Graphic Design Jobs in Atlanta: Where to Look, What to Expect, and How to Stand Out

Atlanta has grown into a major hub for creative professionals, and graphic design is right in the middle of that growth. Whether you’re a student, a career changer, or an experienced designer moving to the city, Atlanta offers a wide range of graphic design job options—from agency roles in Midtown to in-house positions at corporations around Perimeter, Buckhead, and beyond.

This guide walks you through how graphic design jobs work in Atlanta, where to find them, typical salary expectations, local networking resources, and practical steps to get hired.

Why Atlanta Is a Strong City for Graphic Designers

Atlanta’s economy blends corporate headquarters, tech startups, media, film, and nonprofit work, which creates a steady demand for visual communication.

Local factors that support graphic design careers include:

• Corporate HQs and large employers (Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot, UPS, and others) that hire in-house designers.
• A growing film and TV production scene centered around places like Trilith Studios and Tyler Perry Studios.
• A strong agency and branding community in neighborhoods such as Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and West Midtown.
• Expanding tech and startup ecosystems in areas like Atlantic Station, Buckhead, and around Georgia Tech.

If you have skills in branding, digital design, UI/UX, social media graphics, motion graphics, or illustration, there are multiple directions to explore locally.

Common Types of Graphic Design Jobs in Atlanta

Graphic design work in Atlanta ranges from entry-level production roles to senior-level creative leadership.

In-House Corporate Designer

Many Atlanta-based companies maintain internal marketing and design teams. These roles often include:

• Designing presentations, brochures, reports, and sales materials
• Creating digital assets for email, web, and social media
• Supporting brand consistency across departments

You’ll find in-house roles in sectors like logistics, finance, real estate, healthcare, and higher education, not just in advertising.

Agency and Studio Roles

Atlanta has a competitive but active agency scene, including full-service advertising agencies, boutique branding studios, and digital-focused shops.

Common positions include:

• Junior / Mid-Level Graphic Designer
• Art Director / Associate Creative Director
• Production Designer
• Motion Graphics Designer

Work here is often fast-paced and client-driven, with exposure to many industries and campaigns.

Marketing & Social Media Design

Smaller businesses, restaurants, venues, and startups across Atlanta frequently hire designers (full-time or freelance) to handle:

• Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook graphics
• Event flyers and posters
• Email and landing page designs

If you’re comfortable with quick turnarounds and digital-first content, you’ll find plenty of opportunities, especially around high-traffic neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, West Midtown, and the BeltLine.

UI/UX and Product Design

With Atlanta’s growth as a tech and fintech hub, there is demand for designers who can bridge graphic design with:

• User interface (UI) design
• User experience (UX) flows and wireframes
• Design systems and app/web layout

These roles are common at local tech companies, startups, and software firms clustered around Tech Square (near Georgia Tech), Buckhead, Perimeter Center, and Alpharetta.

Freelance and Contract Work

Freelancing is common in Atlanta’s creative community. Local freelancers often:

• Work remote contracts for national clients
• Serve local small businesses, restaurants, artists, and nonprofits
• Take on short-term contracts via staffing agencies or creative recruiters

Co-working spaces like those in Ponce City Market, Midtown, and Downtown can also help you meet potential clients and collaborators.

Typical Salary Ranges for Graphic Design Jobs in Atlanta

Exact pay varies based on experience, specialization, and employer, but many designers in Atlanta see ranges in these general bands:

To narrow down current pay expectations, many applicants compare salaries across multiple job postings in metro Atlanta rather than relying on national averages.

What Skills Atlanta Employers Look For

Most graphic design jobs in Atlanta expect a mix of technical skills, creativity, and communication.

Core Design Skills

Commonly requested abilities include:

• Strong grasp of layout, typography, color, and composition
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Branding and logo design
• Preparing files for print and digital
• Portfolio that shows real-world projects and clear design thinking

Digital & Web-Related Skills

You’ll be more competitive in Atlanta’s market if you also bring:

• Experience with web graphics, responsive layouts, and social media content
• Familiarity with design tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD
• Understanding of basic UX principles, wireframing, or prototyping
• Ability to create assets for email campaigns, digital ads, and landing pages

Soft Skills

Across agencies and in-house teams, hiring managers often look for:

• Clear communication (especially with non-designers)
• Ability to take feedback and iterate quickly
• Time management in deadline-heavy environments
• Collaboration with marketing, copywriting, and development teams

Where to Find Graphic Design Jobs in Atlanta

You can explore roles using a mix of national job boards, local resources, and in-person networking.

Online Job Boards and Platforms

While large job sites are useful, filter specifically for “Atlanta, GA,” “hybrid Atlanta,” or neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, or Sandy Springs to spot local roles. Many companies in the area also list “Atlanta preferred” for hybrid positions.

Keywords to search:

• “Graphic Designer Atlanta”
• “Visual Designer Atlanta”
• “Junior Designer Atlanta”
• “Art Director Atlanta”
• “UI/UX Designer Atlanta” (if that overlaps your skills)

Local Atlanta Creative & Tech Communities

These communities often share job leads, portfolio review sessions, and events:

• AIGA Atlanta – The local chapter of a long-established design organization, hosting portfolio nights, talks, and meetups. Events frequently take place in Midtown, Downtown, and West Midtown.
• Atlanta UX & design meetups – Many are held near Tech Square, Ponce City Market, and Buckhead.
• Creative mornings and speaker events – Great for meeting art directors, studio owners, and marketing managers.

Look for events posted at creative hubs like Ponce City Market, King Plow Arts Center, and Atlanta Contemporary.

