Graphic design is the craft of creating visual content to
communicate messages. Applying visual hierarchy and page layout techniques,
graphic designers use typography and pictures to meet users’ specific needs and
focus on the logic of displaying elements in interactive designs to optimize
the user experience.
Top 10 myths about graphic design :
1. Graphic design is
just about creating logos
Logos are an important graphic design asset for any
business. They become an emblem of your company, which people will come to
identify with your brand values and what you offer.
Graphic design isn’t solely about creating logos. Graphic
design is the art of creating visual content to communicate a certain message. Mockup
2. Graphic design is
only for print mediums
In 2018, graphic design encompasses a wide range of digital
mediums, perhaps even more so than print. This includes website banners, social
media graphics, and email newsletters. Many graphic designers even find that
their roles now cross over with web and UX (user experience design), content
creation and social media.
3. Graphic design
only uses still images
Graphic design is no longer limited to still imagery or
graphics. As video continues to grow into one of the most powerful advertising
mediums, animation and videos are becoming an important part of the graphic
design toolkit. This includes GIFs, graphics for YouTube videos, animated
infographics and social media ads featuring a slideshow of images and
graphics.
4. You need fancy
tools for graphic design
Most professional graphic designers use complex design
software and a tablet with a stylus for freehand design elements. While these
resources can give designers more freedom with their designs, they can be quite
expensive and take years to master. The good news is, the average person
doesn’t need to invest in these pricey tools to create graphic design elements.
There are many free design tools on the market (including
Canva) that make graphic design easy and accessible. Using these tools for
every piece of branding collateral will help give your brand an elevated and
professional look.
5. Graphic design is
just about picking the right font
The art of arranging text is one of the key elements of
creating beautiful designs. However, this is not simply about choosing a font
that looks good. You must consider which font type suits your brand
message, values and target demographic. PSD
Mockup
6. Graphic design is
about following visual trends
As with any creative industry, trends rapidly come and go in
the graphic design world. In 2018, it was all about handwritten fonts, pastel
colors, and textures. It’s more than likely that 2019 will bring with it a new
crop of visual trends.
It's the job of graphic designers to stay on the pulse of
these trends, but not be a slave to them. The same can be applied to beginners
who are creating graphic design assets for their own business.
Trends can be fun to incorporate into your designs, but they
shouldn’t be the main focus. Designs that incorporate fleeting trends can easily
look dated a few months down the track, meaning they will no longer have a
powerful impact on their audien.
7. You need to be a
natural born creative to do graphic design
It’s true that many graphic designers have a natural
creative streak and visual eye, hence why they gravitate towards the field.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be a natural born
creative to make effective designs. Like anything, graphic design is a skill
that can be taught and learned.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not always just about
having a vision and magically bringing it to life. Graphic design is as much a
science as it is an art. There is a method and technique to it, which begins with
being aware of the various elements that make up a powerful and effective
design.
8. Graphic design is
about making things pretty
This design concept for alcohol brand 19 Crimes is far more
gritty than it is pretty, but the grunge aesthetic perfectly complements the
brand. By Cory Andres via Dribbble.
One of the biggest misconceptions about graphic design is
that it is simply about making things look ‘pretty’ or aesthetically pleasing.
However, this is not always the case. Firstly, ‘pretty’ is a highly subjective
term. What one person thinks looks good, may look tacky or messy to another.
Secondly, ‘pretty’ isn’t always the goal of graphic design. While making
designs look neat and beautiful in the traditional sense may work for a women’s
beauty or fashion brand, this may not necessarily work for a men’s hardware
brand.
The objective of the design isn’t always to make the
audience think, “Oh, that looks pretty” either. Sometimes, it’s to shock the
viewer, prompt thought, or even make them angry.
9. Graphic design is
about what the creator thinks looks good
Similarly, graphic design isn’t just about what the creator
thinks looks nice in a design. Of course, it’s important for a designer to use
their best judgment as to what is going to look best on the page. Ultimately,
designers shouldn’t be designing for themselves or even their client, but
rather their audience. Often, professional graphic designs are required to put
their personal tastes aside in order to create visuals that are going to
resonate with their audience. The same approach should be taken by people
DIYing their graphic design using an app like Canva.
10. Graphic design is
about creating 100% original designs every time.
Originality is important when it comes to graphic
design—it’s what allows you to set your brand apart from competitors. However,
this doesn’t mean you have to create 100% original designs from scratch every time
you want to make visual materials. Even professional graphic designers set up
templates, for when they are going to be creating similar assets on an ongoing
basis. This allows them to achieve consistency across their brand collateral.
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