Read the linked article, What is Graphic Design? Write two complete paragraphs in response to the article. In the first paragraph, discuss what the article made you think of and/or how it contributed to your understanding of visual communication and graphic design. In the second paragraph, pose a question that you’d like to ask the author–and propose a possible answer to your question.
Name your post “What is Graphic Design” and “categorize” your post by checking the box next to Assignment 2. The category checkbox is to the bottom right when you’re writing your post.
At some point in time, everyone has received “junk mail.” Whether it is a credit card company trying to offer you a credit card, a gym sending you an invitation to join or a car dealership trying to incite you to visit them, it is a part of our daily lives. Graphic communication is of vital importance to these types of companies. The presentation of the envelope or flyer has to capture the receiver’s attention and try to invoke a favorable response. When I read this article, it made me think of “junk mail” and company logos. I never realized how far-reaching graphic design really is; it’s literally all around us. In my mind, graphic design is about creating words and/or images that convey a pre-programmed message. I never really thought about the importance of layout, fonts and images which, when combined can successfully contribute to a company’s brand. Also, I thought it was interesting that graphic designers have to be independent, in a sense. They have to understand the message the client is trying to convey and create a plan which successfully conveys the desired message.
How does graphic design relate to marketing?
In today’s world, marketing should be an essential tool for every company, whether it’s a multi-billion dollar company or a small business. The company’s marketing plan is a driving force that lays out the goals and ultimately profit for the company. In order to execute the marketing plan, a great graphic designer has to contribute to the overall design and implementation of the plan. Marketing teaches a company what to sell, who to sell to, for how much and where to sell it. Graphic design takes all of those requirements and creates a concise, finished product.
Jocelyn Zaruma
What is Graphic Design?
This article reminded me of a moment I had when I was a young girl. I had realized something overlooked by most people on a daily basis, and I found it mind blowing. Prior to this event, I had no idea there was so much that went on when it came between the supplier and the consumer. It made me aware that companies may know too much of their brand. What I mean by this is that a company knows everything about their product, but they have more difficulty relating it to the consumer, that’s where the designer comes in. The designer will make the client’s information condensed and potent enough for the audience to understand the information and have it relatable for them. Basically, they will break the information down into smaller pieces, one by one, for the consumer to take in. At that point, the designer and the consumer are on the same level, so it’s easier to understand one another.
Do designers have more of a a purpose than to just design?
I think that designers are not just there to design. They are also there to tackle down the present problems and find a solution that would best work. With that being said, they are also people who probably would like to help solve world-wide problems.
What is Graphic Design?
As soon as I read the first sentence of this article, I started to associate everything the author was saying back to advertising. Although I was aware that graphic design and advertising were related prior to reading this article, I never thought about just how important of a role graphic design has in communicating a message. The concepts of “white space”, typography, images, logos, and so on are all things that I am familiar with but this article made me think about just how much attention and work goes into designing an effective message through the use of these concepts. When the article touched on the various questions that have to be taken into account when designing something as simple as type, I found myself recalling ads and how different the typeface can be depending on the product, the service, who the ad is directed too, and the message that the ad is trying to convey. I think the subtitle nuances that make a message appeal to different people are fascinating and this article brought many of these subtle differences to my attention.
How do designers know the difference between an effective and an ineffective design?
This is something I have always wondered about. How can a designer look at a visual and know that it is going to do what they need it to? I think that perhaps the ability to know how one’s message is coming across has to do with a combination of intuition, attention to detail, and experience. I’d imagine that anyone who could master such a skill is going to do well in moving forward with their career.
– Kimberley Squillante
Samantha Hua
This article is a great resource for someone unfamiliar with visual communication, more specifically graphic design. Myself, a student oblivious to the prominent role graphic design plays in daily life, the article provided a simple and concise introduction to the main tools of this form of communication: image and typography. I learned that the graphic designer must construct and present a message utilizing these tools in such a way the audience understands the context and purpose of the message. It takes great skill to effectively convey a message from a client to his or her intended audience. I quickly realized that graphic design is everywhere, on my T-shirt, notebook, waterbottle and even book cover. This article helped increase my understanding of graphic design and I now have a higher level of respect for the art.
