Job profile

Artworker

Artworker

Artworker Job Profile

What is an Artworker?

An Artworker is responsible for preparing designs developed by a Graphic Designer or a Packaging Designer for manufacturing. This entails going through the design and making modifications or revisions to the text, pictures, or layout.

There are two basic types of Artworkers: Creative Artworkers and Artworkers. The Creative Artworkers role is much the same as the Artworkers role with one exception. The Creative Artworker gets paid more because they have a creative eye and, therefore can actually make more design-based decisions when finalising an artwork. As an Artworker, you will deal with a variety of computer graphics software products. You’ll be working on a range of designs, including brochures, posters, packaging, and logos.

To get consistent results across a wide range of platforms, from advertising and corporate literature to show displays and direct mail, you need to have a good eye for detail and know how to use Macs, servers, and design and office applications. On occasion, an Artworker may be required to create essential mockups and design graphics. As an Artworker,  you will not only need to understand print design but also work cross-platform to provide design and graphics for websites, e-marketing, and other digital media.

Responsibilities

As an Artworker, you can be responsible for the following tasks:

  • Resizing and sourcing photographs or images
  • Correcting or modifying colours in a design
  • Creating mock-ups
  • Adding text to a design or changing it
  • Verifying proofs for visual and linguistic faults
  • If required, complete a design in a specific style or format.
  • Archiving old files, photos, and design work
  • Managing and updating an in-house image library
  • Collaborating with and helping the creative team as a whole to track concepts and artwork from inception to final approval.
  • Making sure artwork is consistent, accurate, and adheres to any brand rules
  • Proof checking before print 
  • Providing knowledgeable and technically accurate advice and assistance to an agency or design studio
  • Liaising with external printers and functioning as a point of contact for the studio or company’s artwork department


A senior Artworker must also be able to:

  • Manage and schedule all artwork for the whole team
  • Manage and coach a team of junior artists 
  • Ensure all artwork produced fulfils client and brand criteria
  • Approve artwork made by junior artists 
  • Represent the design firm/agency at major industry events.

Salary

Artworker salaries vary based on the industry you work in, the type of company (e.g.design agency or in-house team), your location, your expertise, and your reputation. Typically, the highest-paying positions are located in London and other major cities.

The average Artworker salary in the UK amounts to £28,588.45, ranging from £20,384.00 to £49,000.00. The average artworker salary in England amounts to £26,082.53, ranging from £19,500.00 to £37,440.00. The average Artworker Salary in London amounts to £35,940.49, ranging from : £23,400.00 to £68,900.00.

Working Hours and Work Location

As an Artworker, you will typically work 37.5 hours, Monday through Friday. However, when deadlines are near, late finishes and weekend effort may be necessary.

Here are some potential employers and work locations for Artworkers:

  • Small commercial design studios
  • Advertising agencies
  • Exhibition businesses
  • Enterprises involved in point of sale and display
  • Television
  • Film companies
  • Audio-visual companies
  • Publicity departments of major organisations 


There are freelance and remote jobs available, and some Artworkers go on to start their own businesses.

What To Expect

To work as an Artworker, you must be proficient with applications such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and QuarkXpress, as well as familiarity with both Macs and PCs. As previously said, this is not a creative function, and you will not be required to contribute to the creative design process, but you will be expected to be able to take a designer’s brief and bring it to life.

An Artworker’s position is especially vital when drawings need to be prepared for print or pre-press, many Artworker jobs are available in this area of the business.  While you will need skills with standard graphic design software, you will also need extensive knowledge of print production techniques such as trapping, ink density, and colour reproduction because when it comes to printing, whether it is business cards, postcards, calendars, or brochures, you must know what to do. Artworkers nowadays are also frequently expected to work on web design projects as well as other types of digital media.

Qualifications

Although professional qualifications are not necessary, anybody interested in becoming an Artworker should have expertise and proficiency with the latest design and DTP tools, as well as the ability to work on both Macs and PCs. Those with considerable Photoshop skills are frequently in great demand.

