Story

How to become a graphic designer

Written byCarys Thomas
Published date 01 October 2026

What it takes to become a graphic designer

To build a career in the exciting world of graphic design, you’ll need to understand design principles like colour, typography and hierarchy, get proficient in digital software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and develop a strong portfolio.

This guide will help you discover how to become a graphic designer. We'll look at what the role involves, the routes in, the skills employers value today, and how a UAL short course can help you get started.

Key takeaways

There are many pathways into graphic design if you have the right skills.
Creative employers will be interested in your skills and portfolio as well as your qualifications.
Building a strong portfolio is essential.

In this guide

What does a graphic designer do?
How to get into graphic design
Step 1: Decide how you want to learn
Step 2: Build your skills
Step 3: Build a portfolio of real work
Step 4: Gain experience and start applying for jobs
Graphic design short courses at UAL
Take your first step with UAL

How to become a graphic designer 3 — **Image: Shahad Alqurashi, at UAL Shows, 2026 MA Graphic Brand and Identity, London College of Communication, UAL | Photograph: Mitsi Moulson**

What does a graphic designer do?

Graphic designers create visual concepts, branding and layouts for digital and print materials. They often work with clients, marketing teams, businesses and agencies to communicate ideas effectively.

Daily tasks for graphic designers vary, from pitching concepts and sketching designs to collaborating with other artists and using digital design software to bring ideas to life. They also often manage budgets, timescales and deadlines.

Graphic designers should have the core design skills needed to create original concepts, as well as an awareness of how AI tools can be useful in the creative process.

How to get into graphic design

The graphic design industry attracts creative people from a variety of different professional and educational backgrounds and there are many ways to get started.

Step 1: Decide how you want to learn

Think about how you will gain the knowledge you need to thrive in this sector. Options include:

University degrees

A graphic design undergraduate or postgraduate degree or graduate diploma offers an opportunity to dive into contemporary graphic design practice and work on a wide range of practical projects.

This pathway can also be great for agency networking as you build your creative network. According to the National Careers Service, getting work experience during your university course can give you an advantage when you start applying for jobs (source: National Careers Service).

Short courses

Short courses offer a unique route to gain insight into the industry, develop a portfolio that showcases your best work, and learn about opportunities within the field. Take a look at our communication and graphic design short courses.

You might want to start with our Graphic Design Beginners Online Short Course.

Step 2: Build your skills

Design software

Getting to grips with professional design software is essential. Industry-standard tools include:

Adobe Creative Suite: Adobe Illustrator is useful for creating vector graphics such as logos, Adobe Photoshop is for photo editing and Adobe InDesign is great for layout and publishing projects. We have lots of short courses to help you learn the foundations of these programs, including our Adobe Creative Cloud Short Course, which offers a great introduction to all 3 applications. Explore our full range of digital design short courses.
Figma: Figma is a cloud-based design tool for user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. If you’re interested in app design for mobile or web, this is an ideal tool to experiment with. Take a look at our App Design Using Figma Short Course.
Canva: this is an online graphic design tool often used for quick, template-based social media, brand and marketing graphics.

Design theory

Build your understanding of design theory and how these principles impact real design decisions. Key concepts to study include:

Typography: you'll need to understand visual hierarchy, balance and alignment, as well as why font choice matters.
Layout: you'll need to know how to use whitespace to create effective compositions. Think about things like contrast, reptition and symmetry.
Colour theory: if you understand colour theory, you'll be able to make design choices that evoke emotion, strengthen campaigns and work for both print and digital formats.

Original creative thinking

Aside from technical skills, creative thinking is what will set you apart as a graphic designer. Each project and client you work with will be different and you’ll need to approach design challenges with a fresh perspective.

You’ll need to be innovative, open to new ideas and able to think critically about projects to achieve the best outcome. Read more about creative thinking in our article on the top 10 skills graphic designers need.

AI fluency

AI is becoming part of how ideas form and creative work is developed, but human intuition and creativity will always be vital for good design. AI cannot replicate unique human judgement and perspective (source: Southern New Hampshire University), but it can be a useful tool for graphic designers.

You may want to experiment with AI tools for tasks like layout ideation and routine production work. Learn how to use AI with purpose in your creative projects with a short course like our Generative AI for Creativity Short Course. Read more in our guide to AI and the creative industries.

UX and UI understanding

There’s a growing demand for digital skills in the graphic design industry, with UX and UI becoming increasingly important design elements. If you want to produce strong visual designs, it’s vital to understand how to create a positive user experience. To build your skills in this area, take a look at our UX Design for Beginners Short Course or User Experience UX Design Short Course.

Communication and branding sense

Graphic designers need to be able to communicate a brand's message into a clear and effective visual outcome. Discover how to craft impactful messages on our Introduction to Visual Communication Online Short Course.

Adaptability

Adaptability is a key skill for graphic designers. Clients often have lots of different ideas, technology evolves, and new media formats emerge. Being flexible and staying up to date with design trends and audience needs can give graphic designers a valuable competitive advantage. Check out our Introduction to Inclusive Design Online Short Course.

Step 3: Build a portfolio of real work

"Whether you want to get onto an academic course or break into the industry, your portfolio has the power to open doors ahead of you," says UAL Short Courses tutor Rachel Kirk. Rachel teaches our self-paced Graphic Design Projects Online Short Course.

"Your portfolio should visually communicate your skills, your process, your personality and your potential," Rachel notes.

If you don’t have professional experience yet, you can still build your portfolio with any coursework, personal projects, or imagined briefs for existing brands. You can generate creative briefs using an online tool such as Goodbrief.

Choose a selection of your best work to demonstrate your creative potential and present the process behind it, from sketches to final designs. Take a look at our guide on how to create a graphic design portfolio.

Portfolios now increasingly need to show how a graphic designer works alongside AI tools, not just the finished output. You may want to include some examples of work where AI was part of your creative process and discuss how it informed the decisions you made (source: Southern New Hampshire University).

Step 4: Gain experience and start applying for roles

When your portfolio is ready, it’s time to start applying for any junior graphic design roles, internships or freelance opportunities that appeal to you. Keep an open mind and use networking platforms like LinkedIn to explore industry openings and connect with people in the sector.

If you’re interested in starting your own freelance business, invest time in building a professional website to attract potential clients, and develop a social media presence to advertise your graphic design work. You may want to sharpen your business skills with a short course like our Business Start Up For Creatives Short Course.

Graphic design short courses at UAL

Here at UAL Short Courses, we offer a wide range of inspiring graphic design courses, available on campus and online, with options for both complete beginners and those looking to enhance an existing portfolio.

Options include:

Take your first step with UAL

From developing your technical skills to building a standout portfolio, a short course can help you get one step closer to your dream career in graphic design. See what's coming up.

Have a question? Our customer service team are here to help you find the right course for you. Get in touch via our enquiry form to start planning your learning journey.