Concept
Graphic Design
Design
Arts, Music & Media
Brand & MarketingWhat is graphic design?
Graphic design is the craft of communicating through static visual compositions that combine images, shapes, icons and typography. The Agency editorial presents it as the field where most designers start, because it covers the fundamentals and a wide range of techniques and principles that can be applied in other fields.
In short
Graphic design organizes text and image to convey a message in print and on screens. The term is usually credited to the American designer William Addison Dwiggins, who used it in 1922. In Design.3 it is one of three fields of design described. The article says that an outdoor, a magazine ad or an Instagram post all present static images and so need a graphic designer who understands core principles such as symmetry, layout, hierarchy, contrast, accessibility, balance, colour and alignment.
Key facts
- Why do most designers start in graphic design, according to the article?
- Because it covers not only the fundamentals but also a wide range of techniques and principles that can be applied in other fields.
- What does a graphic designer need to handle?
- Not only images but also shapes, icons and typography with semiotic capabilities, with an understanding of core design principles like symmetry, layout, hierarchy, contrast, accessibility, balance, colour and alignment.
- What kinds of graphic design projects does the article distinguish?
- Commercial ones, like ads, posts, infographics and illustrations, and more artistic ones, like album artworks, wallpapers and book covers.
What is graphic design?
Graphic design is the practice of planning and composing visual messages with type, image, colour and form. It grew out of printing, posters and publishing, and today covers everything from brand identities and packaging to social media posts. The name is usually credited to William Addison Dwiggins, who used it in 1922 to describe his own work with books, lettering and advertising. Its principles of composition are the basis on which the other design disciplines build.
How does graphic design appear in the Agency editorial?
Design.3 describes graphic design in its section on fields of design, after packaging design and before UX design. The article calls it the field where most designers usually start and explains why: static images, from an outdoor to a magazine ad or an Instagram post, need to be created by someone who can handle images, shapes, icons and typography with semiotic capabilities.
The edition also links the field to a role. The heading of the section on art directors reads Art Directors (Or Graphic Designers), and the author illustrates the field with references from his own early and recent years of artistic graphic work.
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Also from these editions: concepts
Also from these editions: terms
Related terms
- Infographicnoun
- A visual representation of information, data, or technical knowledge designed to present complex material clearly and quickly. It combines charts, diagrams, and concise text to reveal underlying patterns.
- Typographynoun
- The art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing. It encompasses typeface selection, point size, line spacing, tracking, and spatial kerning.
Related concepts
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- Packaging DesignPackaging design is the discipline of creating the exterior container, label, and graphics for physical consumer products. It protects goods during transit while…
- Visual HierarchyVisual hierarchy is the arrangement and presentation of design elements in an order that implies importance. By adjusting size, contrast, color, and spacing, it guides…