Print and graphic communication is one of the largest industries in the nation.
Print and graphic communication is one of the largest industries in the nation. It spans traditional forms of printing (books, newspapers, magazines), the latest in new media and digital technologies (mobile apps, web design, social media,) and includes the dynamic packaging industry. It requires professionals to be highly knowledgeable and highly skilled in traditional printing as well as the latest in digital innovation.
Professionals are in demand for graphic communication jobs where individuals with a command of graphic media processes and applications will find opportunity and success.
What is Graphic Communication?
Graphic communication is how we convey messages and information using graphics, images, and visual design. The field requires knowledge and unique skillsets required for consistent, high quality printed and collateral materials. These skills span the management, application, and use of dynamic print, graphic media, and digital assets in advertising, public relations, marketing, social media, packaging, printed electronics, and more.
Graphic Communication Careers
Pursuing a graphic communication degree, such as RIT’s print and graphic media technology BS, equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to become a highly-skilled communication professional who can create robust materials for the communication, publishing, marketing, and packaging graphics industries. The degree leads to dynamic careers across a range of positions.
What Can You Do with A Graphic Communication Degree?
Professionals with degrees in print and graphic media technology are uniquely positioned for exciting careers across a range of positions in the graphic communication field:
Jobs in Graphic Communication
- Pre-Media Manager: The easiest way to describe today's graphic media is print + web + mobile + social, each with its own unique requirements for optimal reproduction. Pre-media managers work with creative software and production hardware to optimize text, images, and graphics for their respective media. Adept at IT technologies, automation, typography, raster image processing, and workflow, these trusted professionals prepare files, utilize specialized pre-media solutions, oversee contract color proofs and platemaking, and manage all aspects of pre-media, an integral component of professional graphic production. Often, jobs require variable data for personalized graphic messages, and the client's digital assets must be managed. Pre-media managers apply their unique knowledge and skills to realize these implementations. They provide the requisite link between the client's vision and the realization of their work in all types of digital and conventional graphic media.
- Graphic Production Manager: With an intimate knowledge of prepress, digital and analog printing presses, bindery and converting equipment, workflow, and shop-floor logistics, the graphic production manager designs and approves graphic production scheduling and job specifications while overseeing the operation of the production side of the enterprise. Graphic production managers oversee a staff and works closely with clients and the internal departments, supervising and advising all phases of graphic media manufacturing. The production manager also interfaces with various vendors to ensure requisite supplies are on hand, and equipment and new purchases of technology can be made.
- Graphic Quality Manager: Responsible for the adoption and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure that production quality standards are met, graphic quality managers are experts in quality procedures and relevant industry standards and specifications. The graphic quality manager is focused on ensuring that the final graphic products exceed customer expectations while interfacing with the production departments and upper management, suppliers, and customers. A commitment to continual improvement is the hallmark of successful graphic operations, and the graphic quality manager ensures that quality is realized.
- Graphic Client Support Supervisor: The critical link between clients, sales, scheduling, estimating, logistics, and production, the graphic client support supervisor works closely with the relevant internal and external constituencies to make sure that quality jobs are delivered on time and within budget. As a client advocate in the production operation, the graphic client support supervisor applies knowledge of processes and workflows, project management, and interpersonal skills while coordinating the logistics of the graphic media project from concept to completion. These individuals provide the necessary connection between brand owners and art directors with their graphic production.
- Account Executive: The feet-on-the-street for both graphic providers and the vendor community that serves the graphic media industry, account executives are armed with technical knowledge, sales, and interpersonal skills. These individuals manage a sales territory or specific accounts to gain and retain customers who provide the necessary revenue to ensure business success. On the production side, they may call on customers from large, multinational corporations and consumer-product brand owners to small businesses, all of whom require graphic media in its myriad forms. Account executives on the vendor side of the industry, including hardware, software, and consumables, represent their respective companies' products and provide value by presenting the features and benefits to prospective customers: the graphic media producers.
A Bright Future in Graphic Communication
A print and graphic media technology degree positions you well for graphic communication careers. You’ll be well-prepared to develop cross-channel graphic media production skills; expertise in computer graphics, color management, imaging, and business practices; build capabilities in publishing, database management, new media production, networking, and mobile communications; produce and manage content across multiple types of traditional and digital media; and lead in a range of industries that rely on graphic communications.