Why Graphic Design?
My experience with graphic design is very minimal but, I have always enjoyed admiring all the pieces that are put out into the world in various ways from magazines to movie posters, and my favorite packaging. It’s amazing to see all the detail that goes into every product and I have always wondered about how the whole process works. I did not take this class to help me in my future career but more for my own personal interest to see if I am capable of doing this kind of work. I think of myself as a pretty creative person but, my struggle begins when I try to put what is in my mind into something that everyone can see. I hope that this class can help me overcome that obstacle.
Package Design
In my opinion, the packaging of a product is a big factor of whether it is successful or not. It is the first thing that consumers see before they even get a hold of the actual product. Growing up, everyone is told, “don’t judge a book by its cover” but, when it comes to products, if what surrounds it doesn’t catch your eye or is poorly presented, the chances of you actually going through with that purchase are smaller than if it was an eye catcher. One example of this is makeup. Makeup brands establish their name and intention by the look and style of their packaging. It is very obvious whether a brand put effort into the design of their packaging or not. With every product, the packaging is usually created to target a specific audience while connecting it with the theme of the product as well. For example, if you are trying to target the younger generations, they might include bright colors and sparkles to catch their eyes compared to if the target audience was on the older side, the design might be more “sophisticated” and toned down to fit within the general stereotypes. This link lists more things to think about when creating a product.
Publication Design
It’s amazing just how many different things fall into the category of publication design. Posters, magazines, newspapers, manuals, it has so many different layers to it. Big magazines like Vogue and People have a very different purpose compared to National Geographic or HGTV. Getting the information needed out to their audience is important but, I think the more important part is how creative they are in the way that information is put out. Font, design, texture, and color scheme are just a few aspects of creating the final product. Another aspect of this form is the photography, which is another reason that it interested me. The overall goal is to combine all of these and hopefully create something that will attract people to read the articles and subscribe to the magazine. You want the design to leave an impact on the readers.