University & College Career Centers

If you’re a current student or recent grad, Atlanta-area schools often have design-related job boards and recruiting events, including:

• Georgia State University (GSU) – Downtown Atlanta
  • Career Services: 66 Courtland St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD Atlanta) –
  • SCAD Atlanta: 1600 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
• Georgia Tech – For roles that intersect design, computing, and human-computer interaction
  • Campus in Midtown: 225 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332

Even if you’re not an alum, many public events and portfolio shows are open to the community and can be valuable for networking.

Building a Portfolio That Works in Atlanta

Atlanta employers typically want to see practical, problem-solving design work, not just abstract exercises.

What to Include

Aim for a mix of:

• Branding projects (logos, visual identity, brand guidelines)
• Marketing collateral (flyers, brochures, one-sheets, trade show materials)
• Digital work (social media graphics, banner ads, email templates, web layouts)
• Case-study-style projects that explain:
  • The client or problem
  • Your role
  • The process (sketches, iterations)
  • The final outcome

If you don’t yet have client work, you can:

• Redesign the branding for a local Atlanta business, festival, or restaurant (clearly label it as a personal or concept project).
• Create a mock campaign for a local event like a BeltLine festival, neighborhood market, or sports game.

Local Touches That Can Help

Showing that you understand Atlanta’s look, culture, and audience can make your portfolio more relevant, especially for:

• Local agencies working with Atlanta-based clients
• In-house teams serving regional customers or donors
• Nonprofits and arts organizations focused on the city

Projects that feature Atlanta neighborhoods, landmarks, or local brands—again, clearly marked as conceptual if they are—can quickly signal your familiarity with the area.

Education, Training, and Classes in Atlanta

You don’t need a formal design degree for every graphic design job in Atlanta, but education and training can help—especially at the start of your career.

Formal Degree Programs

Atlanta-area institutions with design or related programs include:

• SCAD Atlanta – Graphic design, illustration, motion media, and more
  • 1600 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
• Georgia State University – Art and design programs through the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design
  • 15 Peachtree Center Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Kennesaw State University (metro area) – Visual arts and design-related programs
  • Main campus: 1000 Chastain Rd NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

Short Courses and Continuing Education

For working professionals or career changers in Atlanta:

• Local colleges sometimes offer evening or weekend classes in design software.
• Community art centers and creative hubs periodically host workshops in typography, branding, and digital design.

These shorter programs can be a good way to build portfolio pieces and connect with other creatives in the city.

Networking and Events for Designers in Atlanta

Many graphic design jobs in Atlanta are filled through connections and referrals, not just online applications.

Where to Meet Other Designers

You can look for:

• Design meetups in Midtown, Ponce City Market, and West Midtown
• Art walks, gallery shows, and creative events in areas like Castleberry Hill, Edgewood, and the Old Fourth Ward
• Talks and panels at local universities, creative agencies, or co-working spaces

When you attend, aim to:

• Bring a simple business card or a QR code to your portfolio
• Follow up with new contacts on LinkedIn or via email within a day or two
• Offer to share work, provide feedback, or collaborate on small projects

Creative Workspaces and Hubs

Co-working and creative spaces around Atlanta can be good environments to meet potential clients or teammates:

• Spaces in Ponce City Market, Midtown, Downtown, and the BeltLine corridor often host events with marketing teams, founders, and freelancers.
• Maker and art spaces near West End, West Midtown, and East Atlanta sometimes maintain bulletin boards or newsletters with calls for design help.

How to Apply for Graphic Design Jobs in Atlanta Effectively

To improve your chances of landing interviews:

Tailor Your Materials

• Customize your resume and portfolio to match each job description.
• Highlight software and experience that match the specific needs of the role (e.g., print-heavy vs. digital-heavy).
• If the company is clearly Atlanta-focused, demonstrate familiarity with the city’s audience, culture, or industry.

Prepare for Local Interview Expectations

Hiring managers in Atlanta commonly ask for:

• Walkthroughs of 2–3 portfolio projects, including your process
• Examples of how you handled tight deadlines or feedback
• How you collaborate with writers, marketers, and developers

If the role is hybrid, be ready to discuss your ability to commute to specific neighborhoods (e.g., Buckhead, Midtown, Perimeter) during certain days of the week.

Freelancing as a Graphic Designer in Atlanta

If you’re considering freelance work, Atlanta’s mix of small businesses and creative industries can be a strong market.

How Freelancers Find Work Locally

Freelancers often:

• Reach out directly to restaurants, boutiques, fitness studios, and venues in areas like Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, West Midtown, and Grant Park.
• Partner with local printers, photographers, and marketing consultants who need design collaborators.
• Accept short-term in-house contracts at agencies or corporations through staffing firms.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Freelancers

• Factor in commute time and MARTA access when meeting clients in person.
• Include travel or on-site time in your rates for meetings around the metro area (e.g., from Midtown to Alpharetta or Peachtree City).
• Consider a co-working membership in a central location if you want a professional space to meet clients.

Government & Public Resources That May Help

While there isn’t a government office solely for graphic design jobs, several public resources in Atlanta can support job seekers and small business owners:

• WorkSource Atlanta – Offers job search assistance, training programs, and career services.
  • 818 Pollard Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA 30315
  • Main phone (frequently listed for inquiries): (404) 546-3000
• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System – Many branches have computers, software access, and business-related workshops.
  • Central Library: 1 Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) in the metro area – Useful if you’re starting a freelance or small design business and need help with planning and operations.

These resources can help you improve your job search skills, build a freelance business, or connect with local employers.

If you’re pursuing graphic design jobs in Atlanta, focus on building a strong, relevant portfolio, staying active in local creative circles, and targeting roles that match both your skills and the city’s industries—corporate, tech, agency, arts, and everything in between.