Explore Careers in Art & Design
The creative industries are mainly made up of small companies and micro-businesses, the majority of which employ fewer than ten people.
While the highest proportion of creative industry jobs are based in London, many opportunities are located elsewhere in the UK. The South East, East of England, North West, South West and Scotland are key regions.
The majority of companies may be small, but the sector also has large well-established organisations that recruit graduates. Examples include:
- Advertising – AMV BBDO, Grey UK, Leo Burnett London, McCann.
- Cultural heritage – English Heritage, National Trust, National Museum Wales, Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, National Galleries of Scotland.
- Design – Jaguar Land Rover, Harrods, AKQA, Big Active.
- Fashion – ASOS, Burberry, John Lewis & Partners, Marks & Spencer, Next.
- Film/TV – Ealing Studios, Elstree Studios, Endemol Shine UK, Pinewood Studios, Sony Pictures, ITV, BBC, Channel 4.
- Music – Opera North, Sony Music UK, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group.
- Publishing – Bloomsbury, HarperCollins UK, Oxford University Press, Penguin Random House.
- Video games – Codemasters, Creative Assembly, Rockstar North, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Sports Interactive.
Many design opportunities are found in design consultancies or advertising agencies.
In a sector where competition for jobs and graduate scheme places is high, self-employment is a viable option, as is freelancing.
You’ll therefore need to develop skills and experience through work experience and paid internships to build your body of work.
Samantha Townsend – Architect
Nick Brokenshire – Illustrator & Cartoonist
Laura Jamieson – Artist
Garth Gratix – Artist & Curator
Dave Webb – We Are Beard
Richard Sagar – Fairhurst Design Group
Chris Dorning – Artist
Dave Robinson – Freelance Artist
Shar – Automotive Designer
Caroline Burns – Art Teacher