The Arts & Communications Industry
People in the Visual Communication industry are responsible for creating a variety of media for marketing, entertainment, and education. Sample job titles include: Graphic Designer, Photographer, Videographer, Podcast Producer, Animator, Printer, and Signmaker. People in this industry use a lot of digital tools like computers, graphics software, cameras, drawing tablets, and printers.
JRTI has two programs to prepare you for working in the Visual Communication field. Both of these are one-year programs. You can attend JRTI for two years and complete both programs. You will learn about these programs in the next two lessons.
Who Works in Arts & Communication?
Example Job Titles
- Graphic Designer
- Desktop Publisher
- Industrial Designer
- Illustrator
- Ad Designer
- Photojournalist
- Photographer
- Production Assistant
- Videographer
- Digital Media Specialist
- Social Media Marketer
- Animator
- Web Designer
Education Requirements
Although many people enter this industry without a college degree, most job listings will state that a four-year Bachelors Degree is required. A certificate from a technical school or a two-year Associates Degree can get your career started. However, higher levels of education can increase the opportunities you will have. Even if you plan to attend college, studying this field in high school can give you the foundational skills that will make your college experience easier.
Example College Programs
- Graphic Design – WVU, Morgantown, WV
- Graphic Design – Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
- Graphic Design – Art Institutes International, Pittsburgh, PA
- Game Art & Design – Art Institutes International, Washington, DC
- Digital Arts & Design – Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL
- Communication Studies – WVU, Morgantown, WV
- Online Journalism – Marshall University, Huntington, WV
- Interactive Design for Media – WVU, Morgantown, WV
- Communication and New Media – Shepherd Univ., Shepherdstown, WV
Frequency of Skills Used in this Field
| Skill Categories | Very Often | Often | Occasionally | Rarely |
| Hands-on/operate equipment and tools | X | |||
| Critical thinking/creative problem solving | X | |||
| Basic math problem solving | X | |||
| Advanced math problem solving | X | |||
| Computers & technology | X | |||
| Written communication | X | |||
| Interpersonal and social | X |