Graphic Designer in Cincinnati, OH Area

1. Long Term Goals

1.1. When possible, I really want to save money into my savings/401k really early. In addition, start to invest in companies in the stock market and potentially bitcoin to have my money grow slowly over time.

1.2. Senior Graphic Designer (management) positions in Cincinnati, OH are usually between $65,000 to $85,000 a year

1.3. My long-term goal is to invest in a dependable car that is very reliable and excellent fuel economy that lasts a while. In addition, finding my future soul mate (wife) and securing my first downpayment in a house.

2. Life Long Learner

2.1. My plan to keep up in my industry by looking at the job market on LinkedIn and other hiring websites. In addition, network and connect with other professionals in my industry by attending conferences and events. Lastly, look up current trends by browsing the web and looking at other graphic designers work.

2.2. One trend in graphic design is to have more blurry and blended backgrounds. Foreground elements such as bold typography or evocate imagery to pop against a near indiscernible background. Another trend is seamless surrealism where the imagery is nonsensical by design. Images that would be normally separated become strange when combined.

2.3. A graphic designer is expected to grow 4% in the United States. In the advertising field, creating innovative and visually appealing promotional materials for companies growing products and services. Additionally, portable devices and video entertainment are skilled in website design, animation, and content creation.

2.4. I don't see a need to earn another degree unless a company I work for wants me to or a higher management position requires a degree.

3. Me @ Work

3.1. I excel at prioritizing my work based on the level of difficulty and time commitment as well as striving to get work done well early before the deadline if possible. I look to break up chunks of work into smaller ones to focus on and not get overwhelmed with the big picture.

3.1.1. Experience from classroom work in the graphic design field has lead me to handle each step of the design process from sketches to the final version.

3.2. When I value a position, I want it to allow freedom of creativity of my own personal work while gaining new practices and techniques to expand my current skill set. I want a company that pay reasonable for its graphic designers.

3.3. As someone who is a critical thinker and self-driven, a graphic designer is a great job for me. It allows me to create something with my own visual message and gives me what kind of story I want to tell to a select audience.

3.4. Designer's ethics is upholding the credibility of their work by practicing honesty and recognizing the need to include audience members/users when possible in developing an effective communication/message. The designer needs to create communications/messages that are helpful and easy to understand for the audience and users.

4. Compensation

4.1. $41,000 a year on average. Can go up to $60,000 with more experience over time.

4.2. Depends on what company you work for but mostly larger companies will offer various expected benefits such as 401(k), dental insurance, health insurance, and life insurance.

4.3. Cincinnati, Ohio cost of living is around $60,000 versus Toledo, Ohio $50,000. The reason that the cost of living is higher for Cincinnati since it a much bigger city with many job opportunities and the house cost are 52% more expensive than Toledo.

4.4. The median rental rate for a 2-bedroom apartment is approximately $700-800 a month.

4.5. The cost of groceries in the Cincinnati, Ohio can range from $350-500 month.

5. Fiscal Responsibility/Needs

5.1. My proposed budget will definitely be somewhat tight regardless of what plans I have after graduation. I have to consider that I am moving to a much bigger city and expensive area, it's hard to judge what personal fun money I will spend on entertainment and other activities at first.

5.2. I currently work with my client during the spring semester that might continue after graduation as well as probably working part-time in my hometown this summer. This allows me to save up for a new apartment eventually and prepare for any future cost for groceries, utilities and traveling. In the future, it will dramatically change as I will live on my own and work a full-time job for most of the year.

5.3. I need to accommodate the expenses of living in a higher cost of living area as well as how much money to put in savings or invest in the stock market. This will come easier to understand with building a budget to cut down on any unncessary expenses.