Who is a graphic designer?

A Graphic Designer who hates advertising/marketing?

• I've loved to draw and paint for most of my life. My teachers recommended I go into Graphic Design as a college major so I could make money with my art. Needless to say I didn't research the Graphic Design field very closely before choosing a college and didn't realize it was so heavy into marketing. Of course I figured there'd be some marketing, but I always thought that I'd be on the artistic end of it and someone else who's more trained and skilled in marketing would handle the strategizing. While I was in school I discovered that not only was I not interested in much of what they were trying to teach us and have us do (which was marketing) but that I sucked at it as well. I'm a terrible salesperson, really, couldn't sell a snow mobile to an eskimo. And I also for the most part am annoyed by salespeople. So I finished a 2 year program, graduated, and had two very short lived jobs in Design. My last job I was hired to edit photography in Photoshop and my employer got it in his head that because I know design I can handle all of his marketing too. Well, because I wasn't very good at it, I got fired. Are there any Graphic Designers out there who hate marketing and advertising as much as I do? Are there any positions in this field that don't have such a major emphasis on marketing?

• Answer:

  You are confusing marketing with sales. Sales is trying to win clients involving direct contact with them while marketing is creating materials that will appeal to clients or customers. A good designer will design a brochure or flyer (or whatever) that is both informative and yet appeal to them visually. You are starting out. You will not be involved with strategizing or stuff like that. Your boss will be doing all that. They will expect you to design something visually appealing that supports their strategy. They will guide you. Everyone has to market. When you're looking for a job, you have to market your skills and talent with your portfolio and resume. You can't avoid marketing. All fine artists market themselves too.