Graphic design might seem like a field reserved for naturally artistic people who already know how to draw, illustrate, or create digital artwork. But according to Spokane Falls Community College graphic design instructor John Mujica, that’s one of the biggest misconceptions about the profession. In reality, graphic design is about communication, collaboration, and problem-solving — skills that can be learned, practiced, and applied in many different careers.
At Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC), the Graphic Design program is built around that idea. Students don’t just learn software, they learn how to work like designers in the real world, build professional portfolios, and network with industry professionals and firms in Spokane.
What Do Graphic Designers Do?
Graphic designers create visual communication that helps people understand ideas, products, and messages. They create products including logos, advertisements, websites, packaging, social media graphics, motion graphics, and more.
Mujica explains that design work is rarely done in isolation. “You’re kind of working in tandem with somebody else. It’s not really just your project — it’s our project,” he said.
Because of that, graphic design careers often involve teamwork, feedback, revision, and managing client relationships. SFCC’s graphic design program is cohort-based, allowing students to stay with the same group throughout the program and experience what the collaborative, iterative environment for professional graphic designers is really like.
What Does a Graphic Designer Create?
Students in the SFCC program build a well-rounded portfolio that reflects the many types of work designers are expected to do today. Projects may include branding elements, marketing materials, web design, motion graphics, product packaging, and layout for print and digital content.
Rather than focusing on one process, tool, or skillset, the program emphasizes adaptability, a key trait for anyone exploring careers in graphic design.
“We try to keep it well rounded . . . at any given point you could be asked to do anything as a graphic designer,” Mujica said. “So you have to have a little bit of understanding in different parts of the industry.”
Types of Graphic Design Jobs
Graphic design skills can be applied to many different roles. “There’s different parts of our industry,” said Mujica. “There’s production, there’s advertising, there’s creative, there’s marketing… most people end up finding the place where they fit best. I like to view every student as having that potential to fit in somewhere. It could be in-house, it could be at an advertising agency, it could be at a production house. If you have creative thinking, you can utilize that in many different facets.”
A background in graphic design is also a great foundation for teamwork-based creative positions beyond the discipline of graphic design itself. Said Mujica, “A lot of designers end up moving into marketing, account coordination, or other roles where they’re still using design thinking, even if they’re not designing every day.”
Some graduates continue their education, while others go directly into the workforce. SFCC’s graphic design instructors have worked in the industry and work to maintain connections with local employers and encourage students to network through internships, portfolio shows, and industry events.
Said Mujica, “The goal is to give students the skills and experience so they can move in whatever direction fits them.”
What Education Does a Graphic Designer Need?
Most graphic design careers require more than knowing how to use design software. Employers typically expect formal training, a strong portfolio, and experience working through real projects. At Spokane Falls Community College, the Graphic Design program is built specifically to prepare students for those expectations.
“We try to relate everything we do here to industry expectations — what it takes to be a graphic designer now,” said Mujica.
Classes are structured so students learn both creative process and technical skills at the same time, often working on projects that simulate professional assignments. Professional preparation also includes internships and connections with local employers, giving students experience before they enter the workforce.
“With our degree, students complete an internship and get involved in the design community,” Mujica said. “That’s usually their first chance to get noticed.”
Graphic Design in the Age of AI
Like many creative fields, graphic design is changing as artificial intelligence tools become more common. In the SFCC program, students learn to use new technology without relying on it completely. They first learn design fundamentals, then explore how new tools can make their work more efficient.
Mujica encourages students to see AI as part of the workflow, not a replacement for it.
“Use artificial intelligence as a tool, as opposed to using it as a crutch,” he said. “We teach students the principles first, how to build things from the ground up, and then show them how technology can cut their workflow down significantly.”
Mujica believes understanding the design process is what allows graduates to stay competitive, even as AI tools continue to evolve.
“If you understand the process, you can take something generated by AI and disassemble it, manipulate it, and turn it into a successful project,” Mujica said. “That skill set is what makes the difference.”
Despite concerns that automation could reduce opportunities, Mujica says the demand for designers has not disappeared — it has simply changed.
“I’m not scared about jobs going away,” he said. “Every time the industry changes, the people who learn the new tools and stay connected to the community are the ones who keep working.”
In fact, Mujica suggests that the major changes AI is bringing to graphic design mean that it’s a historically exciting time to be entering the industry.
“The same kind of revolution happened when desktop publishing came in. The designers who embraced it were ready to move forward.”
Spokane Falls Community College is accepting applications for its next Graphic Design cohort beginning this fall. Get in touch with John Mujica, learn more, and apply today for SFCC’s Graphic Design Program.