“A picture is indeed worth a thousand words.” Graphic designers can take the simplest picture and make it  convey one message or convey many messages depending on how the audience takes of it. This article has contributed to my understanding that graphic design is really everywhere. The clothes you wear, the book you read, the advertisement you see on the bus, and it an essential part of our daily lives. Never in my life have I decided on if I had to rearrange a sign or a poster how would I go about it. This article show me the power of graphic design. There are all these types of way to go about making a design and yet all of them can convey a powerful message.

The question I have for the author is in his/her opinion which type of design is the most effective? The way approach he/she would have on let say a new graphic design company. The most effective way to say what the company is really about. The type of design that would capture the most audiences.

The whole idea of what graphic design really is was explained well in this article.  Not only computer graphics are considered “Graphic Design”.  It is really a combination of factors that can attract a prospective customer when it deals with marketing.  Typography is very important when it comes to graphic design.  Now I see the connection between project one and graphic design.  I make designs on my computer but after reading this article, I feel I have a new view on the designs I make that will help enhance the effectiveness of the message I am trying to convey.

Having to do with the Typography, are custom fonts derived from these graphic designers final projects?  The reason I ask is because I deal with a lot of different fonts when I am making a design on my computer, and I feel that it is sometimes impossible to find certain fonts.  I would assume that certain designs deal with custom fonts.  If it were possible, could you name some major projects or graphic designs that a special font was made from it?

-Paul Perez

I was recently asked what exactly the class ‘Graphic Communication’ entails and i fumbled to find the right words to answer with. Fortunately for me, this article cleared things right up. It seems like ‘graphic design’ is an umbrella term- it takes a portion of everything we see (in advertisement, birthday cards, in-class handouts, etc.) and gives it a home. While reading, I was reminded of a short video i’d seen a couple of months ago about the ‘forgotten’ art of hand-painted signs (and it’s subsequent revival). I hadn’t really understood that something like painting letters on glass windows could be considered a form of graphic design, but after reading the article the connection between the two fell into place.

I’m most curious about the process of choosing a color scheme for any sort of project. Since we are bombarded with such a variety bright lights and colors, especially in a city like New York, there must be some sort of method to the madness. We’ve been told that Red is bold, that Yellow is happy, that Green invigorates, and Chartreuse is the most visible color to the human eye. My question is: how does color relate to the message that someone is trying to send, and how does graphic design com into play? The author might respond by citing some basic psychology, or showing an advertisement that directly associates a color like Red with a word like ‘bold’.

“Graph Design” is art that uses words, images, color, and shapes to help someone else understand the importance and the meaning of the design. This helps the audience of the work to link images and word to create a specific meaning. For example if the red was stop or caution it would a color that would be used for thing that would need to caution other about. If someone were to portray a product for really good health we would have a photo of a fit person using the product. Alot of these graphic designs are used to inform or persuade other about a purpose.

One question that I would ask the author is that Would choosing a specific image or  color  target a different audience everytime or would it be only sometimes. For if a product was used by a male instead of a female or if the color went from light to dark. by changing small details like that alter the view or audience.

The article explains what graphic design is. Even though we may not realize how important graphic design is, graphic design is often influencing our decisions each day. The article explains that there are image-based design and type-based design. The image-based design would be a way to represent an idea through images, such as photography, drawing, and others. The type-based design would be a way to represent an idea through words. The two designs are used daily in our lives to present and convey message to us.

My question to the author would be, “what would be a better communication to convey message? Visual or Verbal?” The author might answer the question as “Visual is better communication” The author might answer that way because the author is graphic designer. I believe that a graphic design might be better communication than verbal communication because I believe in that saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.” If the visual communication if powerful enough, I believe that it would convey more message than verbal communication.

Article made me think that the “graphic design” is a visual message that includes the text, colors, images, logos, etc. People through the visual message  try to convey some information and idea to the audience. It could be anything, for example –  street signs, restaurant name, cloth’s brand… Also to understand  visual message takes less time than verbal message. People to distinguish their messages from others use different fonts for the text, colors, shapes, pictures and backgrounds that make them unique.

My question for author probably would be : In world where millions banners, posters and other visual information and etc,  how to create the message that would be new and original?  I guess the answer will be that we should experiment with the old styles, mix them, reverse them to the other ways. Or to get a peace that was previously done and add something that would change their look.

This article gives me the basic idea of what graphic design is about. The main purpose of doing graphic design is to persuade and amuse someone and it also send out message to the viewers. Unlike doing fine art, graphic designers are the link between client and audience. Graphic design are more business oriented. Some ideas and the final decision are made by the clients. It is not all about what graphic designer what to do. With the new technology, graphic design can be represented by drawing, painting, photography and computer. I learn that the main tools are image and typography. Typography, which is a new word to me, means representing ideas by words. Designers make the decision on how to express the moods and emotion with typeface or type size. Also, symbols and logos are the more abstract but impressive way to present an idea or company.

I have one question about what logotypes is about, and what is the different between symbols and logos. The article states it is a corporate identification. But I still don’t understand what it is. I guess logotypes are generally used by business corporation.

This article brought up very important points about graphic design, the point that caught my attention the most was the line “a picture is indeed worth a thousand words”. I believe that pictures have a far greater impact on people compare to just words. Pictures can project deeper meanings and it can communicate to everyone without language barriers. For example like the “Superman logo” verses the words “Superman”, the S symbol will grab more attention than the words can. I feel like looking at pictures and symbol, it allow you to trigger the memories about it but when looking at words, it make you picture them in your head. Therefore pictures are able to give you a faster and better visual of things than words can.

My question to the author is about coloring. Since the coloring is a big part of designing and using different colors can give different moods and feelings to the design. However people have different taste in colors and different interpretations. Therefore how do we choose the best colors that will not ruin the design and appeal the most audiences? For example Superman’s colors are blue, red and yellow, which seems to represent the American flag. If he was made in different colors then he wouldn’t have the same effects on people. I think choosing the colors that best describes the message of the design is better than choosing the color that appeals to the audiences because the market is becoming more and more global. It is more ideal to have audiences come to you rather than you going to your audiences.

I always knew that Graphic Design was such a versatile and wide-spread idea, linked to many different industries and businesses. But, until this article I never really realized how important it is in communicating. It’s practically everywhere, whether we consciously think about it or not. The article did a strong job of explaining the three different types of designing: imaging, type, imaging & type, and logos. At the end of the day, graphic design is a form of communication just like a speech, a song, or a commercial. I find it interesting how a company or a business can completely change its audience or the way it is perceived by its audience just by a different website home-page layout, business card font, or even billboard design.

If I could ask the author one thing, it would be where the line gets drawn between creativity and functionality for Graphic Design. Is Graphic Design considered an Art or a tool in the business world?  My personal answer to this question would both. Without starting with creativity, artistic talent, or some sort of inspiration, you will not understand the purpose or function of your design. It also can depend on the type of Graphic Design one wishes to pursue. For example, a t-shirt designer may not look so much at functionalities of the t-shirt, rather the intricate design or logo that will make it unique or eye-catching. Conversely, a web-designer may take into account both creative elements as well as functional elements.