The days of “starving artists” are over—if you move to digital. The highest-paying creative jobs today are in User Experience (UX) Design and Product Design. Tech companies like Apple, Google, and Spotify pay enormous salaries to designers who can make their apps easy to use.
While a traditional Graphic Design degree is a great foundation, shifting your focus to UX/UI (User Interface) is how you double your income potential.
Graphic Design vs. UX Design
Understanding this difference is critical for your bank account.
- Graphic Design: Visuals. Logos, brochures, packaging, branding.
- Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign.
- Avg Pay: $55,000 – $70,000.
- UX/UI Design: Logic and Layout. How a user clicks through an app.
- Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD.
- Avg Pay: $95,000 – $130,000+.
Best Schools for Digital Design
You can go the university route or the bootcamp route. Both work, but they offer different experiences.
1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
The most prestigious art school in the US.
- Program: BFA in Graphic Design.
- Why it wins: RISD grads are known for critical thinking. Tech companies love them because they solve problems, not just make things pretty.
2. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
A massive hub for creative careers.
- Focus: Very career-oriented. They have a specific “UX Design” major.
- Facilities: State-of-the-art computer labs and industry partnerships.
3. CareerFoundry / Google UX Certificate (Online)
If you already have a degree or want to pivot fast.
- Cost: Fraction of a degree ($6k – $10k).
- Speed: 6 to 10 months.
- Focus: Pure job preparation. You build a portfolio of apps and websites.
Salary and Growth Table
The tech sector drives these salaries.
| Job Title | Focus | Entry Level Pay | Senior Level Pay |
| Graphic Designer | Print/Brand | $50,000 | $85,000 |
| UX Designer | App Usability | $85,000 | $145,000 |
| Product Designer | Full Product | $95,000 | $160,000+ |
| Art Director | Management | $80,000 | $130,000 |
Building a Portfolio that Converts
Employers do not care about your GPA. They care about your Portfolio Case Studies.
- Show the Problem: “The user couldn’t find the checkout button.”
- Show the Process: Sketches, wireframes, user testing.
- Show the Solution: The final beautiful design.
Freelance vs. Full-Time
Design is one of the best fields for freelancing.
- Side Hustle: You can easily pick up logo jobs or web design gigs on the side ($50 – $100/hr).
- Digital Nomad: UX design is a remote-friendly career. You can work for a San Francisco company while living in Spain.
Making the Leap
If you are creative but want a high salary, UX Design is the answer.
- Download Figma: It is free and the industry standard. Start playing with it.
- Audit an App: Look at your favorite app and try to redraw it.
- Choose a Program: Decide if you want the 4-year experience (RISD/SCAD) or the fast track (Bootcamps).
Design the life you want. Check out the top-rated design programs and start building your future today.