Best Country | City for Graphic Designers

I think Northern/Western Europe is the best place professionally. But these places are expensive to live. You should spend some time in Eastern Europe or Russia too. There are some amazing artists around here.

I think you'll find a market for your services anywhere you go that has a somewhat decent/stable economy.

With that in mind, I'd choose a place I'd really like to be... because as much as you'll love being a designer, it is still just a job (at least to me). That's why I've chosen to live in Park City, Utah. There's an economy here and I get a lot of time to ski and mountain bike.

Good luck, enjoy the process of choosing where you want to be. Not everyone gets (or takes) that opportunity.

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Working in London there are tremendous opportunities afforded to me, however the cost of living is extortionate and as a result, I work full time and design freelance at evenings and weekends.

I've found that the design jobs out there aren't right for me and/or don't offer the salary I need to live comfortably. I much prefer freelancing albeit taking up my spare time. I also feel I learn skills I otherwise wouldn't be exposed to in the design industry that bulk out my skill set.

I spent the end of last year working as a business analyst/consultant in Spain and the Canaries, this year I'm working as a project manager after using my freelance earnings to pay for a PRINCE2 PM course.

If I really wanted to, I could knuckle down, take a pay cut and go full time as a designer, but to afford to live as I've become accustomed, it's not an option right now. When your accommodation costs £1250 a month ($2350), you don't have the options that you'd necessarily like.

That's the trade off with city life, always will be, but you have to look at what you want and your options for getting there.

I was originally thinking about settling down in Miami, since there are so many businesses requiring Graphic Design Services, but then started thinking that there are probably thousands of Designers there too. I still have a couple of years before completing my degree and getting out of the military, but wanted to start planning ahead of time.

I find in the US that any of the largest cities on the East or West coast are preferrable, though as plugz said the cost of living will be higher. Same is true in the Midwest: Larger city = better design market but cost of living is a little bit lower.

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Powerpoint is not a design application

Greetings, i'm also a designer-to-be in the second year of my studies (with another year to go). I am currently in Asia and i've been pondering this question a lot in my head as well, that is, where should i settle down and find a job. It would be helpful to know informations of the different industries in the world as well as some recommendations.

It's my dream, but since it's not so easy to pick up and move to another country, (and because I'm married with a kid), I can't.

I have always heard that Great Britain is amazing with design. Not sure if jobs are readily available, but in this economic climate in the U.S., maybe it would be better to go somewhere overseas.

don't move to Dayton, Ohio.

Hey thanks for the infos.

Move to the countryside Dorset, England! Best place to get work!!!!
Haha.

No, seriously.

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Hey Jhouse are you working there currently?? i actually like the prospect of countrysides and England is one of my most favoured choices now. Care to tell me more about it??

I been in Miami almost 5 years and is been getting worst in terms of the pay for a graphic designer.

Here is hard to find a job that pays you a decent salary and is worst when the cost of life is high.

Make some real research and think about it. You will find in craigslist that there are no jobs compare to cali or NY.

well good luck.

As a designer, you become better if you are comfortable in your surroundings and the inspirations around you, so the "best" place is different for everyone.

Up here in Glasgow, we have a number of top 20 UK agencies kicking about, very hard to get into - in Edinburgh too. A lot of big companies tend to spend their money in the UK as a whole, mostly american of course, and for the UK/Europe market. Personally, I like the design market up here.

When I lived in Northern California it was different of course. It suited me better, more laid back, and easy going. Wouldn't say there were better opportunities but the feeling and the enjoyment was better.

My two cents. I have also been looking at moving to New Zealand, but not for a bit yet. Their design market seems to be crying out for creatives.