Today’s post continues a series of answers to frequently asked questions in the fields of design. Given the constant interest in graphic design issues, we have collected the most popular questions for our readers.
They cover the following topics:
- What is graphics?
- What are the creative directions of graphic design?
- What is graphics?
- Why is graphic design important?
- What are the skills required to succeed in graphic design?
- Let’s start with theory, practice and a large collection of examples from studio designers.
What is graphics?
Graphic design is a professional field of human activity that is located at the crossroads of visual arts, communication, psychology and other areas of expertise. Graphic designers create means and means of communication with the help of graphic (visual) elements: images of various styles and complexity, photographs, texts and fonts, icons, shapes and sizes, colors and shades, lines and curves, layouts, etc.
A graphic designer creates graphics to convey a message, thus making it functional. Graphic design can be characterized as a creative field where talents are not applied in pure art, but as an art created for the purpose of communication.
What are the creative directions of graphic design?
Graphic design today is a wide range of applications for artistic talents in various forms. For example, graphic design involves creating:
- illustration;
- brand identity (logo and identity);
- pictograms and icons;
- typography ;
- user interfaces and their elements;
- ad;
- graphic objects for animated videos and cartoons;
- large printed images such as posters and billboards;
- graphic processing;
- computer graphics;
- packaging development, etc.
Regardless of the purpose and direction, the main purpose of graphic design is to serve a specific goal or set of goals with the means and methods of art.
What are the creative directions of graphic design?
What is graphics?
Most professionals in this field do not position themselves and do not call themselves artists. Defining art, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes it as “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination, especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” Art objects are valued primarily for their beauty, aesthetic value and emotional appeal. And none of this is the main goal of design.
The work of graphic designers can be described as creating a bridge between art and functional and resolute design. They combine the power of art and functionality for specific goals and specific audiences. “Good design is very similar to clear thinking done visually,” said Edward Tufte, and it is an excellent definition that demonstrates the aspiration of graphic designers.
It is easy to see that graphic design encompasses various aspects of human life related to visual communication, from books and posters to complex mobile applications or 3D animation. Through research, analysis and testing, graphics improve usability, strengthen branding and deliver positive user experiences through interfaces. It is in this case that art and functionality merge and combine to make people happier by solving problems and satisfying desires.
Why is graphic design important?
This question is often asked and difficult to answer. One of the reasons why this professional field is so widespread in our lives is that humans are primarily visual creatures. We tend to perceive images faster than words or text. We are influenced by colors and shapes. We respond to signs and symbols. We need clues and a visual hierarchy. We are addicted to emotions and feelings, and the graphics create that.
It rarely happens that a graphic design element serves only one purpose. Let’s look at the main tasks that he performs.
Identification
This aspect mainly concerns branding, mainly logos, which lay the foundation of a brand’s strategy. Designers must consider many factors related to the target audience, the laws and regulations of artistic harmony, the psychology of color and form, the impact on a person’s perception and emotions, current market conditions and the business goals of a brand or company. In addition, the visuals are memorable, which increases the brand awareness.
Aesthetic
Aesthetics means a lot because it functions as a hook for users or viewers perceiving the visual material from advertisements to book covers, cartoons, user interfaces of all kinds, packaging, photographs, etc.An attractive appearance is very important to entice users to buy a product, to watch a video, especially compared to today’s intense competition. …
Theme and mood
Visuals, as well as text, not only convey the message, but also set the tone and voice of communication. This can be achieved with the background, typography, composition, color palette, shapes and sizes, stylistic approaches that inform the user about the product from the first seconds of perception. In addition, following popular trends, graphic designers give an object a modern look, which is an important confidence factor for many users.
Explain and inform
This aspect is presented both in print resources and in digital interfaces. A picture is definitely worth a thousand words: it saves valuable time and avoids large blocks of text. In addition, the graphs, based on a thorough analysis of the target audience, include the mechanism of empathy and emotional attractiveness.
Improved navigation
Custom graphics are a great way to improve navigation and usability. Experience has shown that this has a significant impact on conversions and reader retention by enabling easy page-to-page transitions on a website or app.
Text selection
Typography considers letters as a design object. The text applied to various products should not only be readable, but also pleasant, engaging and emotional. In branding, it also adds important features such as originality and recognition.
What are the skills required to succeed in graphic design?
Requirements for graphic design professionals often include the following:
- technical art skills and preferably visual arts skills;
- artistry and creativity;
- good artistic look and sense of harmony;
- the ability to draw well;
- good composition skills;
- the ability to work on the analysis of the target audience and build communication options with it;
- the ability to apply a variety of drawing techniques, preferably with manual and digital tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.).);
the ability to learn and improve, as the field is extremely dynamic and diverse.
So, if you are looking to develop your career in this area, it would be useful to think about the above positions in which you feel strong and those that need to be improved. It is also very important these days to be proficient in using a variety of design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.Thus, practice and training are all the time needed to prepare for modern design challenges.
On the knowledge side, it would be very helpful to gain knowledge about color theory, psychology, design strategies and flows for brand and marketing, negotiation skills, business fundamentals and sales that bring a designer closer to customers and end users. It also gives a broader perspective and makes the process of sharing creative ideas more natural and productive.
