Explore a career in Visual Art, Graphic Design, Fashion, Interactive Media, & Web Design.

The art and design fields focus on the production of visual art and include focused fields like:

  • Fine art and visual arts
  • Graphic and web design
  • Fashion and costume design
  • Set design (theaters, operas, and film)
  • Interior, industrial, and landscape design
  • Interactive media and video game design
  • Photography and photo editing

Positions available for artists and designers can be found in galleries, museums, and theaters; newspapers, periodicals and book publishers; software companies; specialized design services; motion picture and video industries; marketing teams for organizations; amusement and other recreational industries; and many other organizations.

Employment Opportunities

Internships and short-term jobs (summer festivals, particular event, etc.) exist with profit and nonprofit organizations, lasting for a few weeks to a few months. In addition, apprenticeships can occur, assisting a specific designer or artist on a short-term project. Students are encouraged to attend cultural and industry events, network with professionals, and build their own portfolio of materials. Being active in the field and demonstrating experience (internships, freelancing projects, and even volunteer work) is crucial to landing a position. For full-time opportunities, sometimes advanced degrees, such as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) may be necessary.

  • Successful candidates have:
    • Basic knowledge of cultural institutions, the art market, and current trends
    • Strong creative skills with the ability to execute design concepts in specific media and learn quickly
    • Organizational and project management skills
    • Self-motivation, versatility, and independent initiative
    • Ability to communicate effectively with vendors, clients, and members of a creative team
    • Experience with web programming, design software, or related technology, as applicable
    • Portfolio: PDF and/or online
    • Regardless of field or medium, the artistic and design process is highly creative with digital technology skills becoming increasingly important to distribute productions online. Students should start preparing as early as possible and consider designing a website to build a portfolio, source leads, and create an online brand for themselves. Additional elements can include an artist’s curriculum vitae, an artist statement, and documentation/photographs of their work.
  • Hiring cycle:
    • Internship Cycle – On-demand, can be for spring, summer or fall internships
    • Job Cycle – On-demand
    • Freelance Work – It is quite common in art and design to do freelance work – something that usually starts part-time and could expand to full-time. To begin, students should build their portfolio of work and make connections with professionals in the field. In addition to artistic development, freelancers must also build business knowledge as they are, technically, running their own small business. Knowledge of business types, budgeting, marketing, and contracts can ensure that you are properly set up and can claim things appropriately on taxes. Without belonging to a large organization, freelancers also need to turn to other groups, such as unions, for things such as health insurance and retirement options.

Creating a UX Portfolio to Land the Job: A Step-By-Step Guide

🎨

This article is part of Exponent’s UX and product design interview prep course created by product designers at Google, Meta, and other startups.

Ann Grafelman, a UX designer and illustrator specializing in e-learning platforms, helped write this guide.

Looking …

Read more

This Week in the Marketing & Creative Community | April 24, 2025

Hello Marketing & Creative Community,

The final weeks of the semester can be demanding and intense. Be sure to prioritize your holistic well-being so you can perform at your best. Summer will be here soon enough, but in the meantime, …

By Eugene Mont
Eugene Mont Career Advisor
Read more

This Week in the Marketing & Creative Community | April 17, 2025

Hello Marketing & Creative Community,

Graduating seniors and graduate students at the University of Rochester now have a new resource to help them navigate their transition into the workforce. The Bridge to Career Success initiative offers a series of events …

By Eugene Mont
Eugene Mont Career Advisor
Read more

Sidebar

Research IndustriesIn partnership withLightcast logo

Explore occupations by career categories and pathways and use real time labor market data to power your decision making.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Resources and Tools

Industry Guides

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Career Service Hours

Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Learn more about 1:1 advising appointments here.

Contact & Location

Phone
(585) 275-2366
Address

4-200 Dewey Hall
500 Wilson Blvd
Rochester, NY 14627

Blog  |  Events  |  Jobs  |  Research Industries  |  Resources  | Videos | Staff