may want to specialize in.
7 Major Types of Graphic Design
If you are seeking answer to the question, “What are the types of graphic design?” this post provides detailed information you can use.
Please, continue reading:
Graphic design employs visual depictions to solve problems and convey ideas through color, form, typography, and imagery.
There are different ways to get the job done, hence the different types of graphic design, leading to various areas of specialization.
There are sometimes overlap but not too much to negate the fact that each area of specialization demands specific set of skills.
Some graphic designers stay with one area, while others can work with more than one area of specialization.
Whether you are a veteran designer or a newbie, understanding the seven types of graphic design will help you skill-up appropriately.
One of the constants in the industry is that it changes rapidly and to be relevant one must adapt with the changes.
7 Major Types of Graphic Design
The seven major types of graphic design you might want to build a specialization in include:
- User interface graphic design
- Vehicle wrap graphic design
- Motion graphic design
- Stationary design
- Art and illustration design
- Visual identity graphic design
- Marketing and advertising design
- User interface graphic design
This is one of the most popular types of graphic design. It is concerned with developing graphics seen in user interfaces in applications or software.
This type of graphic design is needed in most software development companies all over the world.
User interfaces make applications and software beautiful and attractive, especially if they are simple enough to help a new user find his/her way round the application with little or no help.
Examples of user interface graphic design include:
- Web page design
- App design
- Game interfaces
- Theme design (WordPress, Shopify, Magento, etc.)
- Vehicle wrap graphic design
Vehicles remain one of the most important tools or machinery most business people cannot do without today.
It is applicable to every aspect of life and business which requires advertisements and stuffs like that.
In some places, vehicles are used for adverts and as such those vehicles are branded with designs or logo of the company doing the advert. It is a good tool for advert.
- Motion graphic design
This deals with creating designs of moving objects used in movies and video games.
It is a class of graphic design which is in high demand today in many movie industries and gaming companies.
It is combined with 3D graphic design to create scintillating and nice movies and games that need some expressions requiring animations for some objects.
The moving and 3D give observers a reason to stick to the game or movie.
- Stationary design
Most of the stationeries we use every day are well designed to give out nice look and attraction.
This is done with the help of good graphic designers who specialize in developing specific designs for stationeries as demanded by the company.
Some of these designs could be the general logo of the company or a customization of already design stationery like pen, books, diaries, etc.
In either case, it is a type of graphic design that will always be on demand everywhere in the world.
- Art and illustration design
Graphic art and illustration are different things although many persons see them as same thing as graphic design.
While graphic designers create visuals and depictions to communicate an idea, graphic artists and illustrators make original artwork.
These arts come in different forms, they include decoration, fine art, storytelling, etc.
Even if graphic art and illustration do not fall into graphic design, in the context of commercial importance they complement graphic design really well.
It is hard to discuss one without mentioning the other.
- Visual identity graphic design
Graphics is about visuals and then voice. Graphics help a brand communicate its uniqueness and personality.
Visual identity graphic design is what makes this possible. A brand can express its intangible properties using images, color, and shapes.
Designers that major in visual identity graphic design create visual assets like logos, business cards and corporate stationary, color palettes, image libraries, and typography that embody a brand’s personality.
When people think of graphic design, they are mostly referring to the visual identity design, since it is perhaps the commonest type of design.
Visual identity graphic designers must command a good grasp of all types of graphic design so as to provide visual assets suitable to different purposes.
A good visual identity graphic designer must possess strong conceptual and creative skills supported by excellent communication.
They must also have passion to stay up to date researching organizations, competitors, and industries, and trends.
- Marketing and advertising design
It is easy for people to think of graphic design in terms of marketing and advertorial materials they see every time.
Companies rely on marketing to influence a favorable action from a prospect.
Since people find visual content engaging, it is easy to see how companies intend to create awareness and persuade audiences about their products and services using a visually compelling content.
A visually compelling content do a better job engaging people’s wants, needs, and cravings.
Marketing designers collaborate with company marketing professionals, managers, directors, owners to create visual assets for marketing purposes.
They may be independent producers like freelancers or business owners, or they may be part of the creative team or department.
Designers can be dedicated to a particular type of media, e.g. magazine ads and vehicle wraps or they could dabble into several types like print and digital media.
Examples of marketing graphic design include:
- Postcards and flyers
- Newspaper and magazine ads
- Posters, banners, and billboards
- Infographics
- Brochures (print and digital)
- Signage and trade show displays
- Social media ads, banners, and graphics
- Banner and retargeting ads
- Images for websites and blogs
- Email marketing templates
- PowerPoint presentations
- Vehicle wraps.
Conclusion
Although most people don’t know it but there are different types of graphic designs; this article listed the different types, not according to any order.