what is graphic design

Graphic design is the practice of combining text, images, and visual elements to communicate ideas and information. Designers use typography, layout, color, and imagery to create visual content for print, digital, and interactive media. Common uses include branding, advertising, packaging, and web design.

Billboards, logos, magazines, video games, vector graphics, and raster graphics are all things that come to mind when I think of graphic design.

Everything you need to know about graphic design

• What it is: Graphic design is visual communication using typography, imagery, color, and layout to convey messages and solve problems.
• Why it matters: Graphic design builds recognition, evokes emotion, and supports business goals.
• Types of graphic design: Brand design, marketing graphics, packaging design, publication layouts, motion graphics, and UI/web design.
• How graphic designers work: Designers use elements like line, shape, and space alongside principles such as alignment and contrast to create compelling visuals across print and digital formats.
• Where it’s used: Branding, advertising, packaging, websites, motion graphics, user interfaces, and publications.
• Popular graphic design tools: Traditional sketching tools plus software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, and Figma.

   

  What are the key elements of graphic design?

  Elements of art are the basic units of any visual design that form the design’s structure and convey its visual messages. The elements of graphic design are:

  • Lines are the most basic design elements. They can be curved, straight, thick, thin, two-dimensional, or three–dimensional—whatever! A line is simply an element of design defined by a point moving in space.
  • A shape is a two-dimensional defined area created by lines. Different types of shapes include geometric, abstract, and organic shapes, all basic design elements.
  • Color is an element that is especially important in attracting attention because there is psychology behind the feelings that color can evoke. Color has three main characteristics: hue (the color family), value (how light or dark the color is), and saturation (the purity of the color).
  • Typographyis the art of arranging type. This is critically important as it can greatly affect the design’s messaging. Different weights (bold, regular, or light), combined with varied sizing, colors, and spacing, can add power to the concept the designer is trying to communicate.
  • Texture in design refers to how things look and feel when touched. For example, texture can be rough, smooth, glossy, soft, hard, etc. Texture is another element used to draw attention. It can be added to other elements like shapes, colors, images, and types.
  • Size is simply how small or large something is. In design, size indicates importance, and contrasting sizes can create visual interest.
  • Space refers to the areas of the design that are left blank. These areas include any distance or areas between, around, below, or above other design elements. Designers intentionally place spaces in the design to emphasize areas of the design.

  Interested in knowing where it all started? Learn about the history of graphic design.

   

  What are the principles of graphic design?

  The principles of design suggest how the designer should best arrange the various components of a page layout to ensure the overall design elements are connected to one another. The principles of design include the following:

  • Balance: Achieving visual balance in graphic design involves using symmetry and asymmetry. This is achieved by balancing the design in weight, meaning shapes, lines, and other elements are distributed evenly. So even if the two sides of the design aren’t the exact same, they have similar elements. 
  • Alignment: Alignment is about keeping the design organized. All design aspects should be aligned with the top, bottom, center, or sides to create a visual connection between the elements.
  • Proximity: Proximity creates a visual relationship between the design elements. It minimizes clutter, increases viewer comprehension, and provides a focal point for viewers. It doesn’t necessarily mean similar elements need to be placed right next to each other; they should be connected visually.
  • Repetition: Once you’ve chosen how to use your elements, repeat those patterns to establish consistency throughout the design. This repetition ties together individual elements and strengthens the design, creating a feeling of organized movement.
  • Contrast: Contrasting emphasizes certain aspects of the design. It allows you to stress differences between elements, ultimately highlighting the key elements of your design that you want to stand out.

   

  What are the different types of graphic design?

  Over time, graphic design has become pretty multifaceted. The overall concept is composed of different fields and specializations. Here are some of the most common types of graphic design:

  Corporate design

  Corporate design refers to a company’s visual identity. Any visual elements that make up a brand’s identity, such as a logo (made with logo design software), can be associated with corporate design. This type of graphic design is used in brand marketing to communicate brand values through images, shapes, and colors.

  Marketing and advertising design

  Marketing and advertising are two of the most widely known types of graphic design. When most people think of graphic design, they’re most likely thinking of marketing and advertising design. Social media graphics, magazine ads, billboards, brochures, email marketing templates, and content marketing are all examples of this widely used type of graphic design.

  Publication design

  Publication design traditionally refers to print media, but again, with our generation’s constant digitalization, it has crossed over to digital publishing. Publication designers must work closely with editors and publishers to ensure layouts, typography, and illustrations are tastefully combined to produce the best possible result. Examples of publication graphic designs include books, newspapers, newsletters, magazines, and eBooks.

  Environmental design

  This type of graphic design is commonly overlooked, in my opinion at least. Environmental graphic design uses visual elements in environments to connect people to those places. Environmental design aims to improve people’s experiences in those places, whether it makes the experience more memorable or informs the viewer. Architecture, road signs, signage, event spaces, and wall murals are all examples of environmental design.

