From the logo on your shirt to the design of your favourite soft drink, most of the products around us are designed by a graphic designer. But it’s not just products, it’s the websites we browse to the services we use. In short, they have a large say in our visual experience.
What is Graphic Design?
It is the creation of visual communications using methods like imagery, typography, and layout to convey various messages to a customer base or audience. It typically involves the blending of artistic skills and technical know-how to maximise the effectiveness of the produced work.
Who Are Graphic Designers and What Do They Do?
Graphic designers find themselves spread out across multiple types of projects and have a wide range of responsibilities that change with said projects.
Responsibilities
- Design Print Layouts: This can include the production of business cards, flyers, newspapers, magazine advertisements, and pretty much anything physical for the audience.
- Artwork: They can create artwork through various mediums; drawings, sketches, digital design and traditional art.
- Website Designs: Although this would require skills in all areas of modern web design, graphic designers can create web pages from scratch or by filling out pre-designed templates.
- Digital Advertising Designs: The creation of tailored designs in the required formatting that is in line with the specific business or product.
- Motion Graphics Creation: These can range from social media GIFs, Memes, and videos used to advertise products online.
- Branding A huge part of the role is the creation of a company or product’s overall brand. This can be from the brand’s colour to its logo design, all aiding in communicating the desired image of the brand to its existing customer base or potential new customers.
- Developing Content: When a business launches a new product or service, graphic designers will create material to promote the products on its website and social media platforms.
Skills
- Creativity: Graphic designers are required to think creatively, with the ability to create fresh designs.
- Visual Communication: They need to be able to convey a message through visual elements, in a way, communicate with images.
- Understand Typography: An extensive knowledge of fonts and their use in design, as well as what they can convey.
- Colour Theory: Understand how colours can evoke certain emotions through colour psychology.
- Layout Design: For maximum visual appeal, knowing how to arrange various elements on the page is a huge skill.
- Technical Skill: Â Highly skilled in design software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential.
What Jobs Require Graphic Designers?
They are typically very sought after in various industries with some of the common job roles that require graphic designers being:
- Marketing Departments: Here, they would be required to design marketing materials that range from brochures, flyers, and social media graphics.
- Advertising: Creation of print ads, billboards, and digital banners for advertising campaigns.
- Publishing Companies: Create the designs for book covers, layouts, and illustrations.
- Web Design Companies: Creating websites that are visually appealing as well as the user interface.
There are many more roles but here are some more that need the skills of a graphic designer, Branding Agencies, Game Development Studios, and even Film and Television Production.
In Summary: Becoming a Graphic Design Expert
To become a master of anything, the basics must be learned first. In this case, visual composition, layout, colour theory, and typography. By applying this knowledge, experts of the craft create layouts, logos, and visual designs with ease. These should appeal and serve a vital purpose.
It does help to learn the necessary in university, and then continue to practice them over and over before pursuing a career. However, there are other ways to acquire a role in graphic design, which you can read about here in an interview with a graphic designer below:
