Should I be an advertising designer?

Have you ever wondered who’s behind those attention-grabbing ads that stop you mid-scroll on social media or make you look twice at a billboard?

Advertising designers create eye-catching visuals that grab attention and drive action.

If you’re passionate about design and want to make an impact, this could be the job for you!

It's a mix of creativity and strategy. Advertising designers:

• Talk to clients or team members to understand the goal of the project.

• Study market trends to figure out what catches buyers' attention.

• Come up with fresh ideas for ad campaigns for businesses or agencies.

• Design materials for different platforms like social media, email, and print.

• Prepare presentations, reports, and pitches for clients.

• Communicate with clients through pitches, presentations, and reports.

Alex is an advertising designer at an online food delivery company. On a typical day, he might:

• Check emails and update the team on project progress.

• Research food delivery trends and popular ads.

• Brainstorm creative ideas for new food ad campaigns.

• Design graphics for social media, app banners, and emails.

• Work with copywriters to make sure the visuals match the message.

Teamwork makes it all come together!

• In-house departments: Maintain and create designs for a single company's brand.

• Agencies: Create ads for various clients in a team environment.

• Freelance: Choose projects and clients freely while staying responsible for your work and deadlines.

Advertising designers use a mix of graphic design, video editing, and marketing tools to create engaging content across various platforms. Popular tools include:

Graphic Design & Image Editing

• Adobe Photoshop: Edits images, retouches photos, and creates designs.

• Adobe Illustrator: Designs logos, vector graphics, and custom illustrations.

• Canva: Creates quick social media and print designs with easy templates.

• Figma: Designs and prototypes UI/UX projects with collaboration features.

Video & Motion Graphics

• Adobe Premiere Pro: Edits videos for social media, ads, and promotions.

• Adobe After Effects: Creates animations, motion graphics, and visual effects.

• Final Cut Pro: Edits videos, optimized for Mac users.

Social Media & Digital Marketing

• Hootsuite / Buffer: Schedules and manages social media posts.

• Meta Business Suite: Manages and runs ads on Facebook and Instagram.

• Google Ads Creative Studio: Creates display ads and YouTube content.

It Might Be a Good Fit If You:

• Are creative and enjoy making cool designs.

• Like working on different kinds of projects.

• Adapt easily to new trends and platform updates.

• Work well under tight deadlines and pressure.

But It Might Not Be Right If You:

• Struggle with receiving feedback.

• Prefer working alone.

• Want a steady, predictable routine.

• Have trouble staying organized.

Alex

• Enjoys brainstorming and creating eye-catching designs.

• Likes collaborating and working independently.

Sarah

• Works efficiently, but prefers predictable routines.

• Struggles with change and tight deadlines.

Ryan

• Enjoys socializing and prefers solo work.

• Likes a steady, predictable routine.

The average salary for an advertising designer in the US is $67,179 per year.

The average salary for an advertising graphic designer in Canada is C$61,846 per year.

Salary figures are based on available industry data and may vary depending on experience, location, and job responsibilities.

If you're interested in becoming an advertising designer: