Graphic Design
Graphic design is meant to convey ideas and information in a creative and impactful way. Although it is present in many aspects of our lives, the impact of graphic design is not always considered or acknowledged. Whether it is meant to sell a product, share ideas, or instruct, the basic components are always there. It combines aesthetics and information for a specific purpose. Today, graphic design is used in product advertisement, signs for transportation and businesses, disbursement of information, and much more. This subject interests me because I enjoy aesthetically pleasing visuals and art. Graphic design is present all over the internet and social media, and I’m interested in how it is used correctly to draw attention to what the designer intends. I know when I see something if the design is well done and organized, or if it is messy and distracting, and I would like to find out more about why certain types of graphic design are used.
Type Design
Type design is the process of creating new typefaces, or fonts. These are formed into typeface families, using letters, numbers, ligatures, and punctuation. Type design played a crucial role in most other areas of graphic design. No matter the purpose, much of the types of design use words and therefore typefaces. This type of design is very detail oriented, and the designer must decide what is the best way to create the font based on the purpose they are going for. This is a very important area of design, as discussed here. Typefaces can be very expressive and need to fit the purpose they are being used for to best convey the information being presented. The style of the glyphs has to be cohesive and legible, while also being aesthetically pleasing. When doing a project or a presentation, typeface is one of the first elements I consider based on the topic. Is it serious or lighthearted? Informal or formal? Is there a font that meshes well with the emotion and information I am trying to present? Follow this link to learn more about Understanding typography, and this one to learn more about Typography, Layout, and Graphic Design.
Package Design
Package design is something we see very often online and in person. Consumerism is rampant in today’s culture, so companies need a way to grab the attention of their potential customers to sell their products. Package design has many important aspects that come together for a final product. The material, the shape, the color, text, images, etc. You can read about these in The five fundamentals of great package design. The general image and personality of the company, as well as the opinion and feedback of consumers, has a large impact on the decisions of the package designer. They may choose to match the colors to those of the company’s logo, or use colors that go with the theme of the product. An eco friendly bamboo toothbrush? How about green and brown? The packaging for a product has to be functional, visually pleasing, and informational, so that it draws in consumers and shows what the product is all about. Follow these links to learn more about Good Packaging Design and Design effectiveness.
