The Graphic Artists Guild is a professional organization dedicated to educating and protecting its members, with a focus on the economic and legal sides of being a creative professional.
About the Graphic Artists Guild
The Graphics Artists Guild members include illustrators, graphic designers, web designers and other creative professionals. The Guild works to protect the rights of these creatives, through both education and with their “Legal Defense Fund.” As stated in the Guild’s mission statement, they support creators at all skill levels. The Guild is perhaps best known for their published book, “The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines.” The book covers pricing and business practices across all types of design professions.
Member Benefits
The Graphic Artists Guild offers insurance benefits through USFSB. Plans vary by state and other variables, so check the Guild website for more information. Another major benefits of the Guild is the grievance committee. The committee will review a grievance submitted by a member, suggest solutions, and potentially help resolve issues directly. Along with these benefits, the Guild offers job referrals and professional discounts for products and services including art supplies, car rentals, hotels and portfolio consultation.
Job Opportunities
The Guild offers an online job search tailored to graphic artists. There is also a section dedicated to member portfolios, providing opportunities to find subcontractors or to be contacted for work. Once you’ve landed that perfect job, the Guild’s contract monitor helps members learn about reading contracts and protecting copyrights.