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What is Graphic Design?

Graphic Design

I’d never really had an interest in graphic design until I took a class in high school, and found that it was a form of art that I really enjoyed and felt successful in. I hope to be able to continue using the skills I learn from graphic design and all that goes into it in my everyday life while in college and after graduation.

Once I’d read further into the forms of graphic design that exist, I found that I really enjoy publication design and brand and identity design, because they show two completely separate worlds of design while still tying together the importance of showcasing one specific thing. I also feel that these two areas are very important to lifestyles in which we live today. 

Publication Design

I feel that publication design is interesting because I it’s a way to express how an article or piece of writing has affected you. I believe it allows for personal ideas to be placed into a work while still allowing for the writing to be effective and powerful. I’ve also noticed that I’m more likely to read something if there’s an interesting design or object which goes along with the article. For instance, if an article in the newspaper is discussing the dangers of prescription drugs, a  publication designer might add to the piece with images that show the negative effects of prescription drug use or a tipped over bottle with pills spilling out, and these imagines will help bring the reader even further into the writing. I like how it can enhance the impact of something and make it even more memorable overall.

Habits of a Publication Designer

Ruth Ansel

Cipe Pineles

Brand and Identity Design

Brand and identity design is really interesting to me because it’s a way of making something it’s own thing. During the graphics course I took in the past, I was instructed to think of a business, and then create a logo around it. This was really enjoyable for me because I took the idea of a business and what I wanted from it, and gave it it’s own identity. I’d chosen a coffee shop as my base idea, and ended up creating a logo that wasn’t the same as every other coffee shop logo out there. In order to make a unique logo, I had to consider all other logos out there and think about what hasn’t been done yet, which kept me working on the piece and improving it as much as I could. I feel that this type of design is important and memorable, because it can be seen everywhere. Starbucks Coffee is a successful brand, and it’s known for it’s logo that was created by a brand and identity designer who had to look at other coffee shops and find a way to make a unique and unforgettable image. 

About Paula Scher

Milton Glaser