If you’re looking for a flexible way to express your artistic side, a career in graphic design may be for you.

The field is growing especially as the Internet age evolves. While competitive, those with an eye for design and a sense for technical applications—along with a four-year degree— will excel in this fun, expressive career.

Graphic designers organize, analyze, and create visual solutions to communications issues. They use their artistic talent to convey a message across in print, on the Web, electronically, and in film. Graphic designers use a variety of methods to create designs such as color, type, illustration, photography, animation, and various print and layout techniques.

Graphic designers also work on the layout and production design of magazines, newspapers, journals, corporate reports, and other publications. In addition, they can generate the design for promotional displays, packaging, and marketing brochures for products and services, design distinctive logos for products and businesses, and develop signs and signage systems—called environmental graphics—for business and government. Taking it one step further, a Web designer creates visuals on websites and other multimedia projects focused on online design.

Generally a graphic designer will need to be good at working with clients. Some customers may have an idea of what they want and others have no idea how to guide the designer—so it’s vital to listen so you can properly interpret client needs. While room to play does exist, many designers who want to stay in business have to work with their clients to satisfy their needs.

The flexibility of the job is a huge plus. About 25 percent of all graphic designers are self-employed according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those that hold salaried jobs can also complete freelance work on the side, which offers the chance to boost your income. Graphic designers also enjoy a generally relaxed work setting when working for advertising, publishing and design firms. Those who work at home can be as comfortable as they want, but client interaction is still mostly required. Those who want to be self-employed will also need to have a solid business training background and interest in running a business as well as creating art.

But not anyone can do this job—there is a strong technical sense to it and education is vital. Most entry-level jobs require a Bachelor’s degree. Those looking to get into the best graphic design schools should look to the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, which accredits more than 250 programs in the U.S. Online degree programs are available form many online colleges and universities.

The BLS expects average job growth and does remind people entering this field that having a Bachelor’s degree and design software knowledge—along with website design and animation experience—will be most in demand. Prospects to move up exist as well, as designers can move up to positions such as creative directors.

Salaries are variable and depend on the skill level and work setting. The annual median earnings for wage and salary graphic designers were $39,900 in 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $30,600 and $53,310. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $69,730.