An Introduction to Graphic Design

What is Graphic Design?

Traffic Sign

Graphic Design is all about creating image using a mixture of techniques like; illustration, printing, photography for a distinct purpose, whether that purpose is to educate, advertise or inform. By modern standards, Graphic design can be displayed in a variety of media and forms. Possibly the most obvious example for people to notice are posters. Posters that advertise products or events all include some form of graphic design. Graphic Design can also be found in places we don’t usually relate to this discipline. Things like road traffic signs also fall under the umbrella that is graphic design. Road traffic signs use imagery that was created by a designer for the sole purpose of informing drivers or pedestrians of vital traffic information, this is a prime example of graphic design and it shows clearly its distinction from other art forms.

Graphic Design and Art

I feel it is somewhat important to note the difference between Graphic Design and something like Fine Art. While both of these disciplines tend to overlap on various instances, their key similarity is that they both try to convey some form of visual message. While this is what I see as their biggest similarity, I also see it as where they differentiate the most.  Yes they both try to convey a message, but the content of said message is where the distinction between these schools lie. In Fine Arts, the artist tries to invoke some form of thought into the viewer, and the viewer could also take that message with his/her own personal interpretation. In Graphic Design, I feel like there is less of that and the message is more direct and specific. With the message Graphic Designer send out to their viewers, they usually leave no room for interpretation as that is the nature of design. If a designer were tasked to create an image to advertise a product, the designer would create this image with the sole purpose to make the viewer want to purchase said product. The designer leaves no room for philosophical questioning and goes straight to the point, relaying his message of advertising clearly, and in a concise manner.

History

Painting in Cauvet Cave

 With that distinction in mind, we can now distinguish between images found in our history and prehistory on whether they fall under the Graphic Design banner or not.  Designs like the early cave paintings in the Chavet cave in France could be potentially considered graphic design with that distinction in mind. These cave paintings relay simple information about the immediate world around them at the time, similar to how we now relay information using iconography and the like. The early forms of typography like the Ancient Egyptians and the Chinese are also examples of Graphic Design.

Calligraphy by Wang Xizhi

Considering that the first examples could be arguably seen as far as I previously pointed out, we can see that graphic design has a vast history and this small write up can only scratch the surface of the huge amount of information about this subject. I did personally find it interesting to be reminded of just how relevant graphic design is in our daily lives. Even sitting here writing this blog, anywhere I were to look I could spot no less than 5 examples of graphic design. I found that quite eye opening. 

References:

·         Aiga.org-aiga.org 2012- [http://www.aiga.org/guide-whatisgraphicdesign/][Last accessed on 01/11/2014]

·         Leslie Claire-examiner.com-May 22 2010- [http://www.examiner.com/article/the-difference-between-graphic-design-and-fine-art][Last accessed on 01/11/2014]