What Exactly Is Graphic Design?
Graphic design is an art, career and academic field whose basic activity is in designing visual, communicative communications meant to transmit certain specific messages to specific social groups, often with strategic goals. The use of graphic design techniques, however, goes far beyond mere communication. As an art form, graphic design communicates particular meaning through a variety of different channels. These channels include but are not limited to signage, television programs, films, books, magazines, computer software, and other forms of artistic expression. The field of graphic design involves a number of sub-disciplines that include typography, illustration, picture design, psychology and sociology.
In order to communicate effectively, graphic design elements need to be clearly defined and understood. The success of a graphic design project therefore hinges on having an understanding of how to lay out the graphic design plan. The primary concern is to establish clear, concise identification markers such as your target audience, the message you want to convey, the general tone or feel you need to set, and your organizational or creative objectives. Once these identification markers have been clearly established, you then need to decide what visual identity you want to build. Identifying the visual identity allows you to establish which channels, products, and/or services your company offers. It also allows you to establish the look and feel you need to impart to your clients.
In addition, graphic design is also concerned with typography. It is necessary to convey clear and readable communication by using fonts, font sizes, and color combinations appropriately. At the same time, the typography has to be functional, convenient, readable and easy to read. By taking all these aspects into consideration, graphic design becomes a way to solve problems and communicate ideas.
Environmental graphic design, on the other hand, is concerned with using images to solve problems and communicate ideas. Environmental graphic design looks at the bigger picture. An environmental graphic design focuses on the entire ecosystem of an area, including humans and their interactions with the environment, rather than a singular problem or area. Graphic designers create environments that encourage people to think, act and be part of something bigger than themselves. An environmental graphic design company works to promote awareness in communities about environmental issues. These companies often create advertisements and posters for local, state and national government agencies.
User research is the process of soliciting feedback from users to find out what they think about your product or service. Graphic designers use user research to find out what people think about your website and also to help increase the usability of your product or service. User research is essential to solving problems. Often, graphic designers do not rely on user research to solve problems, but if they do it is often at the expense of the final product. Without user research, a graphic designer might miss important clues that could help him or her find a creative solution to a customer’s problem.
An education is essential to becoming a good graphic designer. However, many graphic designers work without further formal training. Many graphic designers work part time jobs, without receiving any formal education. The majority of graphic designers work in design studios, receiving a basic education before being exposed to the design world.