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What Is Graphic Design?

Learn what graphic design is from UX mobile and web design consultant Chanelle Henry in this Howcast video.


Graphic design in its simplest sense is the ability to create design on multiple different mediums. So, the traditional sense is that a lot of people know it by print design. Maybe you're designing a brochure or an annual report or a flyer, a club flyer, or maybe you're doing like a website design or mobile application design which was more into interactive design. But the actual term graphic design just basically means that you understand the fundamentals of like color, color theory, typography, how it all lines up on a grid, following a grid, not following a grid, and being able to visually express what it is that you or your client or whoever is hiring you or whoever you're partnering with, that you're able to express their idea in the best way visually. So, that's really like the best definition, for now, of graphic design. It spans so many different areas.

So you see it all around you. Graphic design can be the signs that you see outside of the store. Also, book cover art. Like that has a lot to do with knowing how to represent the book and how to make it look, how to make it appeal to this target audience. At the end of the day, you want to make sure that whatever or whoever you're designing for will get the message. So, if you're designing for seniors, you can't have small print. It's just being very conscious about the way that you visually express things. So when you're looking at programs or schools or different jobs, you'll always see that the main thing is understanding and an ability to communicate not only verbally, but visually.

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