Graphic Design can be found everywhere. Graphic designers are everywhere. You can see graphic designers at work in the colorful signs and posters that advertise deals and pictures on the mall or airport. “Graphic Designing involves choosing or making marks, and then arranging them to communicate an idea on a surface” (Newark 12). The quote is very similar to the definition of graphic design, which is primarily visual communication. Graphic Design is defined in a variety of ways. It can include contrasting fine art, describing the role theory plays, or comparing graphic design to advertising.
Graphic Design has been mistakenly associated with fine arts by many people. This confusion occurs because we use similar tools to a painter or sculptor, but our purposes are completely different. What’s the difference between graphic design and fine arts? Fine arts are created by artists for themselves. They may also express their emotions through the art. Graphic Designing involves only the public. Graphic design is mainly visual communication. Visual communication is designed to be felt, so that the brain will pick up on the signal via eye contact.
One way to view a designer would be as a puzzle-building process. Ernest Gombrick in his seminal text ‘The Story of Art’said “There is really no such thing Art. Only artists exist” (Hembree 14.) This is not graphic design. Every graphic designer uses codes, patterns, shapes and genres. These patterns can be used to create a visual language that is constantly evolving and updating. Graphic designers are always interpreting their material through codes and visual forms.
Theory is derived from the books. Each designer, however, has their own theory. A theory is an organized set of ideas that are primarily based on history. Scientists and historians have to rely on their educated guesses or observations to formulate an idea. Drucker says, “I’m not sure that designers need theory. But I do think they need it” (Newark, 60). Designers must be able to create theories simply by glancing. It is because design does not require much intellectual reading.
Designers must have patience to complete all the steps. Designers are assigned specific problems to solve. They must have a clear understanding of the display, understand budget constraints, and consider other obstacles. Then they are either printed out or put on the internet for public viewing. Design is about creating order and executing a plan. (Hembree, 15) You will not be able to move forward with a project without order.
Advertisement shares many of these features. They use the same images, print media, websites, and logos.
Advertising promotes one product or a brand whereas designing is a collection of products and brands. Advertising and designing belong to the same family. However, advertising falls under designing.
Advertising is not graphic designing. It’s a completely different field. Advertising is different but is comparable to graphic designing. But advertising is done to get people to buy products, whereas graphic designing is solely for creativity and self-pleasure. Graphic designers also work with creating ideas through theories. A quote from Drucker, “I do not think that design is in need of theory. But I believe designers are” (Newark 61), has helped to clarify that it is actually the designer who creates theories. Graphic design may be about creating images, however it isn’t a simple task. It takes patience and concentration.