphic Design, including:
Design principles
Typography
Colour Theory
Layout
Visual Communication
Private Class: Adobe Photoshop Training
Adobe Photoshop is the most used graphic design application for image editing, photo manipulation and creating digital art.
Private Class: Adobe Illustrator Training
Adobe Illustrator is also an important application for producing logos, illustrations, vector graphics and branding.
Private Class: Adobe InDesign Training
Adobe InDesign is the most commonly used application for creating brochures, magazines, books and marketing materials.
Private Class: Digital Marketing Design
Understanding how graphic design impacts digital marketing campaigns can lead to greater success as a graphic designer.
Private Class: Web Design & User Experience (UI / UX)
Understanding web design and user experience will allow a graphic designer to develop their skill set and earn more money.
Essential Skills Needed to Become a Graphic Designer in Kenya
To succeed as a graphic designer, you need to possess both technical skills (tree/deck construction) and artistic talent (creative). While creativity sets the stage for new and original design ideas; you also need to communicate clearly with other people to collect information necessary for completing your projects, i.e. your clients, the marketing team, and the business owners that you are designing for.
When you become a professional designer, you want to have experience with using design applications. Applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator/Indesign (all adobe products), Canva, Figma, and CorelDraw have been developed specifically for graphic designers and allow you to create the best quality designs in the shortest amount of time possible.
In addition to having creativity and experience with applications, you also need to possess excellent Time Management if you expect to be successful as a graphic designer. Due to the nature of the profession, there are usually deadlines for most projects; therefore, through excellent time management and organizational abilities, you can successfully handle multiple projects at the same time.
While most people think of graphic design as simply an attractive representation of an idea or thought; graphic design incorporates many elements of graphic design including problem solving. Therefore, you need to be dedicated in producing effective visual solutions to COMMUNICATE your clients’ and customers’ needs through your graphic designs.
Building a Strong Graphic Design Portfolio
Creating a strong professional portfolio is one of the first steps to becoming a graphic designer in Kenya and can be used by potential employers/clients when they are evaluating your work.
Your portfolio needs to include examples of:
Logo creation
Branding
Social Media Graphics
Web Design
Advertising Materials
Packaging Concepts
Personal Creative Projects
Excel Global College encourages its students to develop a strong portfolio that will display their creative and technical abilities as well as their development as a professional.
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Career Opportunities for Graphic Designers in Kenya
Those who have developed graphic design capabilities will find themselves qualified for many different professions. The following are several examples of graphic design-based professions:
– Graphic Designer – Makes and provides visual material to businesses, firms, and non-profits;
– Brand Designer – Concentrates on branding system and visual system for brands’ identity;
– Social Media Designer – Makes interesting content with creative designs for social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, etc.;
– Web Designer – Creates layouts of web pages and interfaces that define how users interact with websites;
– UI/UX Designer – Concentrates on enhancing the experience of users of the web and mobile devices;
– Motion Graphics Designer – Creates animated graphics and videos for commercial and digital marketing;
– Art Director – Manages the creative divisions of an organization and directs its design initiatives; and
– Freelance Graphic Designer – Operates as an independent contractor and has clients from all different industries.
How Much Do Graphic Designers Earn in Kenya?
Salaries for graphic designers fluctuate based on factors including the designer’s level of experience, geographic region, skill sets, and type of employer. Junior graphic designers usually will earn relatively low-level salaries as they build their portfolio and expand their skills; Designers who possess advanced capabilities such as branding, UI/UX, and motion graphics tend to earn higher paying jobs.
Freelance graphic designers may also earn a much higher hourly pay than salaried employees by providing services to clients located outside of Canada and simultaneously managing multiple projects.
With the expansion of the digital economy, the number of qualified graphic designers will continue to grow as well as the available job openings for skilled graphic designers.
Why Study Graphic Design at Excel Global College?
When searching for an institution in Kenya to learn Graphic Design it is important to choose your school carefully. At Excel Global College, we feel that students need to get practical, job-related training to fit into the current job market, which requires up-to-date technology and methods.
Benefits of attending Excel Global College:
– Instructors with qualifications and experience
– Hands-on learning experience
– Training in modern design software
– Assistance with portfolio development
– Curriculum that is relevant to the industry
– Career guidance and mentoring
– Flexible options for studying
The College wants to ensure that every student who graduates from the program will have the skill set that will be required by clients and employers in the fast-paced and competitive workforce they will enter into.
Tips for Success as a Graphic Designer
In order to create a successful career in graphic design, you will need:
1) To continually train and upgrade your knowledge on the new tools and processes involved in creating graphics as technology evolves regularly.
2) To practice and refine your skills daily so you can become more creative and improve your technical skills.
3) To have an online presence, in which you can present your work in a professional manner on sites, such as Behance, Dribbble & LinkedIn.
4) To develop professional relationships with others in the graphic design industry by attending workshops, conferences, and networking events.
5) To ask for constructive criticism on your design work in order to expedite your growth as a professional designer.
In order to become a graphic designer in Kenya, you must acquire the required education and skills necessary to use the standard tools within the field of graphic design in addition to the necessary creative skills. It is essential to be equipped for this type of work to build your portfolio due to the continual investment by corporations in branding, (i.e., branding), and communicating with customers through electronic means. Therefore graphic design is one of the more secure ongoing careers for future opportunities in Kenya.
Excel Global College will provide you with the education and tools needed to become a professional graphic designer through teaching you the skills necessary for working successfully in this expanding field of graphic design. Once you have established yourself as a graphic designer in Kenya, you can work for a company, operate as a freelance designer, or start your own business.