Retraining as a graphic designer

Why choose a career in graphic design?

The field of graphic design, which encompasses disciplines such as applied arts, advertising and publishing, offers a wide range of career paths for people looking to retrain. What’s more, the sector stands out for its flexibility. It offers the opportunity to work on a variety of projects (illustration, web design, motion design) on a freelance basis or to join a company as an employee.

The skills and qualities needed for a successful career change as a graphic designer

The ability to draw is the cornerstone of the graphic design profession. It enables you to design visual media tailored to your clients’ needs, whether logos, posters or digital content.

Knowledge of design tools is another fundamental pillar. The use of DTP (Desktop Publishing) software, such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop, is essential for producing precise graphic compositions. At the same time, mastery of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and DAO (Computer-Aided Drafting) solutions means that you can tackle more complex technical projects, such as packaging design, 3D typographic creation or the design of volume fonts.

Good organisation and time management are just as crucial. It’s essential to know how to set priorities, meet deadlines and adapt your work to the requirements of each project while maintaining consistent quality.

Finally, interpersonal skills are needed to interact effectively with creative teams. Adaptability, active listening to customer needs and clear, precise communication are essential to ensure that projects meet expectations while respecting production constraints.

What training should you take to switch to graphic design?

Switching to graphic design requires a curriculum that keeps pace with the rapid changes in the industry. Enrolling in a graphic design school such as ESMA is a good option. The school offers an RNCP Level 6 qualification (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree), preceded by a preparatory year and structured into three years of training:

Year 1 – Professional Multimedia Graphic Design Course: This course lays the foundations of graphic design through a hybrid approach combining theory and practice. Participants are given real-world projects that immerse them in the visual creation process, while integrating the technical and organizational requirements specific to production.

Year 2 – Professional Multimedia Graphic Design Course: The skills acquired are consolidated and enriched through more ambitious projects. Learners perfect their expertise in graphic design and their ability to collaborate with other professionals in the sector.

Year 3 – Specialization in Digital Communication or Motion Design: Participants focus on developing expertise in line with their aspirations. Digital communication allows them to deepen their knowledge of advanced digital strategies and content creation for interactive platforms, while the motion design option focuses on the art of graphic animation and its integration into dynamic communication media.

Career opportunities after retraining as a graphic designer

After training to become a graphic designer, the career prospects are varied. In companies, graphic designers can join advertising or communications agencies, where they help to design striking visuals for marketing campaigns and promotional materials.

Design companies, whether they specialise in visual identity or the creation of printed and digital documents, also offer many opportunities. As they gain experience and acquire new skills, graphic designers can progress to positions of responsibility, such as art director. In this role, they manage a creative team, oversee the development of projects and set the aesthetic direction, ensuring the visual coherence of campaigns and productions.

As a freelancer, the possibilities are just as vast. A freelance graphic designer can be involved in creating communications media for a variety of clients, from designing brochures and posters to creating logos and graphic charters. Demand for website and application design services is growing rapidly, offering graphic designers a wide range of projects to work on.

Average salary after retraining as a graphic designer

At the start of their career, graphic designers can expect a gross monthly salary of between €2,200 and €2,400. After around ten years’ experience, this salary can rise to around €3,000 to €3,500 gross per month, depending on the employer, the level of responsibility and the nature of the assignments. For freelance graphic designers, income can range from 2,500 euros to more than 4,000 euros per month, depending on the diversity and complexity of the projects, as well as the professional’s reputation.

Possible aid and funding for retraining as a graphic designer

Several schemes can help finance retraining as a graphic designer, depending on the applicant’s status and needs:

Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF): This program can finance all or part of a professional training course. Available to anyone in active employment, it accumulates rights throughout your career and can be used for retraining in the field of graphic design (UI/UX interface design, 2D/3D animation, signage).

France Travail: For job seekers, France Travail offers assistance such as Individual Training Assistance (AIF). This program finances part or all of the training costs to facilitate a professional transition to growing sectors such as motion design and digital graphics.

Regional assistance: Some regions have set up financial mechanisms to support professional retraining. These support measures, such as the Training Check (Chèque Formation) or the Professional Security Contract (CSP), are particularly useful for job seekers. They offer the possibility of financing training in graphic design, publishing, or visual communication.