  Packaging design

  When you buy a new product, it most likely has some form of packaging or visual element, such as a label, sticker, or wrapping used to prepare the product for distribution or sale; packaging designers create these elements. It’s crucial that these designers are aware of current trends within the marketplace to ensure successful product marketing.

  Motion design  

  Motion graphic design is a subset of graphic design, and it’s exactly what it sounds like graphics that are in motion. This can include animation, video games, apps, GIFs, website features, etc. It is still a somewhat new area in graphic design, as technological advancements have allowed designers to explore new mediums.

  Web design

  While web design isn’t necessarily a type of graphic design, graphic design is one element of web design, so it’s worth mentioning here. Why? Web designers must consider and combine various design elements – layout, images, and typography – to create a user-friendly, pleasant front-end web design. So, if you can’t figure out how to make a website independently, it’s worth contacting a web designer. Web design also ties closely with UX and UI design, which I’ll dive into next.

   

  What tools do graphic designers use?

  The design process has evolved tremendously with the continuous digitalization in our world today. But just because these processes have changed over the years doesn’t mean designers aren’t still using traditional graphic design tools, like the old pencil and paper.

  Types of graphic design software:

  1. Desktop Publishing Software
  2. Drawing Software
  3. Flipbook Software
  4. Vector Graphics Software

  Most graphic designers use a hybrid process, including traditional and digital technologies. It’s common for designers to start the design process by sketching concepts with traditional graphic design tools before hitting the ground running on the computer for finalization.

  Many designers start directly on computers using graphic design tools. These applications have enhanced the creative process by allowing designers to explore ideas and achieve designs more quickly rather than completely hand-rendering.

   

  What does a graphic designer do?

  A graphic designer’s primary job is to create visual concepts that communicate solutions and ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. To do this, graphic designers combine art and technology to produce end results that resonate with their target audience.

  Graphic designers create visual solutions to communicate ideas, inform audiences, and solve problems. Their work goes beyond aesthetics. They work with stakeholders to ensure visuals align with messaging, goals, and audience needs.

  Key responsibilities include:

  • Designing logos, marketing materials, websites, and social media assets
  • Collaborating with marketers, developers, and product managers
  • Using design software to create, revise, and finalize visual concepts
  • Managing brand consistency across campaigns and platforms
  • Graphic designers also play a strategic role in branding, storytelling, and improving user experience.

  While goals can depend on the type of graphic design, graphic designers are primarily focused on making the organization they are designing for recognizable. They’re there to help build a brand language, boost that company’s footprint, and communicate their messages through visually pleasing content.

  Graphic design is becoming increasingly important in the marketing and sales of companies and products. That being said, graphic designers tend to work closely with public relations and marketing professionals to understand better how to communicate the messages they need.

   

  What are the different career paths in graphic design?

  Considering many different types of graphic design, a career in graphic design can mean many different things. And quite frankly, the profession can tie back to any of those specializations.

  If you choose to work in graphic design, you can work in a few different settings. 

  Agency graphic designer

  Many companies hire graphic design agencies to handle their designs for them. So, if you’re an agency graphic designer, you’ll probably receive a creative brief from companies to work on projects for many different brands. You’re expected to be a design expert if you’re working as an agency designer. Often, agency graphic designers are very specialized in graphic design.

  In-house graphic designer

  If you’re working as an in-house graphic designer, you’re employed by an established company, and your work only revolves around that single brand. In this scenario, you’re more of a graphic design generalist, so you can meet your organization’s creative needs.

  Freelance graphic designer

  Working as a freelance graphic designer is quite possibly the most difficult job, in my opinion, because you are expected to handle all design requests and run every aspect of your business. Sure, there are perks like working on your own time and space, but you will need knowledge in more areas than graphic design. 

   

  What’s the difference between UI and UX design? Why youth like it?

  With the rise of digital products, two roles often overlap with graphic design: User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.

  • UX design: Focuses on functionality, structure, and how users interact with a product. UX designers conduct user research and build wireframes to optimize usability.
  • UI design: Deals with the look and feel of digital products. UI designers style buttons, icons, menus, and layouts to ensure consistency and appeal.

  While traditional graphic design is more visual, UI/UX expands into user behavior and interaction design. Many graphic designers evolve into UI/UX roles with added skills in prototyping and user research.

  UX designers work to improve a product’s usability, accessibility, and users’ pleasant interaction with it, to maximize customer satisfaction. This is done by performing pain points and usability analyses post-product launch.

  UI designers require a good understanding of users’ needs because they focus on anticipating what users will need to do on the device and ensuring that the interface has the elements that make those actions possible. These elements include dropdown lists, toggles, breadcrumbs, notifications, progress bars, etc.