A Look at Art & Design: What is graphic design?

September 23, 2007

What is graphic design?

Graphic Design and Web Design is a business that often involves behind the scenes activities. These activities and their end result are not produced by magic. Graphic design requires creativity, thought, and execution. So, I’d like to share a few thoughts with you about what graphic design and web design can accomplish and what it’s true value is..

I can say that good graphic design is not always about beauty, style and fashion. It is not about just "making things look pretty". First and foremost, it is about communication, and it should always have a positive direct bottom-line effect on an organization’s business.

When a client came to me and said "I want to get into a New York City gallery." but was unwilling to market himself, there was little I could do for him. I can't get him into any gallery without marketing efforts. I can't alert the galleries to his talent with ESP.

Good graphic design is about image building. All products, businesses and organizations develop personalities just as people do. Positive personalities (images and brands) are often among the most important assets any organization possesses. To not reinforce these positive visual images, or to not strength weak ones, is to leave a marketing vacuum which will be filled by a competitor.

I think one of the nicest descriptions I've read about the meaning and purpose of graphic design has been referenced at Noisy Decent Graphics. Ben Terrett has posted a series of window sign messages from Conran & Partners which attempt to describe the purpose and meaning of graphic design. Here are some of my favorite messages:

There is no such thing as a boring project. There are only boring executions.
Designers are messengers, we are not the message.
Design must seduce, shape, and perhaps more importantly, evoke an emotional response. (I'd like to add to this statement that successful graphic design is A Call To Action.)

Posted at 09:47 AM in Design | Permalink