What is graphic design?

Graphic design is everywhere around us: in books and brochures, in magazines, on posters, on websites and on our mobile phones, in our cars and on the train on our way to work. Graphic design refers to the visual design of content – ​​to communicate a message or convey a function.

And even though we encounter graphic design everywhere in our daily lives, most people only have a vague idea of ​​what graphic design actually is. What do graphic designers do? Do they create fonts or illustrations? Do they design logos for companies or products? Do they create content for the internet and magazines? Do they edit photos and graphics?

Graphic designers do all of this. And yet, they are only parts of a larger whole. The task of graphic design is to convey information and communicate values ​​using various media. This should meet the needs of both the communicator and the viewer. Graphic designers use various techniques to achieve this, such as typography, color schemes, photos and illustrations, symbols, and moving elements. They create a comprehensive structure in which these elements fit together to create an optimal user experience.

The American Institute of Graphic Arts describes graphic design very aptly as follows:

“Graphic design is the art and practice of planning and communicating ideas and experiences using visual and textual content.”

Image source: Jason Leung / Unsplash