My job title in Japanese

[akatsuka]

[drpepper]

That is what a graphic designer does... sorry to here that that over there they seem to need two people for this. If you are talking about someone who does little actual work on the computer (say in quark or in-design) but decides on concept and imagery that may, depending upon the case, be the work of an art director (often someone who has moved up from designer) but all of what you describe above is done by the graphic designer. In some cases for less expericenced desginers they may be a pre-press guy at the printers who would assist in color seperation or traps or something like that but he is a pre-press guy and never ever deals with handling or changing any design data. (much of this process is now simplfied due to direct digital solutions)

The only thing even remotely close are what are called 'operators' who do simple pre-design layout work for things like supermarket adds and real estate catalogs. These people (90% women) are basically throw-away part timers getting paid by the hour (about the same as you get working at KFC).

My suggestion... say you are a graphic designer, it is not like that title has any kind of grand status attached to it here... more the opposite usually.

[IkemenTommy]

[maraboutslim]

That is what a graphic designer does... sorry to here that that over there they seem to need two people for this.

Well, there are often two people (or more) in the USA as well. Sure, on small projects or at small firms, a single graphic designer may do everything from concept and art direction, to designing objects and layouts to meet that direction, to finish art. I've worked that way myself for much of the last 15 years.

But other times, at large design firms or magazines or companies that have their own design team, graphic design/art is divided into three types of jobs:

Art Director designs the overall feel of a campaign and oversees its implementation. They also are responsible to management that everything meets deadlines and other more managerial type tasks of running and art department. They often do the hiring and firing as well.

Graphic Designer designs items and layouts that conform to the overall concept the art director wants. He may do some production himself when there is time. Often times they are even doing much of the concept work themselves, for which the art director gets the credit of course. Such is life. The art director is busy in meetings after all...

Production Artist or Production Designer gathers and prepares images and text and places it into the layout templates designed by the graphic designer. They may do the separations and go on press checks (though sometimes the lead designer wants to do this). If its a package design, they'll be the ones with the knives and glue cutting stuff out and mocking it up to see how it works. These guys are responsible for a lot of details that really impact the final product and they really work hard. They often have better technical skills (better/faster at using photoshop and illustrator software, for example) than designers or art directors do. It may be an 'entry level' job sometimes but you need quality people doing it or you're screwed.

But you know, I think Akatsuka should just call him/herself a graphic designer. I don't see any need to make the distinction between design and production.

[akatsuka]

thanks for your advice

Im going to call myself a graphic designer.
I naively never realised the system was different. Does a Japanese Graphic Designer do everything I mentioned above then?? ... sounds cool!

[drpepper]

Well that third category you mention falls more into the lesser or unskilled labor area of 'operator' here in japan and I did mention it though they do far less here.... let's not forget the illustrators too... or the 3d guys...

But the overwhelming majority of production houses basically just have the art director and graphic designer (though there would be a lead designer and also assitant designers but all basically do similar things but seperated usually by experience).