The 8 types of graphic design
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 4:58 am
Graphic design uses visual compositions to solve problems and communicate ideas through typography, images, colors, and shapes. There is no one way to do this, which is why there are several types of graphic design, each with its own area of specialization.
While they often overlap, each type of graphic design requires a specific set of skills and design techniques. Many designers specialize in a single type; others focus on a set of similar, related types. But because the industry is constantly changing, designers need to be adaptable and learners in order to change or add specializations throughout their careers.
Whether you're an aspiring designer or looking for design services for your business, understanding the eight types of graphic design will help you find the right skills for the job.
1. Graphic design of visual identity
A brand is a relationship between a company or organization and its audience. A brand identity is how an organization communicates its personality, tone, and essence, as well as memories, emotions, and experiences. Brand identity graphic design is exactly that: the visual elements of a brand identity that act as the face of a brand to communicate these intangible qualities through images, shapes, and colors.
Designers who specialize in visual identity graphic design collaborate with brand stakeholders to create assets such as logos, typography, color palettes, and image architects mailing list libraries that represent a brand’s personality. In addition to standard business cards and corporate stationery, designers often develop a set of visual brand guidelines (style guides) that outline best practices and provide examples of visual branding applied across various media. These guidelines help ensure brand consistency across future applications.
Brand identity graphic designers must have a general knowledge of all types of graphic design to create design elements suitable for all visual mediums. They also need excellent communication, conceptual and creative skills, and a passion for researching industries, organizations, trends, and competitors.
2. Graphic design for marketing and advertising
When most people think of graphic design, they think of designs created for marketing and advertising.
Businesses rely on successful marketing efforts to tap into the decision-making process of their target audience. Great marketing engages people based on their wants, needs, awareness, and satisfaction with a product, service, or brand. Since people will always find visual content more engaging, graphic design helps organizations promote and communicate more effectively.
Marketing designers work with business owners, directors, managers, or marketing professionals to create assets for marketing strategies. They may work alone or as part of an in-house or creative team. Designers may specialize in a specific type of media (vehicle wraps or magazine ads, for example) or create a wide range of collateral for print, digital, and beyond. While traditionally print-centric, this role has grown to include more digital assets, especially for use in content marketing.
Marketing Graphic Design Examples
Postcards and leaflets
Magazine and newspaper advertisements
Posters, banners and billboards
Infographics
Brochures (print and digital)
Vehicle stickers
Exhibition and trade show displays
Email Marketing Templates
PowerPoint Presentations
Menus
Social Media Ads, Banners and Graphics
Banner and Remarketing
Images for websites and blogs
Marketing designers need excellent communication, problem-solving, and time management skills. In addition to being proficient in various graphic design, layout, and presentation applications, they must also be familiar with production for both print and online environments.
3. User interface graphic design
A user interface (UI) is how a user interacts with a device or application. User interface design is the process of designing interfaces to make them easy to use and provide a user-friendly experience.
A user interface includes all the things a user interacts with—screen, keyboard, and mouse—but in the context of graphic design, user interface design focuses on the user’s visual experience and the design of on-screen graphical elements like buttons, menus, micro-interactions, and more. It’s the user interface designer’s job to balance aesthetic appeal with technical functionality.
User interface designers specialize in desktop applications, mobile applications, web applications, and games. They work closely with UX (user experience) designers (who determine how the application works) and UI developers (who write code to make it work).
While they often overlap, each type of graphic design requires a specific set of skills and design techniques. Many designers specialize in a single type; others focus on a set of similar, related types. But because the industry is constantly changing, designers need to be adaptable and learners in order to change or add specializations throughout their careers.
Whether you're an aspiring designer or looking for design services for your business, understanding the eight types of graphic design will help you find the right skills for the job.
1. Graphic design of visual identity
A brand is a relationship between a company or organization and its audience. A brand identity is how an organization communicates its personality, tone, and essence, as well as memories, emotions, and experiences. Brand identity graphic design is exactly that: the visual elements of a brand identity that act as the face of a brand to communicate these intangible qualities through images, shapes, and colors.
Designers who specialize in visual identity graphic design collaborate with brand stakeholders to create assets such as logos, typography, color palettes, and image architects mailing list libraries that represent a brand’s personality. In addition to standard business cards and corporate stationery, designers often develop a set of visual brand guidelines (style guides) that outline best practices and provide examples of visual branding applied across various media. These guidelines help ensure brand consistency across future applications.
Brand identity graphic designers must have a general knowledge of all types of graphic design to create design elements suitable for all visual mediums. They also need excellent communication, conceptual and creative skills, and a passion for researching industries, organizations, trends, and competitors.
2. Graphic design for marketing and advertising
When most people think of graphic design, they think of designs created for marketing and advertising.
Businesses rely on successful marketing efforts to tap into the decision-making process of their target audience. Great marketing engages people based on their wants, needs, awareness, and satisfaction with a product, service, or brand. Since people will always find visual content more engaging, graphic design helps organizations promote and communicate more effectively.
Marketing designers work with business owners, directors, managers, or marketing professionals to create assets for marketing strategies. They may work alone or as part of an in-house or creative team. Designers may specialize in a specific type of media (vehicle wraps or magazine ads, for example) or create a wide range of collateral for print, digital, and beyond. While traditionally print-centric, this role has grown to include more digital assets, especially for use in content marketing.
Marketing Graphic Design Examples
Postcards and leaflets
Magazine and newspaper advertisements
Posters, banners and billboards
Infographics
Brochures (print and digital)
Vehicle stickers
Exhibition and trade show displays
Email Marketing Templates
PowerPoint Presentations
Menus
Social Media Ads, Banners and Graphics
Banner and Remarketing
Images for websites and blogs
Marketing designers need excellent communication, problem-solving, and time management skills. In addition to being proficient in various graphic design, layout, and presentation applications, they must also be familiar with production for both print and online environments.
3. User interface graphic design
A user interface (UI) is how a user interacts with a device or application. User interface design is the process of designing interfaces to make them easy to use and provide a user-friendly experience.
A user interface includes all the things a user interacts with—screen, keyboard, and mouse—but in the context of graphic design, user interface design focuses on the user’s visual experience and the design of on-screen graphical elements like buttons, menus, micro-interactions, and more. It’s the user interface designer’s job to balance aesthetic appeal with technical functionality.
User interface designers specialize in desktop applications, mobile applications, web applications, and games. They work closely with UX (user experience) designers (who determine how the application works) and UI developers (who write code to make it work).