Art & Design

Artists translate their feelings, opinions and observations about the world into creative works and fine art, including paintings, sculpture and installations.

Designers are really creative too, but they tend to use their artistic skills to find solutions to practical tasks, from creating an eye-catching design for a marketing brochure, a piece of jewellery or a stylish sofa.

There can sometimes be an overlap in the skills, interests and techniques used by both artists and designers. 

 

Here are some of the job roles that people with a background in art and/or design can pursue: 

• Animation: There are a wide range of roles available within animation. You could work in the film, games or TV industry, using different techniques, including 3D computer graphics, 2D drawn and stop frame to bring ideas to life.
• Art auctioneers: Sell art, on behalf of someone, to competitive bidders. They also use their specialist knowledge of art and antiques to put a date and value on things and occasionally check for fakes. Buyers and collectors track-down and snap up valuable and up-and-coming art work to build up public or private collections.
• Artists: Create work to sell to buyers. They work in a variety of media, including painting, photography, print-making and pencil drawing. Sometimes people commission artists to make specific pieces for them. Some organisations, like universities and museums, employ 'artists in residence' to create work for them or share ideas.
• Craft designers: Include silversmiths, potters, instrument makers and weavers who have been perfecting their skills over many centuries and tend to make their products using traditional techniques.
• Front end designers: Use code to design websites, apps and games. Check out our IT and the Internet Career Zone.
• Gallery and museum curators: Put together collections of art or artefacts to inspire and educate people. Curators also manage staff, write press releases and raise funds to keep their work going.
• Graphic designers: Create visuals using type, image and graphic forms in order to communicate a specific message to audiences. In a graphic design career, you can use image-making software and code. Graphic designers work with books, magazines, posters, exhibitions, advertising, apps and websites.
• Illustrators: Use their skills to tell stories and create different styles and moods, from bringing a character in a children’s storybook to life, to creating seasonal greetings cards. Illustrators can also specialise in technical and scientific drawing for reference books.
• Interior designers: Design inside spaces such as shops, offices, museums and hotels.
• Fashion designers: Create new clothing and accessories for brands and design houses. They working with materials and technology, using their artistic skills to bring new trends to customers. Check out our Fashion and Beauty and Retail and Merchandising Career Zones.
• Motion graphic designers: Use graphic design, animation and live action filming to create short sequences, for instance on TV, music videos and games.
• Product designers: Use artistic and technical skills to create products that look good but also perform a practical function. They often have an interest in tech and how things work.
• User experience designers (UX): Focus on user satisfaction by improving the usability and accessibility of a particular product, such as an app or website.

To work as an artist or designer it's important to be creative and curious, with excellent problem-solving skills. You'll need to be motivated and full of ideas. You're able to work both alone and as part of a team.

If you want to work as a curator or someone who supports artists and designers you should enjoy researching and reading up on different cultures, styles and popular trends. Having great knowledge of the art world around you is important.

Artists take inspiration from lots of places and can come from very different backgrounds. Previous experience in other areas like engineering or writing can give a unique spin to your work. Check out this guide to what skills you need for a creative job.

When considering if this is the path for you, it's important to remember that art and design careers tend to be very competitive and sometimes unstable. You need to be resilient, adaptable and dedicated. 

You don't always need a degree to get started in creative careers, but the arts world is very competitive and graduates fill up lots of entry-level jobs.

Portfolio

The most important thing is to get as much work experience as you can and to build up a creative portfolio – this can include projects you have done for fun or practice – to show off your skills. Lots of artists and designers work with computers, so brush up your software skills too, with design programs like Photoshop, Illustrator or Indesign.

GCSE

As well as studying art and other design subjects like graphic products or textiles, you should aim for a grade 9-4 in GCSE English and maths as this will open up your opportunities to explore arts administration jobs.

Take a look at our article about the career routes design and technology can lead to.

A-level

At A-level you can choose from a range of art and design subjects including fine art, graphic design and photography.

Instead of A-levels, you could opt for a more vocational option, such as an NVQ certificate or diploma in design support or a BTEC in art and design, which prepares you for lots of different roles.

Apprenticeships

There are apprenticeships of all levels in art and design, ranging from content creator, photographer and visual effects artist to craft professions such as bookbinding, organ building and watchmaking. You could also train to become a museum or gallery curator through a degree apprenticeship.

University

Students who want to go on to university will need to complete a one-year art and design foundation course, as this is usually needed to get on to art and design degree courses. Many students also choose to study for their degree at a specialist arts college which offers the broadest range of relevant subjects.

You don't need a foundation qualification to study for an art history degree, which is a popular choice for curators and auctioneers, who usually need a degree to get started in their careers. Museum studies and other history or education based degrees are useful for this career too.

How to boost your chances

Join an art, craft or design club through your school or local community. Look for competitions to enter as well, to help you build up a portfolio of work. You might even win some prizes...

If you study art at school, college or university, you can get qualifications such as diplomas, A-levels and degrees.

Artists and designers can pick up qualifications from computer-based design and programming courses.

There is also the chance to join professional organisations which provide training, such as the Chartered Society of Designers.

The Angel of the North, created by British Artist Anthony Gormley, is the largest angel sculpture in the world, and is seen by one person every second due to it’s handy position next to the A1 dual carriageway.

Richy Baldwin the graphic designer behind Superdry started life as a delivery man and a sign writer. Over the years he has produced over a thousand graphics, helping Superdry become a high street name.