What is Graphic Design?
Plenty of people have a vague idea of what a graphic designer does, creating logos for businesses, working with images in Photoshop, and making magazine ads. Many graphic designers do these things, but really they’re just little elements of a much bigger picture.
Graphic design is about solving problems visually. A graphic designer uses text, illustrations, symbols, photography, textures, colors and letterforms to create print and web-based design for a huge variety of clients. Graphic designers are essentially visual problem-solvers who work fields such as branding, packaging, publishing, advertising and digital design. Movie posters, concert tickets, corporate reports, your favorite apps and of course this website … all rely on effective graphic design to get the reader's attention and help them get to the heart of what the client wants to say.
Graphic design is about communication. Good communication skills are an important part of the designer’s toolkit. Making designs that look great on the page is very nice, but one of the most important parts of the graphic design process happens even before you put pen to paper—listening to and interpreting what the client needs. What is the underlying problem they're trying to solve? When this has been established the designer can work with the client to find the best way to visually communicate their message to the target audience and impact them in a positive way.
Design Principles: The five core design principles are:
source: http://shillingtonschool.com/graphic-design-course/what-will-i-learn/design-theory
Plenty of people have a vague idea of what a graphic designer does, creating logos for businesses, working with images in Photoshop, and making magazine ads. Many graphic designers do these things, but really they’re just little elements of a much bigger picture.
Graphic design is about solving problems visually. A graphic designer uses text, illustrations, symbols, photography, textures, colors and letterforms to create print and web-based design for a huge variety of clients. Graphic designers are essentially visual problem-solvers who work fields such as branding, packaging, publishing, advertising and digital design. Movie posters, concert tickets, corporate reports, your favorite apps and of course this website … all rely on effective graphic design to get the reader's attention and help them get to the heart of what the client wants to say.
Graphic design is about communication. Good communication skills are an important part of the designer’s toolkit. Making designs that look great on the page is very nice, but one of the most important parts of the graphic design process happens even before you put pen to paper—listening to and interpreting what the client needs. What is the underlying problem they're trying to solve? When this has been established the designer can work with the client to find the best way to visually communicate their message to the target audience and impact them in a positive way.
Design Principles: The five core design principles are:
- Balance
- Hierarchy to create organization and direction.
- Contrast for generating impact and highlighting important areas.
- Repetition to unify and strengthen the design.
- Alignment for creating a sharper, clearer outcome.
source: http://shillingtonschool.com/graphic-design-course/what-will-i-learn/design-theory
21st Century Skills Standards met in Web Design and Graphic Communications Classes.
Technology Content Standards met in Web Design and Graphic Communications Classes.
- Media Literacy - Understand how media messages are constructed, for what purposes and using which tools, characteristics and conventions.
- ICTLiteracy - Use digital technology and communication tools to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information in order to function in a knowledge economy.
- Communication - Articulate thoughts clearly and effectively through writing, speaking, and multi-media.
- Collaboration - Exercise flexibility and willingness to compromise to accomplish a common goal.
- Information Literacy - Understand the ethical and legal issues surrounding the access and use of information. Evaluate information critically and competently.
Technology Content Standards met in Web Design and Graphic Communications Classes.
- Students will understand the relationship among technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.
- Students will develop an understanding, and be able to use, a variety of communication technologies.
- Students will understand the many ways of communication, including the use of images and symbols.
