It is evident that the fields of creativity and technology fuses in a career path of graphic designing. In Pakistan, graphic designers are in high demand due to the recent growth in social media marketing alongside e-commerce, all of which are a part of the digital economy. This article will discuss the current market for graphic designers in Pakistan, while also touching on the future by setting out a career path for graphic designers in Pakistan.

Also Read: Top 10 Tools Every Graphic Designer Needs

Overview of Graphic Designing in Pakistan

For branding or social media, websites and even print ads and media, visual content is a must – this is where graphic designing comes into play. In Pakistan, with the increased focus on mobile apps, social media marketing along with an increasing number of new businesses, there is now an accelerating need for graphic designing professionals.

Industry Comparison

• There has been an estimated annual increase of 40% in the e-commerce sector of Pakistan which on the flip side means there will be a high demand for graphic designers who will be able to create attractive visuals and product ads.
• Pakistan’s freelance market is quite strong and with a global ranking in the top five, graphic designers based in Pakistan can cater to international clientele.
• Claiming to have over four thousand digital market agencies, Pakistan still has many more who also need graphic designers to beautify their advertisements and growth campaigns.

Most Well-Paying Graphic Design Jobs in Pakistan 

1. Marketing Agencies

Marketing agencies rely heavily on graphic designers for the creation of brochures, logos, social media posts, and other marketing materials. 

Platforms to Keep an Eye On: If you’re living in Pakistan, agencies are fairly common if you reside in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. These agencies cater to a wide range of businesses and look to hire designers. 

Average Pay Scale: While starting off you can expect your salary to fall between 25000 – 40000 PKR and with experience it can grow to 70000 PKR and even exceed that amount.

2. Becoming a Freelancer

For graphic designers in Pakistan, freelancing has become an incredibly profitable option. Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer platforms give you the opportunity to work for clients abroad. 

Benefits: 

• Timings can be quite flexible
• Works can be priced in other currencies such as GBP or USD

Average Income: 

Depending on the size and complexity of the projects, an experienced freelancer can make anywhere from PKR 100,000 to PKR 500,000 a month.

3. Corporate Jobs

Pakistan’s corporate sector is also looking for graphic designers to help out with branding, product packaging, and marketing campaigns. 

Industries that are in demand: 

• FMCG firms
• Technology companies 
• Clothing brands 

Job Position: 

It could range from being a designer who creates artistic visual content, or someone specialized with the brand’s identity.

4. Digital Marketing Agencies

For graphic designers, one of the prospects for employment that seems to be expanding rapidly is within the area of digital marketing agencies. Such practitioners are needed for the purposes of designing social media advertisements, templates for emails as well as banners for websites. 

Core Competencies: Proficiency in the adobe programs including Photoshop and Illustrator as well as the design tool Canva and awareness of the most recent trends in design.

5. Gaming and Animation Studios

There have been efforts in the Pakistan gaming sector with the production of mobile and PC games by various studios. Graphic designers end up providing input into character design, layout for the interface, as well as promotional graphics. 

Leading Studios: Mindstorm Studios and Caramel Tech Studios are some of the companies which are getting into this niche and offer employment. 

6. UI/UX Design

UI which means User Interface and UX as User Experience design has become a sub specialty branch of graphic designing. It includes detailed aspects such as the visual appearance as well as the functional aspects of websites and mobile applications to be built. 

Job Demand: In this regard, usually firms that are undergoing digital transformation are on the constant lookout for hiring UI/UX designers to improve user experience.

Becoming a Graphic Designer In Pakistan: Education Colleges and Institutions

While education is not a prerequisite to becoming a graphic designer it sure does provide you with an edge. There are various institutions in Pakistan that offer graphic designing courses:

1. Bachelor’s

National College of Arts (NCA): Offers a BFA in Visual Communication Design.

Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS): Offers a Bhar in Communication Design

Beaconhouse National University (BNU): Offers a degree in Visual Arts with a specialty in Graphic Design.

2. Diploma and certificates

For those looking for short courses, these include:

Arena Multimedia: Offers professional diplomas in graphic design.

National Institute of Design and Analysis (NIDA): Offers design and management programs at a reasonable cost.

3. Online Learning cushions platforms Clean sites

With improved internet many aspiring Pakistani designers turning to the following platforms:

Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning: Specialize in courses such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Figma courses.

Pakistani Platforms: DigiSkills.pk offers free graphic design working classes sponsored by the government.

Skills Required in Order to Master the Industry 

Globally, Pakistan’s graphic design industry is highly competitive and to survive, one requires the following skill set: 

1. Technical Skills

• Ability to utilize various features of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign.
• Basic Knowledge of canva for easy layout changes.
• CorelDRAW helps to design products such as signs and graphics. 

2. Creativity and Innovation

Being unique is a must as designers have the ability to freshen up the content or the layout to help get more traction ensuring they are not outdated.

3. Communication Skills

Graphic designers should also have the ability to communicate ideas effectively to meet client needs and requirements.

4. Time Management

Due to graphic designers getting multiple clients we tend to overbook ourselves, which is why perfection is a necessity.

The Challenges Faced By The Graphic Designing Sector in Pakistan 

While opportunities are endless, the industry also faces some challenges which include: 

1. Low Default Salaries

For starters, salaries are quite low as designers have absolutely no experience so most struggle and shift places but there is career growth through promotions. 

2. Competition

Due to a larger growing quantity of both freelancers and employed designers into the market, promoting yourself and your product has become quite hard. 

3. Lack of Respect

In many companies, especially in the smaller cities, graphic design is often regarded as an unneeded cost and needless expense, Still though, this is a trend that is slowly changing owing to the fact that people are being more inclined to go digital.

Conclusion

Pakistan has a very rich, and vast career options if you wish to pursue designing, from working in a marketing firm to being involved in advanced digital design. As the graphic designers become the key players of promoting and marketing content in digital form, the demand for them will always be there. With the proper skills in ratio with the tendencies in online platforms, and the supreme tendencies in design, Pakistan holds opportunities for all.

Whether you aim to work for a corporation, join a creative agency, or become a freelancer, the opportunities in graphic design are plentiful and rewarding in Pakistan’s evolving economy.