Additional Information
No formal education is required to become a greeting card designer. But
a portfolio of your work will help demonstrate your creative ability. A greeting
card designer's portfolio showcases their best work.
Many greeting card designers have online portfolios on their website and
other networking sites. Many young illustrators build a portfolio while in
university or community college.
Greeting card designers can take degrees or diplomas in communications
arts or visual arts. Graphic design, digital design and illustration are possible
concentrations.
Community college programs often focus on studio work. A bachelor of fine
arts degree incorporates a base of academic core subjects in addition to an
art specialty.
Heather Castles is an illustrator and graphic designer. She has a college
diploma in illustration and design. "My career path has taken me from greeting
card designer, to greeting card art director, to freelancer, to video game
production designer, to freelance children's book illustrator," says Castles.
Designer Ian Challis came in to the field after studying architecture.
He transferred his design skills to creating art.
He recommends interning at a greeting card company to see how the business
works. You'll gain experience in the fundamentals of design.