DTP Graphic Designer Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information about the job description of a DTP graphic designer, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requires individuals seeking the job of a DTP graphic designer may be expected to fulfill to be employed.

What Does a DTP Graphic Designer Do?

A DTP graphic designer, also known as desktop publisher graphic designer, is a professional individual who utilizes specialized software to manage the editing and arrangement of materials for print and web publication.

He or she is responsible for using specialists and relevant computer software to ensure that printed materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, and brochures are well-designed, appealing, engaging, attractive, and easy to read.

In other words, a DTP graphic designer is saddled with the responsibility of using publishing software to create and develop various documents and products, which may include financial reports, business proposals, and various kinds of books, newspapers, newsletters, packaging tickets, and business cards.

They are also responsible for gathering, formatting, and combining text, numerical data, photographs, charts, illustrations, and several other types of visual elements. 

Their duties may also involve presenting final page layouts for the approval of clients, carrying out color separations before printing, and ensuring that digital files that are used to produce printing plates at commercial printers are well-prepared.

One of the major responsibilities of a DTP graphic designer is to layout page elements for published materials, which may include books, brochures, and magazine pages.

They are expected to use relevant and specialized layout and editing software to place a variety of elements, such as text blocks, illustrations, and images and ensure that these elements are integrated on each page.

Another important duty of a DTP graphic designer is to check page proofs throughout the whole publishing process to ensure that errors are eliminated and designs are accurate and correct.

Checking page proofs can be effectively accomplished with the use of computers, however, a DTP graphic designer should also examine printed materials to make sure that design elements are accurate between the computer program and printed materials.

Also, it is another crucial duty of a DTP graphic designer to work collaboratively with several team members which may include writers, designers, and editors, to efficiently prepare materials for publication, as they all have their different areas of specialization in the whole publishing process. 

DTP graphic designers are also saddled with the responsibility of determining text designs which involves deciding what text sizes and fonts should be used in the final publication.

They r may also be responsible for liaising directly with clients, which involves a meeting to discuss and understand requirements and specifications.

It is also part of their duties to edit and/or modify graphical elements with the use of relevant graphic design and image editing software.

To be hired for the DTP graphic designer role, candidates are usually required to possess certain skills and qualities that will enable them to be effective in performing their duties.

These include in-depth knowledge of graphic design, good editing skills, collaborative and interpersonal skills, strong verbal and written communication skills, the ability to pay particular attention to detail, and excellent time management skills.

In terms of academic qualifications needed to become a DTP graphic designer, candidates for the position are expected to have acquired at least a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or Editing, Graphic Arts, or Visual Arts, or in any other related field.

Employers also usually prefer candidates with several years of professional work in desktop publishing.

DTP Graphic Designer Job Description Example/Sample/Template

The DTP graphic designer job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Checking initial and final proofs for errors and ensuring that necessary corrections are made
• Working collaboratively with team members to modify texts and incorporate images
• Providing feedback, recommendations, directions, or suggestions throughout the whole publishing process
• Conferring directly with clients to discuss and negotiate requirements and specifications
• Editing and modifying graphical elements with the use of relevant graphic and image editing software
• Deciding text designs such as text sizes, fonts, and so on.

DTP Graphic Designer Job Description for Resume

You can make a captivating Professional Experience section for your new resume/CV by utilizing the sample DTP graphic designer job description above if you have worked or presently working as a graphic designer concentrating on desktop publishing.

The duties and responsibilities highlighted in the DTP graphic designer job description example above can be applied in expressing the duties you have carried out or currently performing in your resume’s Professional Experience.

This will be a proof that you have been effective performing the DTP graphic designer duties, which can greatly enhance your resume and increase your chances of being employed for the new job that you are applying for, especially if having some DTP graphic designing work experience is required to be hired.  

DTP Graphic Designer Requirements: Skills, Abilities, Knowledge for Career Success

Here are important skills, knowledge, and abilities usually required to be hired for the DTP graphic designer role and to be successful on the job and career:

• In-depth knowledge of graphic design, since a DTP graphic designer must be familiar with the guidelines and best practices of graphic design
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills that enable a DTP graphic designer to work effectively with team members
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as he or she is expected and required to confer directly with clients
• Ability to pay particular attention to detail which enables a DTP graphic designer to review proofs and ensure that published materials are error-free
• Several years of working professionally as a graphic designer in the desktop publishing space
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Graphic Arts, or Visual Arts.

Conclusion

Materials to be printed and published need to be efficiently and effectively well-designed, which requires the professionalism of a DTP graphic designer, as he or she is saddled with the necessary design skills to ensure that these materials are efficient and error-free.

This post is helpful to individuals interested in the DTP graphic designer career, to improve their knowledge of what the role entails.

It is also beneficial to employers/recruiters in making effective description for the DTP graphic designer position in their companies.