Graphic Design: Definition, Functions, and Types

As digital media continues to evolve, graphic design has become a very important aspect of everything from corporate branding to media visual communication. Graphic design is a form of communication that is done visually and uses images or visuals as a medium to convey messages.

In this article, we will discuss what is graphic design and how it works, as well as the types of graphic design that suit your needs. Check out the following article for more explanations.

What Is Graphic Design?

Before you delve further into the topic, you need to understand what is graphic design its significance in the industry. Graphic design is a communication art that involves industry, art, and engineering to create visual images in various media, from print to digital and multimedia.

It involves the use of visual elements such as text, shapes, symbols, and images to convey a message to create proper understanding and perception among its audience.

So, why is graphic design important? Graphic design is an essential aspect of modern technology, as it can influence the perception and response of the target audience.

Functions and Goals of Graphic Design

In addition to understanding what is graphic design, you also need to know its function and purpose. Have a look at the explanation to understand what kind of graphic design suits your purpose.

1. Information and Communication Media Production

The purpose of graphic design is to convey information and communicate. Graphic design works can serve as an effective means of communication and information. For example, graphic design is used to create elements such as banners, slogans, images, and text that provide clear information.

The use of images in creating banners or slogans makes them more attractive than just using text alone so that the message conveyed can be easily understood by others.

2. Promotional Media Production

In addition to acting as a tool to convey information, the purpose of graphic design is to be a promotional medium. Many companies use graphic design to promote their commercial products.

The creation of advertisements, which can be in the form of static or moving images, is attractively designed to attract consumer interest in the products they offer.

3. Art Appreciation and Creativity

Graphic design is a medium for the appreciation of art because the creation process involves elements of art. Graphic designers need a high level of creativity to create interesting designs.

To further promote art and creativity, there are now many graphic design competitions that allow generations of graphic designers to showcase their creative talents.

4. As a Hobby and Profession

For people who have a hobby of drawing or painting, graphic design is a way to channel their interest. In addition, as the demand for graphic design continues to grow due to commercial needs for various purposes, graphic design can also be a potential source of income.

5. Adds Aesthetic Value

Last but not least, the purpose of graphic design is to improve the aesthetics of an image. Before graphic design, images looked more monotonous and took a long time to create, especially for images with a high level of difficulty. However, by using graphic design, images can become more visually appealing.

Types of Graphic Design

After you know what is graphic design and its function, it certainly also has several types that you can choose or adapt to your needs. Here are some graphic design examples commonly found around us.

1. Marketing and Advertising

Graphic design plays an important role in marketing and advertising. Infographics and social media content, as well as posters on billboards, are examples of graphic design for advertising and marketing.

While the two differ in content and purpose, advertising design focuses on a call to use a product or service, while marketing design communicates useful information about the product on offer to the audience to increase brand awareness.

2. Visual Identity

In the world of business and corporations, visual branding is a key element that displays the company's identity. One of the main components of visual branding is graphic design, which is known as visual identity.

The goal is to portray the unique characteristics and experiences associated with a brand or company. Products that fall under this umbrella include logos, colors, typography, and various other visual elements.

3. User Interface (UI)

User Interface (UI) is a type of graphic design that is the way users interact with a device or application. UI design aims to ensure that the user experience of the application is friendly and easy to use.

UI designers focus on desktop, mobile, web, and gaming applications. They work closely with user experience (UX) designers, who design how the application works.

4. Publishing and Printing

The next type of graphic design is publication and print graphic design, which requires careful planning to produce the best product.

Publication graphic design includes a variety of products such as newspapers, proposals, portfolios, and more that are carefully designed to effectively convey information.

5. Packing

Packaging is not only to protect the product but also important as a direct communication tool with consumers. Each element of packaging, such as the box, bottle, bag, or can, is an opportunity to tell the story of the product or brand.

Packaging designers are responsible for product concepts, mockups, and print-ready files. They require extensive knowledge of printing and industrial design and are often involved in creating other assets like photography, illustration, and visual identity.

6. Motion Graphics

Motion graphics or animation is a type of graphic design that presents results in the form of motion graphics or moving images. This type of graphic design is often found in movies, short videos, and advertisements.

In the animation design process, an animator must have a high level of accuracy and creativity. Compared to other types of graphic design, the level of difficulty is slightly higher. Some of the products are animated videos, movies, and others.

7. Layout

In the context of graphic design, layout plays an important role in determining the arrangement and balanced placement of a design or media used for the display of the design work. Its main function is to create an attractive and aesthetic appearance. The design is more pleasing to the eye and makes a better impression.

Graphic design layout is often an important requirement in the printing industry, especially to ensure that documents such as newspapers or magazines are organized and neat so that readers can easily read and enjoy them.

8. Art and Illustration

Art and illustration are often confused with graphic design, but they are different. Graphic design is a way to communicate and solve problems, while graphic artists and illustrators create original works of art. Their work can be fine art, decoration, or illustrations that tell a story.

Although not technically part of graphic design, graphic art and illustration are sometimes used in the context of graphic design for commercial purposes. Therefore, discussing one cannot be separated from the other in the world of graphic design.

That is for the explanation of what is graphic design and its types and usage. Graphic design is a medium or a visual work that plays an important role in the various needs of the work and is a skill that is needed in this era. After you know more on what is graphic design, you can explore its types with the help of graphic design software.

If you are in need of graphic design in your business design operations, you can try to get help from a professional team like VISUWISU. Visuwisu can help you with your visual asset creation needs. So don't hesitate to contact VISUWISU for your creative and visual business needs, and get the best offer from us!