It takes considerable effort to create a fantastic website or visual interface. That is what graphic design is all about. With graphic design, it is possible to make an image that communicates a message for a brilliant user experience. The graphic designer will ensure a fabulous page layout with excellent typography and stunning pictures for the site or application.
Here is what you should consider when you want to explore graphic design.
The User is at the Centre
The best graphic designers always focus on the end viewer and how these users will interpret the images, typography and colours. The design needs to be aesthetically appealing, and everything within the design must serve a purpose. Designers must have some empathy in their work so that all visual elements are highly usable.
For entertainment purposes, you must consider whether your design is for websites, or you need to optimize it for mobile viewing or applications. For mobile solutions, swiping ability and thumb clicks become central to how the design is executed. Therefore, every element of design for mobile needs to be usable, meaningful and enjoyable.
Decide on a Type of Graphic Design
Not all graphic design is the same. There are three main types of graphic design. Before you get started, decide on which one you would like to do the most. It is far better to specialise and perfect one than spread yourself thin by figuring out different types. For online design, you could try:-
Motion Graphics Design – This is also known as animation and involves giving life to visual elements. This can be done through special effects, particularly in video games, tv shows and movies.
Information Architecture – This looks at design from a structure perspective regarding how a website or design has its content organized. Users need to be able to find information when they want it and also complete key tasks.
Website Design – This requires making web pages highly intuitive so that users have an excellent experience. Through web design, graphic designers can use colour and layout and add a touch of creativity to the navigation process.
UX (User Experience) Design – This part of graphic design is all about making sure that an application or website is usable. The focus is on making it adaptable to match the needs and requirements of the user.
A Brilliant Graphic Design Example
Consider that you are creating a website for a financial service provider. As a colour consideration, you may choose blue as this is preferred in this sector. When a user expects a message or alert while a transaction, there are other specific colours that confirm whether it is ok to proceed or if the transaction should be halted. Green is ideal for moving forward, while red indicates a problem or error with the transaction.
The next consideration should be the font. For financial service providers, italic or cursive fonts are not used. Instead, a graphic designer will choose a simple serif font that can be bolded for headings.
The overall intention of the site design is to ensure that user emotions are guided in the right way and the entire experience using the site is seamless. This also applies to the overall beauty of the site, which should reflect the culture and brand of the institution.
For any graphic designer, creative thinking is at the core of a powerful and intentional result. Focus on one area of design so that you can exhaust all the possibilities in that area. With this knowledge, you will quickly discover how to ensure your designs are consistently exceeding expectations.