A question I would like to ask the author would be why was there a need for visual communication and graphic design (how did graphic design come to be)? After reading this article, a possible answer could be that graphic design is an art form that is technologically in line with the advances we have made in technology. Graphic design is a form of visual communication, a way to express information, thought and emotions by combining images and typography. Tracing back in history, visual communication has been utilized since the beginning of the human form. We can see this in images and words carved in caves and stone tablets. Graphic design is simply a new age art that has become a highly technical skill that demands considerable understanding of the usage of words, symbols, images to visually communicate a message.
Nowadays, Graphic Design is considered to be a “fashionable” job. To be honest, this contributed much when I chose my major. I had only vague idea what exactly the profession included. I knew that graphic designers worked with images – that was it. This article, on its part, cleared up the understanding of graphic communications – it gave simple and precise explanation of different tools designers use, and noted the role of graphic designers as sort of a bridge between clients and audience.
There’s a question I’d like to ask the author – what’s the demand for graphic designers in the present business world? It seems so many young people take up this profession, that there’s not enough work for everyone. Moreover, the majority of small businesses prefer to get by without the help of designers.
Vasilya Nizamova
This article summarizes the role of Graphic design and different ways of communication using imagery and type. It helps me to understand further and more deeply of the purpose of graphic communication, and how to convey our messages effectively by using different kinds of elements. It is important to know what kind of design to use depends on the contents and nature of what is being communicated. As internet and social media become our tool to consume information, it is even more crucial and important to know how to communicate and convey message efficiently and effectively.
My question is how do designers distinguish from non-designers as technology has drastically improved our lives, in which making beautiful imagery has become even more easier. Apps such as Instragram can easily make a random photo taken by a smart phone beautiful by simply adjusting the hues and color. As technology improves, do we still need professional graphic designer?
When I think of graphic design, I think primarily of art created by computers, which is in a way what the article describes as the definition of graphic design: “a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas.” After reading this article, however, it reminded me that though technology is involved in the process of creating graphic design, it is not always—and perhaps seldom is—the first step of the process. Graphic designers might sketch ideas in pencil and paper beforehand, scan their work onto the computer, and then finalize their product there.
When initially starting a company, is it wise to use a hybrid of logotype and symbol when creating a company’s representation? In my opinion, while some companies like McDonalds have become so ubiquitous in our lives that they are instantly recognizable, a company that is beginning to break through is unlikely to have a large crowd of followers or supporters. Therefore, without logotype that depicts the company’s name alongside the symbol itself, viewers of solely a company’s logo might continue on their day without ever knowing the name of the company and what the company provides. As a result, it might be wishful thinking for new companies to use a hybrid of logotype and symbol to create an association for viewers or consumers of products the company provides that will be more easily remembered.
New York City is filled with colors, images, messages on walls, trains, buses, flyers distributed on almost every corner and many more places. We are constantly receiving messages by advertisements in subways, schools, billboards, internet pop-ups,email spam, flyers, posters among other mediums. Especially since the use of computers and technology, it is very easy for an ad to make its way to anyone around the world. Especially though the use of Social Media. Whether an image catches our attention from the first sight of it or subliminally we know its there. It is the job of a Graphic Designer to express the client’s objectives through images and type. It has to convey their message to specifics population targets and that would have a impact from the moment they see this graphic design medium.
Nowadays technology gives anyone the ability to create their own ads, flyers and allows them to represent their own company by simply using an image and adding text to it. How can a graphic designer have the competitive advantage over the new tech savvy generations in the years to come? I suppose you would have to be knowledgeable of Marketing and whats the consumers behavior at that moment. Graphic designers should always stay on top with the latest technology and trends.
Estefany Gonzaga
After reading this article, i start to realize that graphic designers is very different with artists. Artists create to let each viewer find their own interpretation. Graphic designers, on the other hand, create to communicate with other, send message to the viewers. I think the fun part in graphic design is that we can use literally any visual medium to commuicate our messages. We can uses shapes, colors, and fonts. We can also use photography and animation etc..
