What Is Graphic Design, graphic design for beginners

Graphic design is a craft in which professionals create visual content to communicate messages. By applying visual hierarchy and page layout techniques, designers use typography and imagery to meet the specific needs of users, and focus on the logic of displaying elements in interactive designs to optimize the user experience.

Graphic design is an ancient craft, dating back at least 17,000 years to Egyptian hieroglyphs and cave paintings. It is a term that originated in the printing industry of the 1920s. It continues to cover a variety of activities, including logo creation.

In this sense, graphic design is concerned with aesthetic appeal and marketing. Graphic designers use images, colors, and typography to attract viewers. However, graphic designers working in user experience (UX) design must justify stylistic choices regarding image placement and fonts with a human-centered approach.

This means that when creating beautiful designs, you need to focus on your specific users—and try to empathize with them as much as possible. Aesthetics must serve a purpose—in UX design, we don’t create art for art’s sake. So, graphic designers must branch out into visual design. When designing for UX, you should:

Consider the information architecture of your interactive design to ensure accessibility for users.

Develop graphic design skills to create work that considers the entire user experience, including the user’s visual processing capabilities.

For example, if an otherwise delightful mobile app can’t give users what they need in a few taps, its designer will have failed to marry graphic design with user experience. The scope of graphic design in UX is creating beautiful designs that users find highly enjoyable, meaningful, and usable.

“Design is a solution to a problem. Art is a question to a problem.”

— John Maeda, President of the Rhode Island School of Design

Graphic Design for the Best UX

Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

While working in the digital age means you must design with interactive software, graphic design still revolves around old principles. It’s crucial that you strike the right chord with users at first glance—hence, the emotional design of graphic design.

As a graphic designer, you should have a solid understanding of color theory and how important it is to choose the right color scheme. Color choices should not only reflect the organization (e.g., blue suits for banking) but also reflect the expectations of users (e.g., red for alertness; green for notification for progress).

You should design with an eye to how elements match the tone (e.g., sans-serif fonts for excitement or joy). You need to design for overall impact, and be aware of how you shape the emotions of users, for example, a landing page for a call to action.

Often, graphic designers are involved in motion design for the small screen. They will carefully monitor how the aesthetics of their work match the expectations of their users. They can streamline their designs to increase usability,

anticipating the needs and mindset of users to create a seamless experience. With user psychology in mind, it’s important to pay attention to some particularly weighty graphic design considerations, such as:

Symmetry and balance (including symmetrical type)

Flow

Repetition

Pattern

The golden ratio (i.e., the ratio 1:1.618)

The rule of thirds (i.e., how users’ eyes perceive a good layout)

Typography (including everything from font choice to heading weight)

The audience’s culture (about the use of color—for example, red as a warning or, in some Eastern cultures, a sign of good luck—and reading style: for example, left-to-right in Western cultures)

Typography plays a key role in graphic design

Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall, your goal—as far as graphic design goes in UX and UI design—is to present information in a harmonious way. You should make sure that beauty and usability go hand in hand, and that your design can therefore subtly communicate your organization’s values ​​to your users.

When you establish a trustworthy visual presence, you signal to users that you know what they want to do—not just because you’ve arranged aesthetically pleasing elements where your users expect to find them, or help them navigate around, but because your design display is their mirror. Your visual content will quickly determine the fate of your design, so make sure you don’t overlook the slightest trigger that could turn users off.

Take our course, The Ultimate Guide to Visual Design.

Our encyclopedia addresses graphic design’s place in the world of UX.

This is a first-hand account of the transition from graphic design to UX design.

Read this insightful piece that examines the similarities and differences between graphic and UX design.

The salary of a graphic designer can vary widely based on a variety of factors, including experience, geographic location, and skill level. On average, graphic designers earn between $43,000 and $66,000 annually. This range reflects the earnings of many professionals in the graphic design field, a profession that is essential and valued in a variety of industries.

While graphic design offers a respectable salary, professionals looking for higher earning potential may want to transition to UX design. UX designers, who are responsible for creating user-friendly and functional digital interfaces, are in high demand, resulting in attractive compensation packages.

