Forms of Graphic Design You must learn

You’ll often hear in school that making something attractive is the primary goal of graphic design.

However, graphic design is more than just producing eye-catching work. In an essence, graphic designers are creative problem-solvers. The word “graphic design” is frequently used as a catch-all, although the many types of design that go under it call for slightly different skill sets, knowledge bases, and tools.

Forms of graphic design:

1. Visual identity graphic design: 

A brand is a connection between a business or organisation and its intended market. A brand identity expresses an organization’s personality, tone, and essence, as well as memories, emotions, and experiences. Visual identity graphic design refers to the visual components of brand identification that serve as the public face of a company and convey those intangible characteristics through images, shapes, and colour.

This design is one of the most often used types of design. This type of graphic designer must have a thorough grasp of all types of graphic design to generate design elements that look well in all visual media. They also need excellent communication skills, the capacity for inventive and creative thought, and a passion for researching various industries, markets, firms, trends, and competitors.

Designing assets like Free Vector icons, typography, colour palette, and image libraries that capture a company’s character involves collaboration with brand stakeholders. Designers frequently create a collection of visual brand standards (style guides), which outline best practices and offer examples of visual branding used across many media, in addition to the conventional business cards and corporate stationery. These guidelines help to keep a consistent brand image throughout all planned apps.

2. User interface graphic design: 

The way users engage with a device or programme is called the user interface (UI). The process of developing user-friendly, expressive interfaces is known as interface design (UI design).

A user interface (UI) is made up of the keyboard, mouse, and screen, but in terms of graphic design, the UI focuses on the user’s visual experience and the creation of on-screen visual elements like buttons, icons, and micro-interactions. A UI designer must blend aesthetic appeal with technological functionality.

Games, desktop applications, mobile applications, and web applications are their areas of expertise. They collaborate closely with UI developers and UX (user experience) designers, who establish how the programme functions (who write code to make it work).

Here are some examples:

• App design
• Web page design
• Game interfaces
• Theme design (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)

3. Advertising & marketing graphic design:

Organizations rely on effective marketing initiatives to influence the buying behaviour of their target market. Great marketing engages individuals based on their wants, needs, awareness, and satisfaction with a product, service, or brand. Because visual material is usually more appealing to consumers, graphic design helps companies market and communicate more effectively.

Company owners, directors, administrators, and marketing specialists work together with marketing designers to create marketing materials. They may operate independently or as part of an internal or creative team. Designers might specialise in a certain form of media (for example, car wraps or magazine advertisements) or design a diverse range of material for print, web, and beyond. Historically oriented on print, this type of design has grown to embrace more digital materials, especially for use in digital advertising and online advertising.

Excellent problem-solvers, time managers, and communicators are essential for marketing designers. They must be skilled in much graphic design, layout, and presentation programmes, as well as knowledgeable with print and web production. New designers should take advantage of entry-level positions in this industry to study techniques and acquire essential knowledge and expertise.

Here are some examples:

• Images for websites and blogs
• Postcards and flyers
• Banner and retargeting ads
• Magazine and newspaper ads
• Social media ads, banners and graphics
• Infographics
• Menus
• Brochures (print and digital)
• PowerPoint presentations
• Vehicle wraps
• Email marketing templates
• Signage and trade show displays

4. Motion graphic design: 

Motion graphics are images that are constantly moving. This includes effects in television, film, and other media such as the internet, including animation, music, typography, graphics, and video. The popularity of video has lately increased as technology has evolved and it has become more common.

Designers now have a relatively new speciality called “motion graphics designer.” Technology advancements have lowered the time and cost of creation for the art form, which was formerly only used in TV and cinema. One of the newest design styles today, motion graphics are present on all digital platforms, opening up various new markets and career options.

Motion graphics designers start by creating storyboards, and then use animation, video, and conventional art to bring their ideas to life. Depending on the sector, a solid understanding of marketing, coding, and 3D modelling might be valuable skills.

Here are some examples:

• GIFs
• Title sequences and end credits
• Banners
• Advertisements
• Video games
• Animated logos
• Apps
• Trailers
• Websites
• Presentations
• Tutorial videos
• Promotional videos

5. Publication graphic design: 

Publications are long-form compositions that connect with an audience by being made available to the public. Traditionally, they were a print medium. Consider books, newspapers, periodicals, and catalogues to be examples of publication design. However, there has been a huge increase in digital publications recently.

Publication graphic designers collaborate with editors and publishers to develop layouts with carefully picked typography and associated artwork, which may include photography, graphics, and drawings. These designers might operate as freelancers, as members of creative agencies, or as employees of a publishing business.

They need to have a strong sense of organisation, layout, and communication. They must comprehend colour management, printing, and digital publication in addition to graphic design.

Here are some examples:

• Catalogues
• Books
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Annual reports
• Newsletters
• Directories

6. Environmental graphic design: 

Environmental graphic design connects individuals to places visually in order to improve their entire experience by making locations more memorable, entertaining, educational, or easy to navigate. There are many different disciplines included in environmental design.

Here are some examples:

• Event and conference spaces
• Signage
• Stadium branding
• Wall murals
• Retail store interiors
• Museum exhibitions
• Public transportation navigation
• Office branding

In order to assist people to locate where they are and exactly where they need to go so that they can get there without getting lost, wayfinding is a specialised sort of environmental graphic design that comprises carefully placed signs, landmarks, and visual clues.

Environmental graphic design is a collaborative system that integrates graphic, architectural, interior, landscape, and industrial design. Designers work with professionals from all of these professions to create and execute their designs. As a result, designers often have education and expertise in both graphic design and building. They must be conversant with industrial design principles and be able to interpret and sketch architectural designs.

7. Packaging graphic design: 

Most items require some type of packaging to safeguard and prepare them for storage, delivery, and sale. However, packaging design may also speak directly to customers, making it a very powerful marketing tool. Every box, bottle, bag, container, can, or canister is an opportunity to convey the narrative of a brand.

Designers of packaging produce ideas, mockups, and print-ready files for items. This requires extensive knowledge of print techniques as well as a thorough understanding of commercial design and production. Because package design encompasses so many disciplines, it is not commonplace for designers to be tasked with developing additional assets for products such as photography, drawings, and visual identity.

Packaging designers can be generalists or specialise in a specific form of packaging (such as labels or beverage cans) or industry (such as food or children’s toys). Their work requires creative and problem-solving abilities, as well as a solid working understanding of pnal crint and product engineering. They must be adaptable in order to suit the needs of clients, marketers, and manufacturers, as well as be informed of current trends.

Wrap-up: 

Many people wonder, “Is graphic design a decent career?” Well! It is dependent on certain facts and acquiring the abilities advised by pros. Getting to the destination, takes passion, creativity, and hard effort, just like any other creative job. Before you begin, remember to review the graphic design types we stated before. If you are serious about getting started in this sector, this should be a terrific resource for you.