*how to move up in the [career ladder]
First off, one of the best ways to be successful in the graphic design field is to have a large, good portfolio. Potential clients examine portfolios and use them to decide whether the portfolio's owner will do the job they want done well.
Usually a graphic designer will start as an artist who does a lot of layout projects and paste-up work. After getting more experience, they will be given bigger projects. Then they might move up to a senior artist, an assistant art director, and finally an art director, which is the last promotion unless they are promoted to general manager of the company, they become a free-lancer (self-employed graphic designer) or they start their own business.
Of course, with each promotion, the individual's salary will increase (excluding free-lancer and starting their own business). ¶