When considering a career change for graphic designers, transitioning to UX design can be strategic. Learn more about the benefits of this transition and how to navigate it in this detailed guide on changing your career from graphic design to UX design.

Graphic designers are creative professionals who use their artistic skills to create visual content for a variety of media. They work on projects such as designing logos, brochures, websites, and advertisements. Using a variety of tools and software, their goal is to communicate a message through their visual designs and help businesses and organizations achieve their goals.

What Is Graphic Design, Graphic design and visual design are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two. Both graphic and visual designers rely on design principles and knowledge of color theory, typography, and layout to create effective and engaging designs.

Graphic designers primarily focus on communication (for example, logos and advertisements) while visual designers focus on the product experience (for example, the user interfaces of websites and applications). Visual designers can incorporate graphic design elements to create a consistent user experience across all touchpoints.

Graphic design is a very old profession and has a strong connection to print media. As technology has advanced, so has the delivery of graphic designers. Visual designers have a broader skill set, combining the skills of a graphic designer with the understanding of an interface designer.

If you’re interested in learning more about these important design principles, check out our Visual Design course. Develop the skills you need to create stunning designs that are both functional and visually appealing.

In addition to having a degree in graphic design or a related field, there are excellent online courses available that can provide you with all the visual skills you need.

Platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, and Coursera offer a variety of courses focused on developing practical skills and building a portfolio. These flexible and affordable courses provide a great opportunity to learn graphic design and grow your skills.

If you’re interested in going into interaction design, there are excellent courses that can help you transition your career to UX or a related field. There are even learning paths to guide you on your journey. Good luck with your chosen career!

What Is Graphic Design, Yes, graphic design can be a great career choice for those who have a passion for creativity and design. With the rise of digital media, the demand for skilled graphic designers has increased. However, it is important to remember that the field is competitive and requires continuous education and skill development.

Graphic designers can work in a variety of industries, from advertising to web design, and can hold a variety of job titles, such as art director or multimedia designer. Overall, graphic design can be a fulfilling and rewarding career path for those who are willing to put in the hard work.

Learning graphic design involves understanding design principles, mastering software, and building a strong portfolio. Start with an online course or a design school to learn the basics. Practice by creating designs and seeking feedback. Most importantly, build a strong portfolio.

Visual design and graphic design are closely related. If you are interested in becoming a visual designer, consider this visual designer learning path for comprehensive courses and resources.

Creating a graphic design portfolio involves selecting your best work, showcasing a variety of skills, and presenting it professionally. Include high-quality images of your work, a brief description of each piece, and the process involved. Be sure to include visuals in your portfolio, as Michal Malewicz, co-founder of HYPE4.com, explains in this video about the importance of visuals in your UX portfolio.

Regularly update your portfolio with new work to keep it current. To learn more about creating an impressive portfolio, consider taking this course on How to Create a UX Portfolio.

What Is Graphic Design, Graphic design can be challenging, requiring creativity, attention to detail, and technical knowledge. However, like any skill, it gets easier with practice and the right training. Don Norman explains in his video that designers, including graphic designers, need to understand business, politics, and socio-technical systems to make meaningful change.

This broad understanding and the ability to speak the language of business are essential for a successful career in graphic design.

If you want to learn more, take this course from Design for a Better World with Don Norman.

Artistic graphic design involves creating visual elements using typography, images, and color to effectively convey a message or provide a solution to a problem. It encompasses disciplines such as layout design, logo design, and branding.

While graphic artists create original artwork, graphic designers use these artworks and other visual elements to create designs that convey a specific message. Learn more about the differences between graphic artists and graphic designers in this article: Graphic Artist vs. Graphic Designer: What’s the Difference?

What Is Graphic Design, A creative designer is responsible for creating visuals across a variety of mediums to effectively communicate messages. They conceptualize and design graphics, layouts, and visual effects to engage target audiences. Their work includes creating logos, marketing materials, website designs, and other visual content.

They collaborate with other team members and clients to ensure the design aligns with the overall goals and brand identity. Read more about the role of a creative designer in this article: What Does a Creative Designer Do?