Design

Design careers involve using creativity, problem solving and technical skills to communicate ideas, improve experiences and shape how products, spaces and digital experiences look, feel or function. This could include graphic design, branding, digital design, UX design, product design, interior design, spatial design or exhibition design.

Designers work in many settings, including design studios, creative agencies, architecture and interior design practices, marketing teams, charities, universities, public sector organisations, cultural organisations, tech companies and freelance roles. Some roles focus on visual communication, while others involve digital products, physical spaces, services, user experience or brand identity.

Interested in creating and selling your own artwork or craft, taking commissions or developing your own creative practice? See our Arts and Crafts page.

Explore job roles

Design is a broad sector, and job titles can vary between employers. A designer in one organisation might create branding, campaign materials or social media content, while another might design websites, products, interiors, exhibitions or user journeys.

Most design roles involve responding to a brief, understanding an audience or user, developing ideas, using design software, presenting work and responding to feedback. The balance of these tasks will vary depending on the role. For example, a graphic designer may focus more on visual communication, layout and branding, while a UX designer may spend more time researching user needs, testing ideas and improving how a digital product or service works.

Use the job profiles below to find out what different roles involve, the skills and qualifications you may need, entry routes and ways to build experience:

  • Graphic designer Creates visual designs for print and digital materials, such as branding, posters, websites, packaging, reports or social media content.
  • Artworker Prepares final design files for print or digital use, making sure layouts, colours, images and formatting are accurate and ready to produce.
  • Interior and spatial designer Designs interior spaces and layouts, considering how people will use, move through and experience a space.
  • Product designer Designs or improves products by thinking about how they look, work, are made and meet user needs.
  • UX designer Improves how people use websites, apps, digital products or services by researching users and designing clearer, easier experiences.
  • Web designer Designs the appearance, layout and user experience of websites, often working with branding, content and digital tools.
  • Exhibition designer Designs displays and spaces for museums, galleries, events or exhibitions, helping audiences engage with objects, stories or information.
  • Visual merchandiser Designs product displays and retail spaces to attract customers and communicate a brand or campaign.

Tip: Use the information about skills in the profiles to help you build a tailored CV and portfolio.

Getting in and getting experience

A strong portfolio is one of the most important things for design careers. Employers and clients will usually want to see examples of your work, but they may also want to understand how you think. This means showing the brief, your ideas, your development process and the final outcome.

Relevant experience can come from internships, placements, freelance projects, student societies, volunteering, live briefs, competitions or personal projects. For some areas, such as interior, spatial or product design, you may also need to build specific technical skills, such as CAD, 3D modelling, visualisation, materials knowledge or an understanding of how designs are produced.

Gain relevant experience and skills while you study

  • Build a focused portfolio showing a small selection of your strongest and most relevant work
  • Create your own design briefs if you do not have much client experience yet
  • Design posters, social media graphics, newsletters, event branding or websites for student societies, charities or community groups
  • Take part in live briefs, competitions or creative challenges, such as D&AD New Blood, to practice responding to real creative briefs, working to deadlines and building portfolio examples
  • Get feedback on your portfolio. Creative Lives in Progress regularly host portfolio review sessions
  • Use job descriptions, person specifications and relevant Prospects job profiles to identify the skills you may need for the design area you are interested in
  • Use online courses to develop practical/technical skills in areas such as design software, digital content, UX, project management or communication
  • Keep up to date with changes in design practice. Design is being shaped by issues such as sustainability, accessibility and the use of digital and AI tools.
  • Follow industry resources such as the Design Council, D&AD and Creative Lives in Progress to understand how these topics are affecting the areas of design you are interested in. Use job descriptions to identify how AI might be being used in roles of interest. Experiment with AI tools to help you build confidence with relevant AI skills and understand how AI tools may support research, idea generation, content planning or design workflow
  • Follow design studios, creative agencies, interior practices, designers and design events as well as connecting with people in the sector on LinkedIn to understand the sector and build contacts

Finding and applying for jobs

Design roles are advertised under a wide range of job titles, so it is worth searching flexibly rather than relying on one phrase. For example, an entry-level graphic design role might be advertised as junior graphic designer, design assistant, creative artworker, brand designer, digital designer or marketing designer, depending on the employer and the focus of the role.

When applying, tailor your CV and portfolio to the role. For example, a branding role may need to see identity design and campaign work, while an interior or spatial design role may need to see mood boards, layouts, visualisations, technical drawings or examples of how you think about space.

Find vacancies

  • CareerConnect Internships, placements and graduate jobs targeting Manchester students.
  • Creative Access Creative industry jobs and internships, with support for underrepresented groups.
  • The Dots Creative jobs, including freelance roles and internships.
  • Creativepool Design jobs and freelance opportunities in the UK and internationally.
  • Design Jobs Board Specialist vacancies in graphic design, branding and digital design.
  • Design Week Jobs Design industry vacancies, including internships and freelance opportunities.
  • LinkedIn Search design jobs and internships across a wide range of employers.

Further resources

Next steps