What Is a Digital Designer? (And How to Become One)

Key takeaways

Digital designers are creative professionals who use technology to bring visual ideas to life on websites, mobile apps, and 2D and 3D environments. 

• According to Glassdoor, a digital designer earns a median total salary of $89,000 [1].

• Digital designers work to solve problems, enhance the user experience, and communicate ideas visually.

• You can prepare for a career as a digital designer by learning key skills, including color theory and typography, HTML and CSS, and user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles. 

Learn more about a career in digital design and the steps to take to become a digital designer. If you're ready to take the next step toward your digital design career, check out Adobe's Graphic Designer Professional Certificate program. You'll have the opportunity to master key elements of digital design, including color theory, typography, and UI/UX, plus gain experience with industry-standard tools like Photoshop and Illustrator in as little as four months. By the end, you'll have earned a shareable certificate for your resume.

What is a digital designer?

Digital designers apply creative thinking and technical skills to design content that lives on screens. Their responsibilities vary depending on their specialization, but their work often involves solving design problems, improving user experience, and communicating ideas visually across digital platforms. Rather than focusing on a single medium, digital designers may work on:

• Designing the layout and look of websites or mobile apps

• Creating interactive elements like buttons, menus, and animations

• Building visual assets for marketing campaigns or social media

• Modeling 2D or 3D environments for games or virtual experiences

• Collaborating with developers, product teams, and stakeholders to align design with functionality

How much do digital designers make?

The median total pay for a digital designer in the US is $89,000 per year [1]. The salary range begins at $67,000 and ends at $122,000. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

How to become a digital designer

There are many paths to a career in digital design. Whether you're pursuing a traditional degree or building your skills through online courses and certifications, the right starting point depends on your goals, timeline, and learning preferences. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how to become a digital designer, from obtaining the necessary education to building your portfolio and launching your career.

In-demand digital design jobs

The demand for digital designers is growing faster than for most careers. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of digital interface and web designers will increase by 7 percent between 2024 and 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations [2].

1. Build digital designer skills

Because digital design spans multiple disciplines, some professionals focus on specific areas like UX design, motion graphics, or product design. Others prefer to explore freelance opportunities, which offer increased flexibility coupled with the added responsibilities of searching for new clients and juggling multiple end-to-end assignments. Learn more about the different specializations within this industry and compare digital design jobs. However, in order to land your first digital design role, you'll start by developing core skills that are essential across most specializations:

• Layout and visual hierarchy

• Color theory and typography

• Basic HTML and CSS

• User interface and user experience (UI/UX) principles

• Responsive and mobile-first design

• Familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, or Sketch

Read more: Figma vs. Sketch vs. Adobe XD: Which Design Tool Is Better?

Learn Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud ranks among the most popular digital design software programs. Whether you're just getting started or are a seasoned designer, it's always a good idea to brush up on your Adobe design skills. This suite of programs includes:

• Adobe Photoshop

• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe Illustrator

• Adobe Acrobat Pro

• Adobe Animate

Digital design degree

While a formal degree isn’t required for every digital design job, many employers value candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a design-related discipline. A degree program can give you structured training, access to instructors and peer feedback, and time to build a strong portfolio of work. Degree programs often include hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and allow you to specialize in areas like mobile design, 3D modeling, or motion graphics. 

Some also integrate business, communication, or computer science coursework, which can broaden your job prospects. A few of the most popular majors for digital designers include graphic design (42 percent), fine arts (9 percent), and design and visual communication (8 percent) [3].

Degree alternatives

If college isn’t the right fit, you can still gain the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to become a digital designer through online learning. Professional certificates, online courses, and bootcamps can help you develop job-ready skills in less time and often at a lower cost.

For example, consider the Graphic Design Specialization from the California Institute of the Arts, designed to equip you with the digital design skills you need to succeed in an entry-level interface design, motion graphics, or editorial design role. By the end, you'll have completed a capstone project to add to your portfolio and earned a certificate for your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Workplace skills for digital designers

As you build experience, aim to sharpen both technical and workplace skills. Employers and clients often look for a combination of the two. These workplace skills are more difficult to measure, but can make the difference in an effort to secure more work:

• Communication: Digital designers often collaborate with larger teams. Learning to ask direct questions, listen actively, and present your designs to others can make for a better workplace environment.

• Customer service: The most effective digital designers listen carefully to client requests and requirements, deliver professional advice, and accept constructive criticism, all in an effort to delight the client with the finished product. 

• Flexibility and creativity: Digital design is innovative by its very nature. You’ll always be learning new tools, software systems, and new technologies. Learn to see yourself as a lifelong learner, and plan on discovering new ways of working whenever possible.

2. Gain digital design experience

Once you've developed a foundation through a degree or certificate program, the next step is to apply what you’ve learned in real-world scenarios. Digital designers are expected to be comfortable with both creative tools and client-facing responsibilities, so hands-on experience is key. You don’t need to land a full-time job to get started; instead, start with personal or small-scale projects. You might:

• Redesign a website for a friend or local business.

• Create app mockups based on a personal concept.

• Join design challenges or hackathons.

3. Build your digital design portfolio

Your portfolio is one of the most important tools for landing digital design work. It shows not only what you’ve created, but how you think as a designer. Employers and clients use it to assess your style, range, and problem-solving abilities. Don't forget that the portfolio itself is a chance to show off your knowledge of design, usability, and aesthetics.

Here are a couple of resources for building your digital design portfolio:

• Tips for Creating an Impressive Graphic Design Portfolio

• Graphic Design Portfolio Examples—Inspiring Ideas to Showcase Your Work

4. Network and apply for jobs

Whether you’re looking for freelance gigs, internships, or full-time work, networking and visibility can open doors in your career.

Where to start:

• Create profiles on platforms like LinkedIn.

• Share your work regularly on social media and design communities.

• Attend virtual or local design meetups, conferences, or portfolio reviews.

• Reach out to designers or hiring managers for informational interviews.

• Join freelance marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr to find contract work.

When applying for jobs, tailor your resume and portfolio to match each role. Highlight relevant tools, experience, and project outcomes, and be ready to explain your design decisions in interviews.

Freelance digital design opportunities vs. full-time employment

Freelance digital designers have a wide variety of work opportunities, including UI design, photography, videography, animation, and more. Each project will be different, even if your role focuses on a particular element of its construction. Best of all, with the right skills and experience, freelancers may be able to increase their earning potential beyond what they'd make as an employee.

The question for many is whether it’s better to take on a digital design role with a specific company or break out on your own as a freelancer. Let’s look at the pros and cons of freelancing:

If you're considering freelancing in digital design, one option you have is to gain experience in a full-time or entry-level position that you can then use to launch your own brand. As you gear up to take this step, build a strong professional network and compile a portfolio that showcases your abilities and versatility. These steps can make it easier to land top-paying clients and take on interesting and complex projects.

Discover our free resources for digital designers

Exploring a new career path? Keep your finger on the pulse with our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Or, check out the following digital design resources to keep learning more:

• Take the quiz: Which Graphic Design Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Watch on YouTube: UX Design Career Path: 5 Routes to Success 

• Hear from a pro: Meet the Video Game Designer Who’s Leveling Up with AI

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