A bachelor’s degree or a masters degree in the following areas can help you achieve your dream of becoming an Artworker:

Skills

Some of the skills that you will have to possess or acquire to become an Artworker include:

must have skills:
  • Excellent talents in retouching and visualising
  • Knowledge of the whole Adobe Creative Cloud and products such as Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator
  • Ability to produce visual concepts 
  • Strong layout and typographical abilities, as well as familiarity with typefaces
  • Reporting skills to provide progress updates at every stage of the design and artwork process
  • Time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines
  • Knowledge of storing photos and artwork
  • Communication abilities to interact with designers and printers
  • Writing skills
  • Problem-solving skills and the ability to know when to ask for help -a methodical approach to work
  • Strong organisational skills
  • Self-motivation and the ability to work on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to take instructions and follow them precisely
  • Collaborative abilities to work closely with senior account managers, account executives, and your clients
  • Excellent talents in retouching and visualising
  • Knowledge of the whole Adobe Creative Cloud and products such as Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator
  • Ability to produce visual concepts 
  • Strong layout and typographical abilities, as well as familiarity with typefaces
  • Reporting skills to provide progress updates at every stage of the design and artwork process
  • Time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines
  • Knowledge of storing photos and artwork
  • Communication abilities to interact with designers and printers
  • Writing skills
  • Problem-solving skills and the ability to know when to ask for help -a methodical approach to work
  • Strong organisational skills
  • Self-motivation and the ability to work on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to take instructions and follow them precisely
  • Collaborative abilities to work closely with senior account managers, account executives, and your clients

Work experience

When looking into starting your career as an Artworker, you’ll need to create a portfolio of your work to present to prospective employers. You may get experience for your portfolio in a variety of methods.

Getting an internship or summer employment is beneficial, especially if you have a reference that gives evidence of your accomplishments. Ensure that your portfolio demonstrates competence with a variety of programmes and materials. Participating in a live project is another path in accumulating the necessary experience. Short-term work experience also offers you an understanding of the job and helps you develop your talents.

Throughout your career, it is critical to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date as design trends change and new and updated software packages emerge. Some companies pay for training classes, but most freelancers and people who work for themselves pay for their own. It’s conceivable that you’ll have to learn new talents to suit the demands of a certain project. Since senior artists may also be in charge of studios, you could take leadership and management courses as part of your ongoing professional development.

Career prospects

There is art and design employment available in a variety of sectors, whether you wish to be an artist or designer yourself, or care for the works of famous artists, or assist others to enjoy art.

Typically, you will begin as a junior Artworker, accumulating skills and experience while creating your portfolio in order to advance to the post of mid-level Artworker. If your company or agency has room for you to move up, you can become a senior artist after a few years and a good portfolio. In some cases it may be necessary to change firms in order to advance in your career.

The senior level is the upper limit for an Artworker, but other related jobs may be possible. For example, you could use being an Artworker as a stepping stone to becoming a Graphic Designer, though you might need more training and skills to do so. If you are a good leader, you might be able to work your way up to Studio Manager or Creative Director.

Related Courses

The University of the West of Scotland teaches this program at its London campus. This puts you in the middle of the UK’s art world as you learn. This full-time, one-year program is designed for students with no prior computer or IT knowledge. You will get crucial IT knowledge in this course that will help you become ready for a career as an Artworker.

This full-time one-year course at the London Campus of the University of the West of Scotland combines the MBA with digital marketing. In the MBA section of the course, you’ll learn about accounting, finance, and human resources, as well as how they work together. This course allows students to specialise in digital marketing in more depth. In addition to learning a broad commercial perspective, students will gain experience when pursuing a career in art.

This two-year and eight-month-long full-time degree is offered by the University of the West of Scotland London, and students can select from a range of start dates. Students at UWS London can get lessons from experts in their fields, guest lecturers, and seasoned professionals. The best thing about this program is that it is taught at the London Campus, which is in the heart of the United Kingdom.

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