What Is Graphic Design?


Graphic design is often associated with images. Billboards and magazine ads show us that designers can speak volumes without using the written word. And yet, graphic design is not just about creating powerful picturesthat's what artists, photographers, and illustrators do. It's about communication. In fact, "visual communication" is the most accurate way to describe the purpose of graphic design.

Clients and employers approach the designer with some information that must be communicated to a wide audience. The designer's mission (should he or she choose to accept it) is to bring order and clarity to this information so that others may understand it. You might think of a designer as a special kind of translator who turns dreary old words into an inviting, accessible visual message.

In today's vast information jungle, this is no small challenge. Amid the neon blaze of Times Square or downtown Tokyo, or in the luxurious, glossy expanse of a fashion magazine, simply organizing information is no longer enough. Designers must discover clever metaphors and creative solutions to make their work stand out and grab the attention they are asked to grab.

Figure 1.2. New York's Times Square. In a world saturated with visual messages, designers must create messages that stand out and are memorable.


As you begin to study graphic design, you will find that inventive ideas are as important as artistic skill. Award-winning designs are never merely decorative. The best work commands your attention through the clever, artful visual communication of a concept. Visual design is just part of the equation; creative strategy and copywriting must work in concert with a mastery of graphic elements to carry the message.




Sessions. edu Graphic Design Portfolio-Builder(c) Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator Projects
Graphic Design Portfolio-Builder: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator Projects
ISBN: 0321336585
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 103
Authors: Sessions.edu

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