If you enjoy creating works of art, you might want to consider pursuing an online art and design degree. By participating in an online art and design degree program, you can learn more about using a variety of different materials to communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas through works of art. For the most part, those who are interested in obtaining an art and design degree want to become an art director, a craft artist, a fine artist or illustrator. Those who are interested in becoming an art director or illustrator are the ones who are the most likely to find success through an online school.

Art directors are responsible for developing designs that will be used in print or digital media, such as online publications, newspapers and periodicals. Their goal is to make the materials as visually appealing as possible by organizing the layout of the artwork, photographs and more.

Illustrators, on the other hand, are responsible for creating the illustrations that accompany greeting cards, wrapping paper, calendars and other forms of media. Some illustrators choose to specialize in a specific area of illustration, such as medical and scientific illustration.

In order to launch a career in art and design, you generally need to earn a bachelor’s degree first. This is particularly true when it comes to working as an illustrator or art director. When completing the coursework necessary for an art and design degree online, you will take coursework in design concepts as well as in computers. If you are pursuing a career as a medical illustrator, you will also need to take coursework in medical procedures as well as human and/or animal anatomy.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of art directors was $68,100 in 2006. Those who worked in advertising and related services earned $70,630, while those who worked as multi-media artists earned $51,350.