Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

Well as computers have dominated a big part in the graphic
designer's creative processes; to a greater extent, they have
only given rise to high-speed designs and production.
According to William (2007), “before computers, layouts
could take days and the final artwork was not as detailed or
complete as designs created today.”
Distinctly, then, many artists with good computer skills and
creativity have turned out to be efficient in most graphic
design engagement techniques and applications—used
during processes of integrating images and texts. After
all, today, nearly all graphic design processes necessitate
touching on the digital. (Fiell et al. 2007; 7)
In their book Contemporary Graphic Design: Fiell & Charlotte
(2007, 7) explain that “in some ways the digital ascendancy
has eroded the professional graphic designer's status....”
But then, computers have not knocked out the creativity
of graphic designers. Actually, it is the graphic designer
who commands each design application used in personal
computers. Hence designers are expected to make a sketch
as the computer waits for input.
Most importantly, a sketch guides the first stage of a graphic
design. And this may involve discussing ideas, which led to
the reason of selecting a particular design. Other uses of a
sketch include; enhancing a concept, helping to compose the
basic layout of a design, processing/researching solutions of
a design visually, its also a client communication and it can
be used for very many design endorsements. In other words,
learners must understand that a computer is only meant to
reproduce ideas from a graphic designer's sketch.
However, not much can be unearthed within the time a
creative graphic designer spends in school. Since learning
about graphic design is very extensive. In Kyeyune's (2003;
40) view, “throughout 1935 to 1936 apart from ordinary
school lessons in drawing, little attempt was made to
give instructions in graphic arts and there is no society to
encourage its development.” Here we see that in spite of the
fact that graphic design is a vast branch of art and design
studies, not many of us are mindful of it. Probably because
graphic arts is not well explained in schools.
Moreover, “today it is not unusual for graphic designers to
go on to have post careers as art directors and production
designers.” (Fiell & Charlotte 2007, 7)
That is to say, a large number of proficient people work as
graphic designers because of its limitless line of duties.
Here is a table showing occupations of people who work as
graphic designers:
Graphic design careers
Interior design Film/Television Digital printing
Web design Product design Cartoon making
Animations Print making Interface designing
Illustration Architecture Exhibition/Display
Poster design Typography Pree-Press
Book design/
Publishing
Fabric decoration/
Fashion
Information Graphics
Uses of graphic design
Graphic design is held accountable for plenty of things—
in our daily lives. It serves to those who read and those who
are unable to read or write, hear or talk in the following
ways:
• Graphic design enables us to make intelligent use
of symbols—alone, or together with typography.
• It provides a utility support for suitable use of
useful vocabulary in the most convenient way.
• It is an important tool in all ways of advertising and
visual communications.
• Graphic designs bring orderliness and
arrangement of our social tendencies.
• Besides, graphic design regards FUNCTION as the
most important aspect of a working design.
Apart from that, a complete graphic design encompass
various visual elements and principles of design that are
worthy of attention. Smith (2005, 487) asserts, “... graphic
design principles guide designers who are laying out
the various elements in an advertisement, brochure, or
magazine page based on sensitivity to such visual concepts
as unity, direction, dominance and contrast.” Thus, other
examples of elements of design used by graphic designers
include line, shape, texture and colour. Yet, movement,
balance, emphasis are among the few principles of design
commonly used by graphic designers. Read more from Chapter
Two.
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