If you have chosen to pursue a career in graphic design, whether as a full or freelance graphic designer. Prospective graphic designers need to know the several types of graphic design, so as to choose the type that suits them most.
When most people hear ‘Graphic Design’ they think of Logos, banners, billboards, and flyers. Graphic design is way more than designing logos, even though logo design is part of graphic design.
However, most graphic designers are Jack of all trades and may be able to work with different companies. But it is advisable to choose a niche.
Before we dive into the 7 types of graphic design, let’s start with the definition of graphic design.
Table of Contents
What is Graphic Design?
Graphic Design, also known as visual communication design, is the art or profession of creating visual content that communicates messages to an audience.
Elements of graphic design include line, shape, color, typography, texture, size, and shape.
7 Types of Graphic Design Careers to Explore
Most companies require the services of a graphic designer, but the 7 types of graphic design careers are required most.
As a prospective graphic designer, it’s important to know the types of graphic designers, in order to choose the type of graphic design that suits you most.
Below are the most popular types of graphic design to pursue a career:
- Brand Identity Design
- Marketing/Advertising Design
- Packaging Design
- User Interface Design
- Publishing Design
- Animation Design
- Environmental Design
1. Brand Identity Design
This is the most common type of graphic design. Brand identity includes the visual elements associated with a brand e.g color, logo, typography e.t.c. For instance, the red-colored N is the brand identity for Netflix.
Brand identity designers focus on the process of creating logos, company letterhead, color palettes, business cards, brand guides e.t.c.
2. Marketing/Advertising Design
Advertising design involves the creation of visual designs to specifically promote a product or service. In simple words, advertising design is solely made to sell a product or service.
Marketing designers are responsible for creating social media ads, banners, flyers, brochures and posters, billboards, email marketing templates, PowerPoint presentations, infographics e.t.c.
To succeed in marketing design, you must possess the following skills: excellent communication, creativity, marketing, research, and time management.
3. Packaging Design
Packaging Design is the connection of form, shape, color, image, typography, as well as knowledge of packaging materials to create packaging solutions.
Most physical products like shoes, bags, cereals e.t.c. needs packaging for protection, storage, and marketing.
Packaging designers are responsible for designing shoe boxes, cloth tags, cans, bottles, makeup package containers, labels e.t.c.
Apart from graphic design skills, packaging designers require marketing skills and a good knowledge of printing.
4. User Interface Design
User Interface (UI) Design is the process of designing interfaces that users find easy and pleasant to use.
UI Designers create interactive visual content for apps and websites. User Interface designers can work on projects like web page design, theme design for WordPress sites, game interfaces, and app design.
In addition to knowledge of graphic design apps, UI designers require the basic knowledge of coding, wireframing, UX design, and prototyping.
5. Publishing Design
Publishing designers are responsible for creating layouts for magazines, newspapers, books, and other types of publications. They with closely with writers and editors.
Publishing designers work on projects such as book covers, magazines and newspaper layouts, ebook layouts, catalogs e.t.c. This type of graphic design requires the knowledge of topography, layout principles, and printmaking.
6. Animation Design
Animation Design involves the creation of visual effects and animated designs for video games, movies, apps, websites, and even social media posts.
This type of graphic design requires the following skills: drawing, editing, quick sketching ability, creativity, attention to detail, and time management.
Animation Designers work on projects such as videogames, cartoons, and animations for movies, motion graphics, and animated social media graphics.
7. Environmental Design
Environmental design involves the connection of people to places visually, thereby improving experiences by making places easier to navigate. It requires an understanding of both graphic design and architecture.
Environmental designers are responsible for creating signage, wall murals, office branding, stadium branding, wayfinding systems, museum exhibitions, public transportation navigation, retail store interiors e.t.c.
Graphic designers are expected to be proficient in software like create.vista.com.
The graphic design software provides several video tutorials, and blog posts to assist with the learning of graphic design.
There are also several free templates for social media posts, logos e.t.c.
