What is graphic design?
Let’s begin with the basics. What is graphic designing? The creation of visual compositions is graphic design. It uses typography, images, colors, and forms to communicate ideas and solve problems. Graphic design is a diverse field with many different specializations. There’s more than one way to achieve this.
Each type of graphic design has skills and techniques, although they may overlap. Some designers focus on one kind of graphic design, while others concentrate on a group of related and similar types. Designers must be able to adapt and learn new things constantly, as the industry is always changing.
Understanding the eight types of graphic design can help you find the best skills for any job, whether you’re an aspiring designer or you need design services for your company.
Different Types of Graphic Design
- Visual identity
- Marketing & advertising
- User interface
- Publication
- Packaging
- Motion
- Environmental
- Art and illustration
Visual identity
A brand is the relationship between an organization or business and its target audience. Brand identity is how an organization expresses its personality, tone, essence, memories, emotions, and experiences. Visual identity graphic design is just that: visual elements that communicate intangible qualities of a brand through images, colors, and shapes.
Designers who specialize in visual identity graphics work with stakeholders to create assets such as Logo design ideas, fonts, color palettes, and image libraries, which represent the personality of a brand. Designers often create visual brand guidelines that include examples of visual branding across different media. These style guides are used in addition to standard corporate stationary and business cards. These guidelines ensure that the brand is consistent across all future applications.
The most common type of design is visual identity design. To create elements of design that work across visual media, graphic designers of visual identity must have a broad knowledge of all forms of graphic design. Also, they must have excellent communication skills, creative and conceptual abilities, and a passion for researching industries and organizations.
Marketing & advertising
Most people associate graphic design with designs used in marketing and advertising.
Successful marketing is essential for companies to influence the decision-making of their target audiences. Marketing that works engages people by focusing on their wants, needs, and awareness, as well as the satisfaction they feel about a brand, product, or service. Graphic design is a great way to promote and communicate better because people are likelier to engage with visual content.
Marketing designers create marketing assets in collaboration with marketing professionals, company directors, or managers. They may work as part of a creative or in-house team or alone. Designers may specialize in one type of media, such as magazine ads or vehicle wraps, or they can create collateral suitable for digital, print, and other platforms. Traditionally centered on track, this design type has expanded to include digital assets. This is especially useful for content marketing and digital advertisements.
Examples:
- Postcards and flyers
- Magazine and newspaper ads
- Posters, banners and billboards
- Infographics
- Brochure designing (print and digital)
- Vehicle wraps
- Signage and trade show displays
- Email marketing templates
User interface
A user interface is how a person interacts with an application or device. UI design is a process that involves designing interfaces in a way that they are easy to use and offer a pleasant user experience.
In the context of graphic designing, UI design focuses primarily on the visual experience of the user and the design and layout of on-screen elements such as buttons, menus, and micro-interactions. A UI designer must balance aesthetic appeal and technical functionality.
UI designers are experts in mobile apps, desktop apps, web applications, and games. They work closely together with UX designers (user experience designers) (who decide how the app will work) and UI programmers (who create code).
Examples:
- Web page design
- Theme design (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)
- Game interfaces
- App design
Publication
Publications are longer-form pieces that communicate with an audience via public distribution. Print has been the traditional medium for publications. Publication design has been a conventional type of design for years. Think books, magazines, newspapers and catalogs. Digital publishing has seen a recent rise.
Graphic designers who specialize in publishing work with editors and publishers to create layouts using carefully selected typography, as well as accompanying artwork that includes photography, graphics, and illustrations. Publication designers can work as independent contractors, as creative agency members, or as in-house employees of publishing companies.
Examples:
- Books
- Newspapers
- Newsletters
- Directories
- Annual reports
- Magazines
- Catalogs
Packaging
Packaging is required for most products to protect and prepare them before storage, distribution, and sale. Packaging design can communicate directly with consumers. This makes it a precious marketing tool. Each box, bag, can, container or canister, and bottle, canister, and canister is an opportunity to tell the brand’s story.
Packaging designers develop concepts, create mockups, and create print-ready files. It requires a thorough understanding of industrial design, manufacturing, and print processes. Packaging design is a multi-disciplinary field, so it’s common for designers to create other assets, such as photography and illustrations, for a product.
Packaging designers can be generalists, or they may specialize in one type of packaging or industry (such as food or toys for children). They must have excellent conceptual and problem-solving skills, as well as a solid working knowledge of industrial and print design. To meet the needs of clients, manufacturers, and marketers, they must be flexible and aware of current trends.
Motion
Motion graphics are simply graphics in motion. It can be animation, audio, or typography. Images, videos, and other effects are also used on television, in film, and online. In recent years, the popularity of this medium has skyrocketed as technology improved and videos became king.
The term “Motion Graphics Designer” is relatively new for designers. Initially reserved for television and film, technology has reduced costs and production times, making this art form more affordable and accessible. Motion graphics are one of the latest types of design, and they can be found on all digital platforms. This has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
Examples:
- Title sequences and end credits
- Advertisements
- Animated Logo design ideas
- Trailers
- Presentations
- Promotional videos
- Tutorial videos
- Websites
- Apps
- Video games
- Banners
- GIFs
Environmental
Visually connecting people with places, environmental graphic design improves their overall experience. It does this by making spaces more memorable, engaging, informative, or more accessible to navigate. Here are some examples of environmental design.
Examples:
- Signage
- Wall murals
- Museum exhibitions
- Office branding
- Public transportation navigation
- Retail store interiors
- Stadium branding
- Event and conference spaces
The wayfinding design is an environmental graphic that uses landmarks, signage, and visual cues to help people find their destination without getting lost.
Art and illustration
Graphic design and illustration are not the same thing. Designers use compositions to solve problems and communicate, while visual artists and illustrators produce original artwork. Art can take many forms, from fine art and decoration to illustrations for storytelling.
Graphic Design is a broad term that includes visual art, illustration, and other types of design.
Examples:
- T-shirt design
- Graphic patterns for textiles
- Motion graphics
- Stock images
- Graphic novels
- Video games
- Websites
- Comic books
- Album art
- Book covers
- Picture books
- Infographics
- Technical illustration
- Concept art
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