Artworker

Artworkers take designs that have been created by a designer and prepare them for print production. This involves making changes and corrections to the design. Artworkers use computer graphics software in their work.

Also known as

Graphic artist
Mac artworker
Mac operator

Work activities

Once a graphic designer or a packaging designer has created a design for a product – and it has been approved by the client – a lot of work still needs to be done to it before it’s ready for final production. For example, a design shown on a computer screen can look very different when printed out. This is because computers show images by using different colours compared to printing presses, and much more detail can be seen on a printed sheet. Artworkers take designs (usually in the form of computer files) and check them, making any corrections or changes to the text, images or layout. To do this, artworkers work at Apple Mac computers, using a wide range of graphics software packages.

Some of the designs artworkers might work on could be for:

Brochures and leaflets.
Adverts and posters.
Stationery and logos.
Packaging.
Exhibition displays.

Artworkers begin their work by referring to the design brief and print specification for the project – so they know what needs to be done and by when. They discuss projects with designers and print requirements with the printers. Some of the tasks an artworker might do include:

Resizing and sourcing photos or images.
Correcting or changing colours in a design.
Checking proofs for visual or textual errors.
Adding text to a design or making changes to it.
Producing mock-ups.
Archiving old files, images and design work.

Although artworkers are not usually involved in the creative aspects of designing, they may be asked to finish a design off, following a particular style or format. For example, they may be given the design for a brochure and be asked to add more pages in the same style. Once the artworker has finished making changes to the design, they need to make sure it’s ready for print. The design needs to be in the correct print format with enough space given so it looks good when it has been trimmed.

The artworker will print out a sample copy of the design to check it before they give it to the printer. They set up all the design files and save them on to disk so the printer has all the information they need, ready for printing. The exact tasks that an artworker may do, and the level of creativity involved, often depend on the size and type of organisation they work for. Most artworkers work in studios alongside designers, account handlers and art directors or studio managers.

Personal qualities and skills

As an artworker, you need:

To be very accurate in your work.
A wide knowledge of computer graphics software packages.
Experience of using Apple Mac computers.
To work well to deadlines.
Good communication and organisation skills.
To work well on your own and with others.
The ability to take instructions from others, e.g. designers.

Although artworkers aren’t generally involved in the creative aspects of designing, an awareness of creative techniques and design is useful. Self-employed or freelance artworkers will need business and marketing skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for artworkers vary with the industry, responsibilities and the range of an individual’s skills and competencies. According to job site Glassdoor, artworkers earn in the range of £22,000 - £31,000 a year (based on 257 salaries, January 2024). Artworker project managers can earn higher salaries.

Artworkers usually work a standard full-time week, Monday to Friday. However, late finishes and weekend work may be required, especially as deadlines approach. The job of artworker can sometimes be the first step towards becoming a professional graphic designer. There is some blurring of the roles of artworker and designer and in some organisations the titles are interchangeable. However, this is not the most usual route to becoming a graphic designer.

Employers are small commercial design studios, advertising agencies, exhibition companies, firms involved with point of sale and display, television, film and audio-visual companies, and publicity departments in large organisations. Opportunities for artworkers occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for artworkers to work on a freelance, self-employed basis.

What’s happening in this work area?

The design sector operates in a very commercial global market, including strong economies, for example, India and China. However, the strong growth of the UK service industry has led to the opening up of new markets and helped the design sector to achieve a position of strength. Technology has helped to greatly speed up the design process, making it possible for designers to take on many more projects. However, fewer people are now required to complete tasks, resulting in a very competitive recruitment market.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in design industry magazines/journals, on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

Most people enter this work after taking a relevant course, for example, in desktop publishing or computer graphics software. These courses can be studied part-time at college. Some artworkers enter this career by training on-the-job and building their skills as they go along.

Training will mainly be on-the-job. You may attend college courses on a part-time basis.

A level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship in the role of creative artworker is listed as a potential apprenticeship standard, which means the industry is considering developing it. Keep an eye on opportunities in the coming years.

Some artworkers progress towards graphic design positions.

Qualifications

Employers may ask for some GCSEs at grades 9-4 to enter this work. However, this varies from organisation to organisation. Knowledge of relevant computer graphics software packages is the most important requirement for this job.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills and abilities gained using desktop publishing software are essential.

Courses at various levels are offered by a large number of centres, by distance learning. Relevant courses have titles such as desktop publishing, or relate to specific software packages for print, such as QuarkXPress, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, and for web packages, such as Dreamweaver and Flash.

Related careers

Design assistant
Picture framer
Print finisher
Reprographics assistant
Signmaker