Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Determine sise and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and sise of type.
• Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
• Use computer software to generate new images.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
• Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
• Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
• Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Linguistic

The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Graphic Designers/ Desktop Publishers must have drawing skills and a high level of computer literacy, as well as a creative mind. As work will usually be highly collaborative excellent communication skills will also be necessary.

A degree in graphic design or other art and design-based subject is important, while you may find entry level positions with a degree that is not directly related one with some visual arts element will be a significant asset.

Also vital is a working knowledge of design software, such as Illustrator or InDesign or the image editor Photoshop. Some positions may require experience with a specific software. Experience with these kinds of programs may be gained through further or higher education, but there also a wide variety of employment or online courses available, as well as tools to assist self-study. You should develop a portfolio of your work to support your applications.

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Digital media Design at NFQ Level 5 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Art Graphic design, Graphic design at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: Animator Apprenticeships NFQ level 9 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Art, Media, Graphic design NFQ Levels 7-8 Search CAO courses

Postgraduate Study Options Graphic, Digital media, Art & design NFQ level 9

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €70k

Salaries vary by employer, role, duties, location, and experience. 

Data Source(s):
Sigmar / Payscale/ CPL / Morgan McKinley / Lincoln/ Prosperity.ie/ Clark

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

• Design & Crafts Council of Ireland

  • Castle Yard, Kilkenny
  • (056) 776 1804
  • Click Here

• Irish Computer Society

  • Click Here

• Screen Ireland

  • Click Here