If you’ve spent your high school years sketching in the back of your books or wondering why some Kenyan brands have such local looking logos while others look world class, let’s talk about making that your career. We’re moving past the drawing phase and into the real business of Visual Communication Design , that’s the actual name of the degree you’ll find at places like UoN or Technical University of Kenya (TUK). You could also go for a Bachelor of Design at Kenyatta University or Multimedia University. You’ll need a C+ and cluster points around 30 to 38 to get a slot in your preferred university. Here’s a sisterly advice: the degree is just the paper ( I know I've probably overused this statement, but it's because you really need to understand that your actual skill matter more than your degree). ) The way navigator in this industry will always be your portfolio. While your lecturers are teaching you theory, you need to be under your duvet mastering the three master appliances: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. If you want to actually make good cash, don't just stop at posters. Learn UI/UX (designing how apps like M-Pesa look) or Motion Graphics. These are the high value skills that separate the pros from the Canva designers. You can land a job at big ad agencies like Scanad or Ogilvy, or even in house for banks and telcos. Internships at places like Standard Group or Nation usually give you a stipend of Ksh 15,000 to 25,000, I know it’s small, but it’s where you get your first real projects. A fresh grad in a decent firm starts at Ksh 40,000 to 65,000, but as a Senior Designer, you can easily hit Ksh 150,000+. If you prefer a more educational sided path, don't sleep on teaching. You can become a TVET trainer in Technical Colleges or a Lecturer at the uni. For TVET, you'll start around Ksh 45,000 to 55,000 with good job security and holidays. To be a lecturer, you’ll eventually need a Masters, but it’s a respected path where you shape the next generation of creatives. This is an ultimate career for self employment. You can be your own boss, freelancing for clients in Europe or the US from your laptop in Nairobi and earning in dollars. But because it's so easy to start, everyone is doing it. You aren’t just competing with other graduates; you’re competing with every person who watched a 10-minute YouTube tutorial. It’s a massive hustle and the market is relatively crowded. To stand out and prove you’re a professional (and not just a random guy with a laptop), you should look into joining the Association of Designers of Kenya (ADKE). It gives you that street creditials and connects you to serious mentors. AI isn't going to take your job, but it will make things faster, the real threat is just staying relevant in a sea of people who can all design for cheap. If you’re ready to grind, keep your eyes on the pixels.

If you’ve spent your high school years sketching in the back of your books or wondering why some Kenyan brands have such local looking logos while others look world class, let’s talk about making that your career. We’re moving past the drawing phase and into the real business of Visual Communication Design , that’s the actual name of the degree you’ll find at places like UoN or Technical University of Kenya (TUK). You could also go for a Bachelor of Design at Kenyatta University or Multimedia University. You’ll need a C+ and cluster points around 30 to 38 to get a slot in your preferred university. Here’s a sisterly advice: the degree is just the paper ( I know I've probably overused this statement, but it's because you really need to understand that your actual skill matter more than your degree). ) The way navigator in this industry will always be your portfolio. While your lecturers are teaching you theory, you need to be under your duvet mastering the three master appliances: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. If you want to actually make good cash, don't just stop at posters. Learn UI/UX (designing how apps like M-Pesa look) or Motion Graphics. These are the high value skills that separate the pros from the Canva designers. You can land a job at big ad agencies like Scanad or Ogilvy, or even in house for banks and telcos. Internships at places like Standard Group or Nation usually give you a stipend of Ksh 15,000 to 25,000, I know it’s small, but it’s where you get your first real projects. A fresh grad in a decent firm starts at Ksh 40,000 to 65,000, but as a Senior Designer, you can easily hit Ksh 150,000+. If you prefer a more educational sided path, don't sleep on teaching. You can become a TVET trainer in Technical Colleges or a Lecturer at the uni. For TVET, you'll start around Ksh 45,000 to 55,000 with good job security and holidays. To be a lecturer, you’ll eventually need a Masters, but it’s a respected path where you shape the next generation of creatives. This is an ultimate career for self employment. You can be your own boss, freelancing for clients in Europe or the US from your laptop in Nairobi and earning in dollars. But because it's so easy to start, everyone is doing it. You aren’t just competing with other graduates; you’re competing with every person who watched a 10-minute YouTube tutorial. It’s a massive hustle and the market is relatively crowded. To stand out and prove you’re a professional (and not just a random guy with a laptop), you should look into joining the Association of Designers of Kenya (ADKE). It gives you that street creditials and connects you to serious mentors. AI isn't going to take your job, but it will make things faster, the real threat is just staying relevant in a sea of people who can all design for cheap. If you’re ready to grind, keep your eyes on the pixels.