What is Graphic Design?
Graphic Design is a way to represent the content or ideas visually. In other words, it is the process of composing and arranging the visual content of an individual's task or project. Graphic designers apply techniques like visual hierarchy, typography, and attractive pictures to meet user's requirements. Nowadays, everyone engages in some graphic design tasks daily, whether coloring a spreadsheet for work or adding text to an image for social media use. You engage in graphic design if you're producing visual material.
Elements in Graphic Designing
Graphic designers use specific visual elements to create an attractive project. Designers can apply its components to create compelling visuals. These elements include Color, Line, Shape, Form, Texture, Size, and Space. Apart from these elements, some visual concept elements are guidelines graphic designers use to achieve attractive compositions. Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Proportion, Rhythm, and Movement.
What is Typography?
Typography means how to do arranging type, changing type, and designing type. Illustration techniques are used to create and modify type glyphs or characters. The choice of typefaces, point size, line spacing, the space between two particular characters, and the space between all characters used make up the type arrangement. Typographers, compositors, graphic artists, art directors, and secretarial staff perform typography. Before the advent of the internet, typography was a specialized field of work. Some fonts convey stereotypes or are similar to them.
Tools Used by a Graphic Artist
There are a set of tools graphic designers use to complete their piece of designing task assigned by their company or a personal task.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Canva
- After Effects
- Figma
- CorelDRAW
- Blender
- Inkscape
- Sketch
Different Types of Graphic Design
There are various types of design. Here, we describe the most usable cases of graphic designing in many fields.
1) Web Design: However, these terms, web design and graphic design, are different. A graphic designer works on visual elements that are used in a website. Designing a website is challenging and different from making simple logos or brochures. It is not as easy as it sounds. To design a website, the Designer must have a deep knowledge of User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI). A web designer work on various project such as:
- Constructing a web page layout
- Creating buttons and icons
- Videos and GIFs
- Images and illustrations, etc.
2) Brand Design: It sets standards and best practices for a business to follow across all branded materials to maintain a compatible brand identity. To effectively communicate a company's tone, essential messages, etc. Brand designers use a lot of strategies to make the brand design effective. A brand designer is responsible for doing these tasks.
- Creates and selects font and typography guidelines
- Creates product design
- Design letterheads, icons, and other illustrations
- Creates brand colours and rules for how to use
3) Marketing and Ads Design: Designers work for this type of design to make advertisements, like promotional emails, newsletters, posters, billboards, catalogues, packaging, etc. Also, digital marketing ads, such as television ads, social media ads or posts, video ads, etc.
4) Publication or Editorial Design: This type of graphic design is used to create layouts and artwork such as graphics, illustrations, photography, etc. In this realm of design, the artist works on books, magazines, podcasts, newspapers, and more. It is still a highlighted part of printing and digital editorial publications.
4) Motion Design: This design area is growing and developing, and profiles for motion graphic designers are increasing. In this type of design, the designers do basic and advanced-level motion designing. It comprises animations, trailer videos, banners, video games, and many more.
5) Packaging Design: It is marked as an essential marketing tool. In this area, graphic designers develop print-ready files, concepts, mockups, etc. Designers must know print processes along with industrial design and manufacturing. Packaging graphic designers also monitor market trends and competitor products to create packaging that appeals to customers.
6) Illustration Design: Illustrations are frequently used in web, marketing, and brand design. Some designers work with larger design teams, providing individual assets for different projects and only concentrate on providing illustrations. Illustration design can include:
- Marketing Campaigns
- Children's books
- Cards and stationery items
- T-shirts and other costumes
7) Infographic Design: It is represented in 2D illustrations used in the website as a video form. In this section, designers create the design to explain information and complex problems through 2D solutions. For example, pie charts and bar diagrams quickly view complex data, and minimal context provides an easy-to-understand concept about a topic.
After getting a detailed view of the various types of graphic design, you are also curious about the history of graphic design. Here, we have provided a brief history of graphic designing.
History of Graphic Designing
In human history, graphic design relates to a new idea in the arts and communication. Graphic Design was first used in San Francisco in 1908 and in an advertisement for a course on Graphic Design and Lettering at the California School of Arts and Crafts, Berkeley, in 1918.
The creation of graphic design is not the newest. However, this word was used when the term appeared in an academic setting, leading to the formalization of graphic design as a method and approach that could be taught. It is associated with how to handle the form, material, typography, colour, etc. would also be established.
Difference Between Graphic Design & Web Design
The terms graphic design and web design are different from each other. Those significant differences are differentiated in the below section.
Graphic Designing | Web Designing |
Graphic designers are responsible for creating digital media content visually to express a message or idea. | Web design is the process of creating user interfaces and visually appealing websites. Effectively, it covers user experience, website design, etc. |
There are some terms for creating design, like logos, posters, brochures, branding materials, etc. | Website designers use a variety of elements, such as layout, navigation, user interface, user experience, and numerous other terms, to create functional and attractive websites. |
Graphic designers play with various elements, such as typography, colour theory, layout techniques, etc. - | Web designers consider user interaction when creating a website to guarantee usability, accessibility, and responsiveness across various devices and screen sizes. |
The main objective of static designs is to show a particular message or thought digitally or visually. | Web designers use front-end development languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create web pages. |
How to Become a Graphic Designer?
First, you need a degree in graphic design from a reputable college or university. Learn the fundamentals of graphic designing, along with designing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, etc. These are widely used and the most popular software in the design field.
Practice regularly by creating various designs and different styles. Working on various projects to develop your skills is practice. Also, be updated with current trends in design through books, tutorials, workshops, design communities, etc. Build your portfolio and include various projects showing your abilities and creativity. Building a portfolio is essential to convince clients or employers of your abilities.
Look for an internship to enhance your skills and knowledge with live projects in a company. You can improve your skills and expand your professional network with these experiences. Participate in workshops or online design communities. Connecting with professionals and gaining knowledge from others.
After that, look for entry-level jobs in companies like publishing houses, advertising agencies, design firms, or internal design departments of businesses to gain experience in your field.
Future of Graphic Designing
The need for digital graphic design is growing because people depend highly on digital platforms. They receive news, make payments online, and do many other tasks digitally. In addition, designers must grow their skills to create content for various digital platforms like websites, social media, etc. Motion graphics, animation, and interactive design are becoming more popular in this digital life. These designers will be in high demand in the future because they can create creative content for websites, advertisements, apps, etc.
Conclusion
This article is all about graphic design. We have discussed various types of graphic designing, history, elements, and tools, and we have differentiated between web and graphic designers. Additionally, we have described important terms for being a graphic designer and the future scope of graphic design.