I What is Graphic Design? What am I paying for?
What do graphic designers do? Do they just create pretty pictures and designs that don’t reach anywhere or are of little value?
Graphic Design is the art of visual communication. To convey an idea, thought, message, purpose or statement through visual means.
Couldn’t you just design your own marketing pieces or get them done for less cost somewhere else? Why spend the money on a graphic designer? What is the value and worth of design? What expertise and knowledge can a designer bring to the table?
First let me explain the design process:
Information: A good graphic designer not only gathers information on the project but really gets to know the company and it’s product or service. Personally knowing the company is the only true way to create design that meets the company’s needs and differentiates their product or service from everyone else out there.
Ideas: In the ideas stage a designer will take the knowledge learned above and create several concepts for the project. They will then present and explain each one to the client and get approval to move ahead on one or a couple of them.
Editing: This is the clients turn to give feedback. All editing and revising of the piece is done here in this part to get the piece to the final stage. A good designer will really listen and accommodate changes as well as offer insight into revision to make the piece the best it can be.
Final: The piece is made print ready and sent to the printer. That means it is thoroughly proofread and checked to make sure fonts, color, images and everything is ready for the printer.
Graphic Designers knowledge, experience and expertise:
Graphic Designers know how to best layout a printed piece, how to use color, margins, fonts, space, printing techniques, paper and folds to be the most effective in accomplishing the intent of the printed piece. We have ability and talent, education, continued education, and real world experience to create for you. Designers are creative problem solvers for marketing and advertising your business. They show your customers and potential customers what your business is and how it can help them and spread your message and uniqueness as a company.
The value and importance of design:
Design is everywhere, constantly surrounding us – signs, TV commercials, banners, billboards, magazine advertisements, packaging and labels, online advertising and social media, email, newspapers and newsletters, flyers, brochures and much more. Through color, font, layout, images, graphics, and paper, it appeals to our very being – it touches all of our senses. Design helps establish a brand, a company, a product/service in the mind of the public. It creates the qualities, integrity and vision of the company and brand.