DKV UNPAS Bandung: Designer Grafis yang "Laku di Pasar"

Melamar lowongan kerja untuk profesi desain grafis di luar negeri, dengan mudah bisa mengikuti standar kompetensi yang sudah ditetapkan. Dalam kasus di web Career Planning ini, mereka ibarat bursa tenaga kerja yang memberi layanan konsultansi pada para pencari kerja.

Semua data tentang kompetensi, gaji, dan prospek pekerjaan itu sudah tersedia, oleh lembaga pemerintah yang mengurus ketenagakerjaan. Lembaga ini pula yang menerbitkan standar profesi Graphic Designer, dalam bentuk handbook Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition. Dalam handbook itu dijelaskan mulai dari nature of work-nya, job deskripsinya, hingga proyeksi masa depan. Di dalam proyeksi itu bisa kita tahu ada berapa banyak jumlah orang yang berprofesi sebagai Graphic Designer.

Berdasarkan data-data itu, standar kompetensi dijabarkan lebih detil dalam jaringan O*NET, sebuah program nasional khusus layanan pencarian lowongan kerja, beserta kualifikasi yang diharapkan. Berikut penjelasan detil mengenai O*NET ini, dari web O*NET Online:

The O*NET program is the nation's primary source of occupational information. Central to the project is the O*NET database, containing information on hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors. The database, which is available to the public at no cost, is continually updated by surveying a broad range of workers from each occupation. Information from this database forms the heart of O*NET OnLine, an interactive application for exploring and searching occupations. The database also provides the basis for our Career Exploration Tools, a set of valuable assessment instruments for workers and students looking to find or change careers.

Menurut data dalam O*NET inilah, kita bisa tahu bahwa penjelasan tugas seorang desainer grafis di Amerika adalah sebagai berikut:

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
• Use computer software to generate new images.
• Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer.
• Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements as needed.
• Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Internet websites.
• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
• Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients and/or supervisors and making necessary changes.
• Study illustrations and photographs to plan presentation of materials, products, or services.
• Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.
• Develop negatives and prints to produce layout photographs, using negative and print developing equipment and tools.
• Photograph layouts, using camera, to make layout prints for supervisors or clients.
• Produce still and animated graphics for on-air and taped portions of television news broadcasts, using electronic video equipment.

Hal lainnya di bawah ini, berkaitan dengan persyaratan umum yang harus dipenuhi, dan ini sebenarnya bisa berlaku untuk berbagai profesi.

Knowledge Requirements for: "Graphic Designer"

• Computers and Electronics -- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language -- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Communications and Media -- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Design -- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Customer and Personal Service -- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Sales and Marketing -- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Fine Arts -- Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Skill Requirements for: "Graphic Designer"

• Time Management -- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Coordination -- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Active Listening -- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Judgment and Decision Making -- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Active Learning -- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Critical Thinking -- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Complex Problem Solving -- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Reading Comprehension -- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Monitoring -- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Social Perceptiveness -- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Ability Requirements for: "Graphic Designer"

• Originality -- The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Near Vision -- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Fluency of Ideas -- The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Visualization -- The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Speech Recognition -- The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Speech Clarity -- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Oral Comprehension -- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Inductive Reasoning -- The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Oral Expression -- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Category Flexibility -- The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Job Activities for: "Graphic Designer"

• Thinking Creatively -- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Interacting With Computers -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships -- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization -- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Sistem yang sudah dibangun di Amerika memang sudah lama dibuat, dan ini dikerjakan oleh departemen tenaga kerja mereka. Selain itu mereka bekerja sama dengan departemen lain, karena akan berurusan dengan kurikulum pendidikan yang bisa menghasilkan kompetensi seketat itu, dan ranahnya biasanya Bachelor dengan masa pendidikan kurang lebih 2-4 tahun. Di sini, baru akan dimulai.


UPDATE:
Akan ada standarisasi profesi desainer grafis, yang dirangkum dalam SKKNI. Berikut kutipan dari ADGI.

RSKKNI-Rancangan Standar Kompetensi Kerja Nasional Indonesia-Bidang Desain Grafis | Status: Persiapan
Surat yang diajukan oleh Adgi kepada Menkominfo perihal SKKNI sudah mendapatkan disposisi. Selanjutnya Adgi membentuk stakeholders yang terdiri dari praktisi dan pendidik, perwakilan Adgi Chapters dan pihak Depkominfo sebagai fasilitator untuk pelaksanaan pembuatan Rancangan SKKNI. Penyusunan Rancangan SKKNI bidang Desain Grafis ini mengacu kepada Peraturan Menteri Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi RI nomor 21/Men/X/2007 tentang Tatacara Penetapan Standar Kompetensi Kerja Nasional Indonesia. Setelah finalisasi SKKNI akan dibentuk LSP (Lembaga Sertifikasi Profesi) yang mana Adgi diberi kewenangan untuk melaksanakan pembentukan lembaga ini yang kegiatan operasionalnya berada di bawah pengawasan Badan Serfitikasi Nasional Indonesia (BSNI).

Detil mengenai SKKNI, sudah diterbitkan oleh ADGI, dan sudah dibahas di sini pada artikel SKKNI Desain Grafis