According to The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), graphic design "is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas." Using imagery and type, designers take a client's message and present it in such a way that the audience can easily access and understand the message.
Elements
All graphic design projects make use of images and type. Imagery can take on many forms including photography, illustration, paintings and drawings. Type involves not only the chosen typeface, or font, but also includes the words themselves. Connecting the words and images to tell stories is the main purpose of graphic design.
Tools
Depending on the message and purpose of the project, designers can use a variety of tools to complete the project. Most printed design projects are created on a computer using software packages such as Adobe InDesign for page layout and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for photo manipulation and image creation. These projects are then printed. Video projects utilize video cameras, audio equipment and editing software, while web design projects rely on image creation software and computer code. Based on the imagery selected, designers may use cameras or create artwork by hand using any number of artist mediums.
Education
Those seeking education in graphic design can obtain an undergraduate degree from a college or university or trade school, a masters degree from a university or on the job training. Aside from the technical skills necessary to use the graphic design software and hardware, successful designers need to understand a multitude of topics and theories including form and structure, composition, visual metaphor, signs and symbols and persuade and inform people.
Applications
The art of graphic design can be seen almost anywhere. Designers work on projects ranging from every day things such as the design of your cereal box or the artwork on your t-shirt to the way-finding system at a major amusement park. Graphic design projects span from tiny business cards to large billboards and from the logo on your toothbrush to the designs on the side of airplanes.
