Artworker

Art workers use their creative skills to produce visuals that help to communicate a company's message or brand

As an artworker you'll produce commercial-quality artwork across a range of media by taking a design concept from a designer and tidying it up so it can be used in projects and content.

You'll usually work with a variety of formats and channels, designing artwork for websites, e-marketing and digital media, as well as print. You'll typically be involved in each project from start to finish and will work closely as part of a creative team to ensure that the artwork meets the needs of the client's brief and any brand guidelines.

Your work may involve retouching, reworking or fixing the design, customising typography, colour balancing, resizing documents and eliminating any inconsistencies. You'll have a great eye for detail and will be able to spot potential problems with designs.

The role is closely related to the work of a graphic designer, and there may be some overlap. However, many companies still employ an artworker rather than incorporating the work into that of a graphic designer.

Responsibilities

As an artworker, you'll need to:

• work closely with and support the creative team, following designs and artwork from their conception to final sign-off
• create corporate designs across a range of formats using software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator
• create visual concepts and retouch images to ensure they meet print and web standards, such as colour, typography and image libraries
• correct and format documents before they're sent to the printers
• ensure artwork is consistent, accurate and follows any brand guidelines
• impose variable print files for digital print
• set up, manage and archive accurate artwork files and supply to relevant stakeholders
• manage and update an in-house image library
• carry out proof checking prior to print
• create web assets to size and scale
• check printers' proofs
• adapt existing artwork to alternative layouts and/or formats
• liaise with external printers and act as a point of contact for the artwork department of the studio or company
• keep up to date with the latest design trends.

In a senior artworker role, you'll also need to:

• manage and mentor a team of junior artworkers
• manage and schedule all artwork for the whole team
• approve artwork created by junior artworkers
• ensure all artwork produced meets client and brand guidelines
• provide artistic direction on projects and strategic planning, as well as creative and promotional marketing services.

Salary

• Junior artworkers can expect a salary of £20,000 to £25,000, depending on experience.
• With experience (mid-level artworker), you can expect to earn between £25,000 and £36,000.
• Senior creative artworkers and studio managers can earn up to £45,000 per year.

Salaries vary depending on the sector you work in, the type of employer (e.g. design agency or in-house team) and your location, as well as your experience and reputation. The best paid jobs are usually in London and other large cities.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You will usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, late finishes and weekend work may be required, especially as deadlines approach.

Part-time work is typically possible.

What to expect

• You'll most likely be based in a design agency, print house or shared studio. Your day will be varied - you may work alone, in teams, or closely with graphic designers and art directors. If you're working in a freelancer capacity, you'll need to be in regular contact with designers and printers.
• The work of an artworker often involves sitting and working at a computer for long periods of time.
• Opportunities are available in towns and cities throughout the UK. Employers can vary from small commercial design studios to advertising agencies and publicity departments in large organisations.
• Although work is mostly studio-based, travel within the working day to meet clients may be required. Working away from home, however, is rare.

Qualifications

Qualifications and courses that cover desktop publishing and computer graphics software are useful for becoming an artworker. Relevant subjects include:

• art and design
• graphic design
• visual art
• 3D design
• fine art
• illustration.

Any design-based course that gives you grounding and knowledge of art and design is helpful. These can be at degree, HND or foundation degree level, or could include college or online courses.

You will also need to have good knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud design software, such as Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.

It is vital that you build up a strong portfolio of work alongside your qualifications to show to potential employers. This will add value and demonstrate your talent for the career.

It may be possible to find an entry-level position where you can train on the job, building up skills as you go.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• strong retouching and visualisation skills
• the ability to create visual concepts
• strong layout and typographical skills and knowledge of fonts
• confidence with using the latest desktop publishing (DTP) software, working with both Macs and PCs
• skills in archiving images and artwork
• communication skills to engage with designers and printers
• collaborative skills to work closely with senior account managers and account executives as well as your clients
• reporting skills for providing progress updates at every stage of the design and artwork process
• time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines
• strong organisational skills
• self-motivation and the ability to work on multiple projects at once in a fast-paced environment
• problem-solving skills and the ability to know when to ask for help
• a methodical approach to work and meticulous attention to detail
• the ability to take instructions and follow direction from other professionals such as designers.

In some roles, you may also need to have:

• knowledge of basic HTML and CSS, along with experience with content management systems
• an understanding of areas such as photography, filmmaking or studio lighting.

Work experience

You'll need to build a portfolio of your work to show to employers. You can get experience to include in your portfolio through various ways. Getting an internship or summer placement is useful and opportunities for this may be available through your university or college.

It's also helpful to get involved in a live project. This could be commercial work or a self-initiated project. If you're struggling to find something you could approach voluntary organisations to see if you can work on some of their campaigns to build up your experience. Student societies may also welcome your design skills to help promote their activities.

Try to ensure your portfolio shows experience with a range of programs and materials.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Artworker jobs can be with a design agency, print house, advertising agency or art studio that provides design work for clients, or within larger companies and organisations in an in-house design role. These can include firms involved with point of sale and display, television, film and audio-visual companies, and publicity departments in large organisations.

You may choose to work on a freelance basis, taking on projects for various clients. This is more likely once you have built up some substantial experience.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Campaign Jobs
• Creativepool
• Design Jobs Board

Vacancies are also handled by specialist recruitment agencies such as Source.

LinkedIn is a great way to network and get in contact with potential employers, and jobs are sometimes advertised on it.

Social media channels are other ways of networking, showcasing your work and making contacts.

Professional development

It's important to keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career as design trends evolve, and new and updated software packages emerge.

You can do this through in-house training courses, more typical in larger organisations, or by taking specific design and technology courses in areas such as:

• desktop publishing
• specific software packages such as QuarkXPress, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
• specific web packages, such as Dreamweaver
• web languages such as HTML and CSS.

Some employers may fund training courses for you if they fit with your work, but if you're self-employed as a freelancer you'll need to pay for training yourself.

It's also helpful to read industry press, such as Design Week, to keep up with new developments in the sector.

You can also take leadership and management courses to support your continuing professional development (CPD), as senior artworkers may also manage studios.

You may want to consider becoming a member of the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) as it provides access to useful resources, advice and training, which supports your career development. As a member of the CSD, you can also be included on their 'Find-a-Designer' directory for clients and employers.

Career prospects

You'll typically start in a junior artworker role, gaining skills and experience and building your portfolio in order to progress to the role of mid-level artworker.

After a few years, and with an excellent portfolio, you can progress to senior artworker - if there is scope within the company or agency you work for. It may be necessary to move companies to gain a more senior position.

Senior level is the ceiling within the scope of an artworker, but it may be possible to move into other related work. For example, you can use the artworker role as a way into graphic design, although you may need to undertake further training and qualifications to make the transition. For more information, see graphic designer.

Remote or freelance working is possible and with substantial experience and if you have strong leadership skills, it may be possible to become a studio manager or creative director, or even to set up your own company.