All local authorities need to produce promotional or information material from time to time. This could be required by almost any department. Human Resources for example, might want to produce recruitment literature or a staff handbook; Social Services or Education might decide to hand out information booklets to clients or parents. The Planning Department might need explanatory leaflets, maps and plans for a public consultation exercise.

Many councils also now have websites, on which they explain their services and publicise local facilities and events.

Some councils use design and advertising agencies but most also have an in-house design department.

Graphic designers therefore can work for district/borough, county, unitary and metropolitan councils.

Work Environment

Graphic designers work in offices, surrounded by their design equipment - computers, software packages, reference material, colour and type charts and usually some hand tools including paints, brushes, crayons and pens for the initial sketches in a design process.

They may have their own department or be based within a larger one such as Communications or a Print Unit.

They may go out occasionally to meet and be briefed by council clients who work in other locations, to set up exhibitions, to collect print and photographic work or to visit facilities that they are helping to advertise.

Designers normally work 37 hours, but they have to be flexible. Some evening or weekend work may be necessary to meet tight deadlines or if their duties include exhibition work.

Daily Activities

Designers work to instructions or briefs from clients. Sometimes these come in written form but usually designers attend meetings where aims, ideas and budgets are discussed.

Designers suggest ideas or explain why the client’s ideas might not work/cost too much and come up with alternatives. When all the details have been agreed, they work on producing sketches and first drafts for approval. Ideas may have to be changed several times before designers can go ahead with final versions.

They produce working drawings, layouts and computer-generated artwork that printers can use to produce posters, forms, advertisements, booklets etc, and they also produce camera ready artwork for the printers.

Artwork might include graphics and layouts produced on the computer, hand-drawn illustrations or black and white or colour photographs. Designers also chose different type faces and design the layout of the text and headings.

Sometimes the council may commission artwork from an external studio, in which case the graphic designer draws up the specifications and briefs their designers.

Designers check printers’ proofs and make any necessary corrections by hand. If they are designing pages using desktop publishing they make any changes on screen and send a disk to the printer.

Graphic designers may also be expected to take and develop photographs and to set up small exhibitions and displays.

Skills & Interests

Graphic designers need:

• artistic ability
• creativity
• hand drawing skills
• expertise in computer-aided design
• an understanding of the technical processes involved in printing material
• to be able to work within a budget
• good communication skills - particularly verbal.

The ability to meet deadlines is essential and since they will be working with a range of ‘client’ departments. Defective colour vision could be a handicap.

Entry Requirements

Most councils expect a relevant degree or diploma in graphic, advertising or a similar design subject. Alternatively, some councils accept applicants with substantial studio experience.

Apple Mac expertise is usually required, as is the ability to use Quark Xpress, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Small councils, which may employ only one designer, will ask for previous professional experience as well as familiarity with design software packages.

A professional qualification in photography is sometimes required.

A designer who also does web design needs additional qualifications or experience. (Since website design is such a new career some designers are self-taught or have followed Internet tutorials.) Useful qualifications however, include Java or cgi scripting.

Estimated salary range

Designers usually start on £10,278 - £14,830.

Senior designers earn in the region of £19,000 - £22,000.

Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities

A small council might employ one designer. In a large council there might be three or four. Numbers overall are quite small - less than 2000 designers are employed directly by local authorities.

There are limited prospects of promotion to head of a small section.

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