Graphic Design
Graphic design is the art of visual communication and presentation. Graphic design techniques combine the use of text and images to create a desired message and this is referred to as visual communication. Graphic design output can only be on a 2-dimensional format (whether it is designed for print or electronic publishing), yet it remains very powerful in business and communication. Visuals are impactful. They attract and create interest in communication. It is normally acknowledged that the most clever designs are meaningless if they don't communicate the desired message. This is a question of creative functionality. Graphic design; really, is a technique that relies on inherent creative talents and skills bordering on fine art.
In clear lingo, fine art is the mother of graphic design, and graphic design follows fine art not only in importance but also as a matter of record and reference. While fine art stands for inborn talents, artistic skills, imagination and creative flair, graphic design combines all that with modernity, trends, fashion and, of course, instruments and technology. And since we live in modern times, graphic design has taken over from fine art in terms of functionality and purpose in business. This way graphic design emerged from fine art and photography to become a recognised profession within the Graphic Arts and Print Production disciplines and today is part and parcel of the kogs that drives the wheels of business, technology and industry, alongside artchitectural design, interior design, fashion design, product design, industrial design and print production. It is more; graphic design functions in multimedia design, web design and interactive media, and in film production, documentaries, jingles, TV entertainment, advertising and the Internet.
The process of creating a graphic is an artistic process. The most successful graphic designers must always have a strong background in fine art. This is why the process of creating a graphic is referred to as illustration, and a finished graphic was in the near past referred to as an artwork or drawing. It is important to note that the term graphic (to mean a finished visual) is relatively new and came about in the 21st Century with the use of computers graphic design software such as CorelDraw and Illustrator. Before such software came into existence, graphic designers used to create artwork by hand on the drawing board using typography, instruments and coloured pigments. In the graphic design process, typography, typesetting and photography were skillfully combined by graphic designers and paste-up artists on the drawing board to create magazines, brochures, letterheads, business cards etc. Other services such colour separation, bromide reduction, film production and print production were subcontracted to agencies and printers.
Creativity in graphic design terms feeds a lot on fine art. Creative minds are able to visualize and visualization is the hallmark of graphic design. This is because visualization is the first important step toward creating a concept for advertising, branding etc (together with marketing input) Training helps a lot in instilling discipline, techniques and adaptation of skills using the principles or Elements of Design. These are:
- Unity
- Balance
- Harmony
- Contrast
- Rhythm (Repetition, Pattern)
- Variety
- Emphasis
- Proportion
- Funtionality
- Attraction (appeal)
- Aesthetics (the look)
Graphic Design helps reinforce your visual message to your current and potential clients and/or customers. It acts as your "silent salesperson" and helps keep your business, whether on-line or a physical building, at the top of people's minds top-of-mind awareness.