In the past five years, graphic design has been the fastest growing area of design. All the signs are that this is set to continue, according to Andrew Bradley of Bradley McGurk Partnership, management consultants in corporate identity and design strategy.

"About 6,000 people work in the design professions in Ireland and about one-third of these are in graphic design," he says. About 30 per cent of graphic designers work in-house in companies, while the rest are employed by consultancy companies, he adds.

In Ireland, the design sector enjoys an annual turnover of some £240 million. The field of graphic design contributes £170 million of this.

Salaries, too, have seen an increase. "Five years ago, people were starting on about £12,000 a year," says Bradley, "but nowadays designers coming out of college can command £15,000. Someone with a first-class degree, who is talented and streetwise, could get between £18,000 to £20,000. There's a big demand for graphic designers and they are in short supply. Irish companies are now hiring in Britain."

There are two main routes into graphic design - via degree programmes in the DIT and NCAD or through diploma courses available in some ITs. A degree, says Bradley, gives you a level of intellectual competence and academic training, but the ITs are producing very competent designers."

At the end of the day, he says, it's the quality of your portfolio that counts. A good portfolio and a 2:2 degree is more attractive to an employer than a first and a mediocre portfolio, he says.

All but one of the courses available are offered through the CAO. The four-year NCAD degree programme in design - visual communications is offered via direct entry; the latest date for applications for admission in the year 2000 is January 28th, 2000.

Although you'll need the minimum Leaving Cert entry requirements - two C3s at higher level and four other passes to include Irish, English and art or a third language - applicants are selected on the basis of their portfolios.

The DIT offers only 25 places in graphic design but far more people apply, according to John O'Connor, head of the school of art, design and printing. Applicants must submit a portfolio.

"We're looking for the potential to think creatively and to communicate creatively," says O'Connor. "Essentially, design is about communicating. You are communicating with images. You need to be able to think laterally rather than linearly."

It tends to be the case that, if you'are good at art, you will be a good graphic designer, he says.

In the year 2000, Letterkenny IT will scrap portfolio assessment as a means of entry to its design (graphics) programme. Students who apply for the programme are aware of what graphic design entails, says the head of Letterkenny's design department, Owen McGonagle, "and they are very focused when they apply. We are interested in bright, intelligent students. Non-intellectual students would do poorly on our course."

To be a successful graphic designer you need, talent, creative ability and flair. Self-confidence is vital. You have to come up with original ideas and have the confidence to suggest them to clients, Andrew Bradley says.