More on Graphic Design: The Seven Types of Graphic Design

Over the years, graphic design as a profession has evolved and developed several branches. Graphic design although primarily remains solving problems using visual aids to pass messages, has developed other means to convert ideas and present it to others. These days, graphic design is seen in marketing, web development, customer relation, brand building and development, medical scene, educational sector, motion picture, print and so many other sectors. 

Hence, graphic design is no more making art using images and texts. It has spread its branches into other sectors. In this post, we will outline and discuss the various types of graphic design in practice today.

Types of Graphic Design

Effectively conveying ideas and messages and also problem solving through the use of images, text and colours are the crux of graphic designing. As such, there are quite a number of ways in which graphic designers achieve this.

These ways constitute the different types of graphic design. Some graphic designers specialize in only one form of graphic design, while some others combine multiple forms of graphic design to solve problems for their clients.

The types of graphic design include:

1. Corporate Graphic Design

2. Marketing/advertising graphic design

3. Motion graphic design 

4. Print graphic design

5. Web graphic design

6. Digital graphic design

7. Packaging graphic design

Corporate Graphic Design

This form of graphic design specializes on branding of companies or organizations. Branding is a crucial stage every business or company must undergo either once repeatedly over time. A business brand is its identity, it tells the business’ purpose, values and goals through the use of images, the brand logo, brand colours and brand name.

Graphic designers collaborate with brand development specialists to create and design unique brand markers such as logos for their clients. Corporate graphic design is considered really vital in the business sector. Corporate graphic designers are mostly separate agencies.

Examples of corporate graphic design includes:

1. Logos

2. Developing brand colours

3. Business cards

4. Brand pattern, etc.

Marketing/Advertising Graphic Design

Marketing or advertising graphic design are usually the most common forms of graphic design. Most graphic designers who are not into full marketing graphic design can also do at least beginner level marketing designs. Graphic designers collaborate with business owners or marketing teams to create designs that would produce the best marketing results and lead to good ROI.

In order to create good marketing designs, the graphic designer would have to understand the product or service being marketed and also the target market for the marketing campaign.

Examples of marketing or advertising graphic designs include:

1. Flyers

2. Banners

3. Marketing Animations

4. Digital graphic designs

5. Social media ads

6. Email marketing templates

7. Vehicle wraps, etc. 

Motion Graphic Design

Though it might not seem like it, but graphic designers are not only limited to static art. Although motion graphics is a relatively new page for graphic designers, it has become increasingly popular especially for ads in the digital marketing sect.

Motion designers might work under an organization, as freelancers or in a graphic design agency. Motion graphic design is simply graphics in motion. Motion design includes animations, typography, video effects, imagery, etc. used in for digital marketing, television, in movies (e.g. where we see bubbles that show chats or a phone’s screen). 

Examples of motion graphic designs include;

1. Special effects in movies

2. Animations 

3. Video animated ads

4. Promotional videos

5. GIFs

6. Movie trailers, etc.

Print Graphic Design

Print graphic design alongside marketing graphic designs constitute the most common forms of graphic designs. In that, print and marketing graphic designs are what people most often associate graphic designing with. Print graphic design deals with designing for print. It might be print on plastic, fabric, paper, flex banners or other objects.

Graphic designers in print might specialize in one form of printing or multiple forms.

Examples of Print graphic design:

1. Flyers

2. Magazines and book covers

3. Flex banners

4. Pamphlets, etc.

Web Graphic Design

This form of design is a subset of UI and UX design. The UI designer works closely with front end web developers and sometimes the marketing team to bring to life the designs created. Web design goes a step further than the traditional graphic design principles to create an interface that a user can use to interact with a website or an application.

Hence, web design uses elements such as colours, lines, text, icons, buttons, text boxes, etc. 

Digital Graphic Design

These are not necessarily a separate form of graphic design. This form of design is made specifically for digital platforms not for print or otherwise.

They are tailored to match the specifics of a digital platform such as social media platforms, search engines, email platforms, etc.

Graphic designers who specialize in corporate designs and marketing designs most often also specialize in creating digital graphic designs.

Packaging Graphic Design

This type of graphic design is very important and sought after in the manufacturing sector. Packaging designs include all kinds of designs on product packages such as cans, tins, plastic bottles, jars, containers, buckets, glass jars, etc. Graphic designers that work on packaging might specialize on specific type of packaging or might juggle multiple types. These designers have a basic understanding of how designs work on the materials they work with and need strong creative and problem solving skills to find the best ways to bring their clients ideas to life. 

Conclusion