One question i’d like to ask the author is – Will graphic design become a famous job? It seems like designers create much of what the people sees, wants, buys, uses on their everyday lives. In another word, designers have the power to influence how see our world.
JianFeng Chen
Graphic design is a process that designers create an object with words and images that represent an idea by combining art and technology. Graphic design is divided into four categories. They are image-based design, type-based design, logotype, and image and type design. Unlike image-based design which images must deliver the entire message with few words or without text, type-based design can be extremely unique designed by handmade lettering or typography. Image and type design is a hybrid process that contains words and images that create an idea. Logotype design is a similar but more complex version of the image and type design. It requires the designers to represent a particular idea or identity with a symbol or logo.
Despite the complexity of the graphic design, what is the other key role of the graphic design? In order to create a novelty design, graphic designers must have a very good sense of beauty and certain accomplishment on the text. Designers are the line between the client and the audience. Therefore, I believe the designers must keep their skills and technology up-to-date by self-study or other paths.
what is graphic design?
Before I start this class, I have no idea to answer this question that what is graphic design. After I get start to this class and read this article, I think graphic design is just like the article said: “a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas.” I think one of the most important word for graphic design is creative. Graphic design is another language of using images and design. I think graphic design lived everywhere in our life, no matter what stuff exist, it all need graphic design.
How can graphic design related to business?
As a business major student, I cannot be a artist someday, I would like to use the graphic design skill in my career. Just like I said in the first paragraph, I think graphic design can be used anywhere. Such as a business project, I can design the cover and or the cover letter of my resume. It all can be designable and even help me get through success.
What is Graphic Design
The article gave me a much better understanding about what exactly is graphic design. I learned that a lot goes into the process of creating a design that can efficiently represent an idea, product, or message. There are a lot of details in a design that may be overlooked by the audience consciously, but together those details may be what makes the design effective. I also learned that graphic design is not just a one sided job. To create good content it is important to take into consideration of what the audience thinks about the final product, not just what the designer feels about it.
Graphic design has changed throughout the years, what can we expect for the future of graphic design?
With technology so rapidly improving, in the future graphic design may be more heavily reliant on animation instead of still images. There are so many different software available it is important to keep up to date on what is the new effected way to showcase the message. Perhaps in 20 years there will be more electronic billboards which will be a big game changer for graphic design.
What is Graphic Design?
The article describing graphic design as a mode of visual communication called attention to the designer’s intent when creating material. In a world where most of us are constantly exposed to media, advertisements, and numerous other sources of graphic images, we rarely think twice about the process behind the images we come across daily. This article brought my attention to the use of white space and typography in the designs I come across on my way to school. I realized that white space, or negative space, can communicate just as much, sometimes even more, than the content itself. I also have to admit that typography was something I didn’t particularly pay attention to. It’s still a language I often use without truly understanding it. I’m looking forward to learning more through this course.
A question that came to mind as I read the article was: “How does a graphic designer establish the best balance between letterforms and images? What factors does he/she consider when deciding on the most effective way to communicate a message?” The article gave some clues: “people respond to images instinctively based on personalities, associations, and previous experience”. I suppose knowledge of trends, culture, psychology, and market research on consumer behavior helps inform the designer to create more effective material.
Gabriele Genghini
After reading the article I came to the realization that graphic design is a field that is changing rather quickly. The primary reason is the fast evolution of technology especially data communication over mobile devices. More and more people are purchasing smartphones, which provide a smaller canvas for future graphic design projects. With a larger online audience aesthetic quality vs message and new design ideas can be easily tested and evaluated.
I would like to ask the author of the article what will the next widely used medium be and how should we adapt to become competitive in this field with such a fast paced an inconsistent environment.
Graphic design is communication design. A graphic designer usually uses text, illustrations, symbols, photography, textures, colours and letterforms to create logos for businesses,work with images in Photoshop and make magazine advertising. They might find inspiration from everywhere, for example, they might find inspiration simply by visiting a place or tasting a dish.
There are various job titles in the graphic design industry, for example, a junior designer will rise to a senior designer. Different job titles also have respective job responsibilities.