What is graphic design?

In graphic design, the term “graphic” means any combination of visual elements, including text, type, and illustrations. The term “design” refers to the overall organization of these elements and the purpose they serve. Graphic design can be used in a wide variety of media, including print, digital, video, and interactive media.

Graphic designers use their skills to create original website visuals and layouts, illustrations, artwork, ads and promotional materials. Graphic Designers don’t just take graphical elements and display them as they are on a site. They work with typefaces, designs and colors to create aesthetically pleasing layouts.

For example, there is much more than meets the eye when you see a menu on a website or in a restaurant — it takes someone with great visual aesthetic skills to arrange these elements so that customers know what they’re looking at and understand how the layout functions.

Design Process

A graphic designer uses graphic design principles to create visual elements that convey information and persuade audiences. Graphic design has a long history and has been used in the print, film, and television industries for over a century. It’s an area of study and practice that involves combining an understanding of composition, color theory, typography, and other design disciplines.

The graphic design process is the combination of the following steps:

VISUALIZATION

When a designer first starts working on a project, they must first visualize the intended outcome. They may sketch ideas or write notes on paper. Once they have a basic idea of what they want to create, they can start to sketch it out in a digital program. This helps them create a visual foundation. They can use an image editor, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, to sketch the elements of their design.

RESEARCH             

After they have an idea of what they want to create, they need to do some research. They need to understand the industry they’re working in, the audience they’re designing for, and the message they want to convey. They may look at print ads, billboards, billboards, websites, and other design materials to understand what their audience is used to. They can also use the Internet to research what’s trending in the industry, what other designers are creating, and how they might approach a design project.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Once they have a basic idea of what they want to create, they can start to sketch it out in a digital program. They can use an image editor, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, to sketch the elements of their design.