Digital Design Career Pathway
Is your student an artist with a knack for visual communication? Do they love the challenge of creating the perfect image to convey a thought or an emotion, inspire action, or explain a concept? Then they might be right for a career in digital design!
Regardless of whether they work as graphic designers, multimedia artists, or animators, today's designers are high-tech. Digital designers use innovative technology and graphic design software to create visually stunning, high-impact images and reach target audiences where they are: online. They need to be artistic, tech-savvy, and effective communicators.
Digital designers work in a variety of professional settings. They might design artist renderings of real estate developments, create images for use in a company's online or print advertising campaigns, or create infographics for news organizations or corporate communications. They might even work on the next big animated movie production!
Gain real-world skills through project-based learning.
At Stride Career Prep,* we integrate project-based learning into the curriculum, so that classwork mirrors what students will be doing in the workplace. With project-based learning, there's little to memorize and repeat. Instead, students get a real-life problem to solve and work with a team to come up with a creative solution. We also emphasize teaching the technological tools today's graphic designers need, so you'll learn Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
Get certified.
Upon graduation, students will have a portfolio of work to secure a job as a graphic designer, multimedia artist, or animator—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees. The tuition-free program includes exam prep for the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) – Visual Communication Using Adobe Photoshop certification exam and the ACA – Print and Digital Media Publication Using Adobe InDesign certification exam, two highly regarded industry credentials.†
Get connected.
Our Digital Design Curriculum in Detail
All students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes students will take as part of the Digital Design pathway, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Find a school near you that offers digital design.
Stride Career Prep programs with the Digital Design pathway are available at tuition-free Stride K12-powered, public online schools in the following states:
ALABAMA
Alabama Destinations Career Academy
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
Destinations Career Academy of Colorado
FLORIDA
KANSAS
Don’t see your state? Check out the tuition-based option here in Digital Design! here are also tuition-free options in the related pathway of Web and Digital Communication.
Occupational Spotlight
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers work with clients to create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They often determine the layout and develop the graphics for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and reports. While the profession is overall declining, graphic designers with strong computer skills will continue to be in demand.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$50,342
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
-10,700
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
-4% (Decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree; some employers may accept a portfolio of work in lieu of bachelor’s degree
Multimedia Artist/Animator
Multimedia artists and animators create images and visual effects, including computer-generated images (CGI), for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media. They may create these images and special effects by using computer animation software, writing their own code, or working on mobile gaming platforms.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$59,410
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
2,800
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
4% (as fast as average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree; some employers may accept a portfolio of work in lieu of bachelor's degree
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to get a job as a graphic designer?
No, you do not need a college degree to work as a graphic designer (although most graphic designers have a college degree). What you do need is a portfolio of work that clearly demonstrates your graphic design skills. Many employers require you to be proficient with image creation and editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign, too.
That’s why we prepare Digital Design students to take certification exams in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign!
What classes should you take in high school to become a graphic designer?
Classes in creating, editing, and producing digital art are essential. Students can also start building a portfolio of work and seek opportunities, paid or unpaid, to create flyers, infographics, or images for social media for nonprofits or local businesses. And if there's a student art or graphic design club, join it!
The Digital Design pathway provides excellent preparation for a career in graphic design. Students take courses in digital arts, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign. We also provide test prep for the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)—Visual Communication Using Adobe Photoshop certification exam and the ACA—Print and Digital Media Publication Using Adobe InDesign certification exam, two highly regarded industry credentials.† Included in this tuition-free program** is a membership to Business Professionals of America (BPA), the leading CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business, including graphic design. BPA is a terrific organization for networking, résumé building (through its many competitions), and skills development. BPA's Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP) allows students to develop and demonstrate their graphic design and other problem-solving skills at regional, state and national conferences, including specific competitions dedicated to graphic design, digital publication, and digital media. BPA also offers students the ability to assume leadership positions and compete for scholarships
What is the difference between the Digital Design pathway and the Web and Digital Communications pathway?
The Digital Design pathway focuses more on the creative aspects of creating high-quality impactful images that can be used in a variety of business settings, including on the web. Students who choose this pathway become proficient in Photoshop and InDesign—positioning themselves for a career in graphic design. As a professional graphic designer, they might design artist renderings of real estate developments, create images for use in a company's online or print advertising campaigns, or create infographics for news organizations or corporate communications.
There is some overlap with the two pathways. However, the Web and Digital Communication pathway is focused less on image creation and more on all aspects of website design, including site structure, style, and usability. Students will learn to use Adobe illustrator and Adobe Dreamweaver, and how to use technology platforms as a visually stunning, effective communication tool.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear how Stride Career Prep can work for your teen.
Think this might be a good fit for your student? Want to learn more about the program from current participants? Email your questions and hear what Stride Career Prep students have to say.
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
**Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
