THE 8 TYPES OF GRAPHIC DESIGN YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT

Graphic Designing is the art of designing and arranging different visual elements in a certain way so as to create a strong impact on the audience. These designing elements include typography, shapes and images, colors, format, etc. It is a creative field that requires a thorough understanding of how to arrange and place visual components in the most effective and elegant manner. Depending on the kind of techniques and specialization required to design, there are several types of graphic designing. Most designers specialize in specific types of design but because the field is constantly evolving, designers must be open-minded and willing to keep learning and evolve their skills throughout their designing career.

If you are looking to expand your business, understanding the nuances of graphic designing will help you choose the best way to promote your brand.

Here are the most popular types of graphic design you must know about:-

1) VISUAL IDENTITY GRAPHIC DESIGN

The most common form of design is the visual identity graphic design. As the name goes, visual identity refers to the visible relationship that the brand establishes with its audience. For any brand/business to be recognized in the market, it must convey its personality and essence so as to build a good brand identity. The visual elements represent these messages through a fusion of proper designing components like text, images, patterns, color etc.

Visual Graphic design includes logo designing, font styles, color palettes and images to represent a desirable brand identity – it could also be done through business cards, professional stationary and other merchandise with customized designs.

2) MARKETING & ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGN

Marketing and advertising are an extremely popular space to showcase designs made to establish a brand reputation in the market. Visual content is a great tool to attract audiences and communicate ideas – and businesses use several marketing strategies to elevate their brand over competitors based on the target audience’s expectation and needs. With the evolving times, most marketing and advertising designs today take the online route for greater accessibility and reach.

Because there are several kinds of media, designers usually specialize in specific media types like brochures, info graphics, signage & trade show displays etc when creating collaterals for print and digital medium. Some other types of marketing graphic designs are:

· Email marketing templates

· Presentations

· Social media advertisements

· Hoarding and banner ads

· Menus and leaflets

· Vehicle wraps

· Print and digital brochures

· Billboards and posters

· Magazine/newspaper advertisements

3) USER INTERFACE GRAPHIC DESIGN

With more customer-centric models taking over the business world, UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) have become very important components of graphic designing. UI is all about coming up with applications that are user-friendly and easy to use form the customer’s point of view. Graphic designers deal with the visual elements that contribute in giving a pleasant experience to users like button placements, menus and drop downs, micro-interactions, display formats, etc while ensuring a balance between the performance and visual appeal. Here are some common examples of UI graphic designs:

· Game interfaces

· Web page designs

· Mobile/Desktop Application designs

· Thematic designs in blogs or apps

4) PUBLICATION GRAPHIC DESIGN

This is a common form of print medium involving a public distribution system we come across on a daily basis. Think of newspapers, books or magazines – however, there has been a rise in digital publications as well. Graphic designers specializing in Publications focus on layouts, formatting, font styles, illustration and artwork, etc. Some other examples of publication graphic designs are as follows:

· Newsletters

· Directories and Catalogues

· Annual Reports

5) PACKAGING GRAPHIC DESIGN

In a competitive market, most products rely on attractive packaging to establish a unique brand identity among other available products. Packaging design is an effective channel of communication with the audience, making it one of the most sought-after marketing mechanisms.

Packaging graphic designers must possess a thorough understanding of how to effectively convey a story to the customers, print processing tools and identifying specific industry requirements. There are specialized designers too in terms of the type of packaging (for example labels) or the type of industry they are designing for (for example beverage or utensils). It is vital to understand the contemporary trends in order to create effective packaging designs.

6) MOTION GRAPHIC DESIGN

Motion Graphic Designs can include motion graphics like videos, animation, images, text styles or specific video effects required in movies, online platforms or TV. With a lot of content being circulated in the online mode, the demand for these motion graphics has gone up exponentially. This is also one of the fastest growing forms of graphic design that is bound to grow in the years to come. Some common examples of graphic motion designs are: -

· GIFs and animated logos

· Promotional Videos

· Title sequences and end credits

· Tutorials

· Advertisements

· 3D modeling

7) ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGNING

Environmental Graphic Designs are meant to make places more accessible and memorable by aiding navigation through additional information in the form of signage, murals, architectural, interior or landscaping design concepts. An easy way to understand this is to think about way finding: comprising visual cues, signages and landmarks. Environmental Graphic Designing is also considered an interdisciplinary designing form that combines knowledge of architectural, industrial, and landscape models. Apart from print forms, Digital interactive designs are on a rise in the modern era that aim to create personalized and engaging experiences. Some examples are: -

♦ Exhibitions

· Public transport navigation systems

· Retail store interiors

· Conference halls

· Wall murals

· Stadium branding

8) ART & ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC DESIGN

Graphic artists and illustrators are specialized designers who are involved with creating original artwork including storytelling illustrations, interactive graphic designs, etc. They often combine tools from the fields of fine art, animation, or architecture. These graphic designs have become very popular and trendy these days, and several key brands use them to create a buzz amongst their target audience. This specialized form of design is also used to create independent media forms like video games, motion graphics and in some other forms of publications.

Some common examples of art & illustration designs are: 

· Comic books

· Technical illustration

· Book covers

· T-shirt designs

· Graphic novels

· Album art

· Video Games

· Concept art

To choose the right form of graphic design for your business can be a daunting task. A lot of thought and research must go into selecting the right kind of specialist one needs for a specific type of business. With the right design, your business has the potential to become an overnight sensation.