Layout designer: personal qualities and job responsibilities

There are many interesting and fascinating professions in the world, involving many diverse responsibilities. One of these is the position of designer-typesetter. This work includes knowledge in various fields, as well as creative and creative approach.

The work of a layout designer involves several aspects. The responsibilities of an employee may vary depending on the format of work. Many specialists work in various publications: books, magazines, catalogs and other printed materials. There are also html specialists who deal with sites, programs and other software. Specialists work on the design of calendars, booklets, modular advertising and other printing. The responsibilities of these employees include many tasks related to editing images and text.

Once the layout is completed, the layout is evaluated by the director of the publication or the project manager. If necessary, editing is carried out in order to make the material more interesting for review. A special part of the activity is the layout of the text. This is a complex work, which is a whole typographic science with many terms and rules. The specialist should clearly understand this for proper design. The text should be not only stylish, but also readable and comfortable for perception.

Many publications are looking for not just a layout designer, but a specialist who will understand the prepress preparation of the product. Many specialists get the necessary skills in the process of work and become versatile masters. Also, designers can engage in color grading and layout.

A separate segment is the layout of tables. This work is carried out according to special rules and has technical difficulties in which the master should be aware.

Each profession has its pros and cons. The advantages of working as a layout designer are as follows:

• growing demand for specialists;
• the ability to work both independently and for large companies in a remote mode;
• mastering the profession and improving skills independently;
• multifaceted and interesting work, including knowledge and skills from other professions.

Negative sides are also available:

• the workflow includes prolonged sitting in one place, for example, working at a PC;
• in the profession there is a share of uniformity.

The personal characteristics of each person play an important role in the process of becoming a specialist. To become a successful layout designer, you must have the following qualities:

• responsibility and attention to detail;
• excellent memory and fast learner;
• perseverance;
• creativity and artistic taste;
• desire to improve and develop.

Also, a specialist can not do without special skills and knowledge. To become a true professional, you must have at least a basic level of design skills.

According to modern employers, the following skills are mandatory for a layout designer:

• ability to work in graphic editors (Photoshop, InDesign and other programs);
• knowledge of the construction of compositions and structures;
• knowledge of the basics of typography (versts of images and text elements).

A big plus for the employee will be portfolio availability. When compiling it, it is better to use only the most successful and high-quality work.

A specialist can perform a number of duties, depending on the level of the position and the project he is working on.

The typeseter's responsibilities include the following:

• development of original visual objects;
• creation of sketches of various subjects and directions;
• study of project objectives;
• drawing up the layout and coordination with the higher authorities;
• refinement and editing of existing layouts and finished projects;
• work with the visual component of the text.

If we are talking about html-layout, then the responsibilities of the employee are as follows:

• programming in various languages;
• preparation of products for printing;
• processing of images and photographs including (in some cases, designers personally take pictures);
• layout of ready-made templates, taking into account the resolution of monitors and screens of mobile devices;
• layout of material intended for e-mail distribution;
• Integration of the created templates into the content management system;
• SEO-optimization of the material (in some cases).

General provisions of the job description include the following items.

• The employee works under the direction of the issuing editor or other superiors and is required to obey him.
• The specialist performs job duties according to the instructions. It indicates the authority of the employee, and what he is responsible for.
• If the employee is absent from the workplace, his assigned duties shall be performed by the appointed employee. A person receives all necessary rights and obligations.
• Entering the official position, the employee begins work taking into account the current legislation.

The main set of knowledge and skills for an employee is related to the design field. The employee must professionally develop layouts and stylize printed materials. You can learn all this with the help of special courses. As they learn, future masters are told the basics that they need to develop and hone.

Training with the help of courses can be combined with the main work or study, which is very convenient. Many useful training materials are stored in the vastness of the World Wide Web. This can be both paid and free content in the public domain. Trainings and seminars are also held online. As they learn, students complete assignments, honing in practice their knowledge. Some companies agree to hire employees without work experience who have only basic skills. After the appointment, employees receive skills in the process. Thus, the authorities are confident in the professionalism of employees.

As for html-typesetters, then in this case you can become a specialist through preparatory courses and seminars. They are taught future masters to work in special programs and provide direction for further development. After completing the training program, a novice specialist can try his hand at remote work, working on a project. After a couple of years, with due diligence, a beginner can become a professional.

In this specialty you can also get public education. In Russia, you can find educational institutions with relevant departments. In the capital there is a publishing and printing college, on the basis of which you can get the necessary knowledge. Higher education can be obtained at institutes and academies, where there is a design department.

Given the growing demand for this position, the layout designer is not difficult to find a job in the specialty. Many professionals have decent wages. The level of income significantly depends on the experience of the employee, his skills and the scope of the project. On average, in Russia, workers receive about 15-20 to 75-80 thousand rubles a month. As for remote and project earnings, it all depends on how much work the employee performed.