What is Graphic Design?

What exactly is Graphic Design?

      

      Graphic Design is a type of art that combines both pictures and illustrations with typography to convey a message to people such as raising awareness about issues that are happening around us or for example the promotion of a product. The use of graphic design dates back into the earlier periods of time itself because during the Stone Age there are paintings in caves that depict what the people of that time were doing throughout their daily activities.

     

      Graphic Designers use a lot of media when creating their work such as drawn, computer generated pictures and when they’re making their work they even choose and manipulate the typography so that it fits with the theme of their work. In graphic design what affects the most is the presentation of the image and typography.

In graphic design there are 4 categories on how the work is composed such as these:

Image and Type:

          

Designers usually make use of a combination images and typography to communicate a specific message to an audience. They explore a lot of creative options which are either presented by the usage of words such as typography or by images that make use of photographs, illustration materials and fine-arts but then it’s up to the designer to research about the topic and come up with the ideas to create the appropriate work with letterforms and images but also to create the best balance between all of them.

Image-based:

           

The designer usually casts a great importance on the image so that the message which is shown is clear and effective for the public to understand while instilling a particular mood and emotion. Take for example a designer would use a lightning bolt because the public is familiar with the expression “lightning speed” so with this knowledge the designer combines images and typography to express the message to the general public.

Usage of Symbols, Logos and Logotypes:

           

The use of symbols and logos is a form of special and highly summarized information of forms or identifiers. Symbols are an unusual representation of a particular idea or identity. For an example take the CBS “eye” it’s a symbolic form, which we learn to identify that it’s representing a particular conceptual idea or a company.

Type-Based Design:

There are cases in which the designers make use words to convey a message, but they use them way differently from the way writers do. To designers what the words and fonts look like is as important as the message they are trying to convey. They can capture your attention on multiple things such as on a poster, can help you clearly identify a product name on a package and also show the text and typography on a particular book. Designers are professionals at presenting this kind of information in their own way in the form of visuals in printing, film, packaging and signs.

AIGA | What is graphic design? . 2014. AIGA | What is graphic design? . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.aiga.org/guide-whatisgraphicdesign/. [Accessed 03 October 2014].