A degree in design studies gives you many options – you could even become the next James Dyson

James Dyson, inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner and most recently the super-fast Airblade hand dryer, is proof that a degree in design can quite literally make you a household name. Dyson studied at the Byam Shaw School of Art before doing a furniture and interior design degree at the Royal College of Arts.

Design degree courses equip you with a combination of practical and theoretical skills. Most design graduates will have specialised in a specific area, for example 2D- or 3D-design such as graphics or illustration, product or web design, fashion or textiles, building design and photography or interior design, but there are courses that give an overview of the whole process, so widening your career options.

What skills have you gained?

You will have gained a number of transferable skills of interest to employers, most notably your ability to think creatively and come up with fresh ideas. Other skills include resourcefulness, self-motivation, decision-making and an ability to work independently and as part of a team, as well as good organisational and communication skills and expertise in IT.

What jobs can you do?

Of 2009 design graduates, nearly 66% went straight into employment. Most (35.4%) ended up working in the arts, design or culture industries. A quarter (25.5%) found jobs in the retail, clerical or secretarial sector, though many initially work outside their career field while they attempt to find their feet.

Degree in design Photograph: Graphic

Margaret Holbrough, careers adviser at Graduate Prospects, says: "A specialist design degree will lead to a specific career area but an interdisciplinary design studies course equips graduates with visual communication and management skills to enable them to develop their career in roles such as design consultant, art director or project manager in any of the creative industries. Design graduates are of interest to organisations operating in the advertising, multimedia, media and broadcasting and publishing and promotional industries."

In addition, "There may be opportunities for careers as retail buyers and visual merchandisers, internal communications or marketing managers, account and brand managers or in media sales and buying," Holbrough says.

Postgraduate study?

In 2009, 3.1% of design graduates opted for further study in areas such as animation, interior design or design management. Self-employment is often a desirable option, so some design graduates take a course in business, finance, marketing or management to supplement their degree.

Data supplied by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit and Graduate Prospects