Graphic Production Assistant

What is a Graphics Production Assistant?

A graphics production assistant is an assistant to the graphic artist in charge of production in a design team. This professional is sometimes called the production artist. Assisting the artist in readying the designs for the final product is the general description. The project could be in print or digital form. Attention to detail, good communication skills and the ability to lend support on more than one project at the same time are prime requirements.

Job Responsibilities

The daily rigor includes working with a design team, including an art director, one or more graphic designers and the production artist. Some of the responsibilities of the graphics production assistant include helping to:

• Review the graphic designer’s work for errors or fix specific artistic or concept mistakes
• Design and maintain websites
• Troubleshoot web designs, visuals and graphic projects
• Help design a graphic campaign for the client
• Update material or websites for clients
• Monitor and analyze project data
• Prepare press-ready files for printing
• Resolve production artwork issues
• Prepare packages for media partners
• Create PDFs for print or client review
• Prepare images for online and mobile applications
• Time management for project development
• Maintain archive of images, photos and historic collateral

Graphics Production Assistant: Career Outlook

A graphics design background is a major prerequisite for this role. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for graphic designers, and by default, production artists, is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. 

About 22,800 openings for graphic designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. 

As companies continue to increase their digital presence, graphic designers may be needed to help create visually appealing and effective layouts of websites and social media sites. However, a decrease in print newspapers and magazines may limit employment growth for graphic designers who create advertisements for companies and products.

There will likely be some tough competition for positions as graphics production assistants. Your prospects are better the more you know about the most current trends in design, techniques and technology. A graphic design associate degree from Bryant & Stratton College may be just what you need to edge out this competition.

Additional Training/Requirements

In addition to your graphic design associate degree, it may be helpful to take some additional courses in writing, marketing and business. It may also be good if you took some basic art and design courses in high school. One excellent way to get experience is through an internship. You will get this opportunity during your graphic design associate degree program at Bryant & Stratton College.

Once you have landed your position as a graphics assistant in production, you may want to keep your skills fresh by taking courses offered by professional associations for design and production. Also, various software makers offer certification programs in their products. These help to show your proficiency in these products and can promote you in the job market.

There is plenty of opportunity for advancement for graphics assistants in production. You could go on to get your bachelor’s degree and become a graphic designer or production artist. From there, you could become an art director or a chief designer. It all depends on how far you wish to take it.