CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................1

2. GRAPHIC DESIGN...............................................................................................................2

2.1. What is graphic design?...................................................................................................2

2.2. History of graphic design.................................................................................................2

2.3. Applications.....................................................................................................................4

2.4. Skills................................................................................................................................6

2.4.1. Aesthetical awareness...............................................................................................6

2.4.2. Typography...............................................................................................................7

2.4.3. Communication.........................................................................................................7

2.4.4. Collaboration.............................................................................................................8

2.4.5. Creativity.................................................................................................................10

2.4.6. Technology.............................................................................................................10

2.4.7. Time Management..................................................................................................11

2.4.8. Strategy...................................................................................................................11

2.4.9. Printmaking.............................................................................................................11

2.5. Graphic designer............................................................................................................12

3. CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................14

4. LITERATURE......................................................................................................................16
1. INTRODUCTION

Graphic design is the craft of creating visual content to communicate messages.

Applying visual hierarchy and page layout techniques, graphic designers use typography and
pictures to meet users’ specific needs and focus on the logic of displaying elements in
interactive designs to optimize the user experience. In this report I will talk about history of
graphic design, applications, skills, tools.

I have chosen this topic because I love English language as much as I love Informatics, so I
made decision to combine these two classes into one. In future, I want to study Informatics,
but without English language it would be harder to learn programming.
2. GRAPHIC DESIGN

2.1. What is graphic design?

Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving through

the use of typography, photography, and illustration. The field is considered a subset of visual
communication and communication design, but sometimes the term "graphic design" is used
synonymously. Graphic designers create and combine symbols, images and text to form
visual representations of ideas and messages. They use typography, visual arts, and page
layout techniques to create visual compositions. Common uses of graphic design
include corporate design (logos and branding), editorial design (magazines, newspapers and
books), wayfinding or environmental design, advertising, web design, communication design,
product packaging, and signage.1

2.2. History of graphic design

The term graphic design was coined by William Addison Dwiggins in 1922. However,
the origins of graphic design can be traced from the origins of human existence, from the
caves of Lascaux, to Rome's Trajan's Column to the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle
Ages, to the neon lights of Ginza, Tokyo.

In "Babylon, artisans pressed cuneiform inscriptions into clay bricks or tablets which were
used for construction. The bricks gave information such as the name of the reigning monarch,
the builder, or some other dignitary". This was the first known road sign announcing the name
of the governor of a state or mayor of the city.
The Egyptians developed communication by hieroglyphics that used picture symbols dating
as far back as 136 B.C. found on the Rosetta Stone. "The Rosetta stone, found by one of
Napoleon's engineers was an advertisement for the Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy as the ''true Son of
the Sun, the Father of the Moon, and the Keeper of the Happiness of Men''.
The Egyptians also invented papyrus, paper made from reeds found along the Nile, on which
they transcribed advertisements more common among their people at the time. During the
"Dark Ages", from 500 AD to 1450 AD, monks created elaborate, illustrated manuscripts.
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 Picture 1.: History of graphic design

Source: https://lwvprintworks.com/app/uploads/2017/06/Hieroglyphs_from_the_tomb_of_Seti_I.jpg

In both its lengthy history and in the relatively recent explosion of visual communication in
the 20th and 21st centuries, the distinction between advertising, art, graphic design and fine
art has disappeared. They share many elements, theories, principles, practices, languages and
sometimes the same benefactor or client. In advertising, the ultimate objective is the sale of
goods and services. In graphic design, "the essence is to give order to information, form to
ideas, expression, and feeling to artifacts that document human experience.

Graphic design in the United States began with Benjamin Franklin who used his
newspaper The Pennsylvania Gazette, to master the art of publicity to promote his own books
and to influence the masses.
Benjamin Franklin's ingenuity gained in strength as did his cunning and in 1737 he had
replaced his counterpart in Pennsylvania, Andrew Bradford as postmaster and printer after a
competition he instituted and won. He showed his prowess by running an ad in his General
Magazine and the Historical Chronicle of British Plantations in America (the precursor to
the Saturday Evening Post) that stressed the benefits offered by a stove he invented, named
the Pennsylvania Fireplace. His invention is still sold today and is known as the Franklin
stove.
American advertising initially imitated British newspapers and magazines. Advertisements
were printed in scrambled type and uneven lines that made it difficult to read. Franklin better
organized this by adding 14-point type for the first line of the advertisement; although later
shortened and centered it, making "headlines". Franklin added illustrations, something that
London printers had not attempted. Franklin was the first to utilize logos, which were early
symbols that announced such services as opticians by displaying golden spectacles. Franklin
taught advertisers that the use of detail was important in marketing their products. Some
advertisements ran for 10-20 lines, including color, names, varieties, and sizes of the goods
that were offered.

2.3. Applications

Graphic design is applied to everything visual, from road signs to technical

schematics, from interoffice memorandums to reference manuals.
Design can aid in selling a product or idea. It is applied to products and elements of company
identity such as logos, colors, packaging and text as part of branding (see also advertising).
Branding has become increasingly more important in the range of services offered by graphic
designers. Graphic designers often form part of a branding team.
Graphic design is applied in the entertainment industry in decoration, scenery and visual story
telling. Other examples of design for entertainment purposes include novels, vinyl album
covers, comic books, DVD covers, opening credits and closing credits in filmmaking, and
programs and props on stage. This could also include artwork used for T-shirts and other
items screenprinted for sale.
 Picture 2.: Graphic design

Source: https://image.freepik.com/psd-gratis/grafico-designer-mockup-sulla-scrivania_23-
2147675746.jpg

From scientific journals to news reporting, the presentation of opinion and facts is often
improved with graphics and thoughtful compositions of visual information - known
as information design. Newspapers, magazines, blogs, television and film documentaries may
use graphic design.

With the advent of the web, information designers with experience in interactive tools are
increasingly used to illustrate the background to news stories. Information design can
include data visualization, which involves using programs to interpret and form data into a
visually compelling presentation, and can be tied in with information graphics.

2.4. Skills
 Many employing graphic design skills work in a communications and marketing role.
Technically, graphic design is visual communication. The American Institute of Graphic
Arts today defines the field for current and aspiring graphic designers.

The field formally incorporates creative and function understanding of seven elements into its
own form of communication:
 space,
 texture,
 color,
 line,
 size,
 form,
 shape.

While many in graphic design do complete a college degree, it is not required. You will,
however, need to demonstrate your graphic design skills beyond what is listed in your resume.

2.4.1. Aesthetical awareness

First, a good graphic designer has to live with eyes open. They have to consciously
look at their surroundings as a designer. No matter what you do, we can find design all around
us every moment of our lives. Paying attention to art, typography, packaging, posters,
magazines, books, apps, webpages or even buildings, objects or natural forms can inspire you
and shape your design taste and approach. You also have to take notice of actual design
trends. This makes for the first step towards making conscious design decisions.2

2.4.2. Typography

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 Working as a graphic designer requires you to use fonts and typography. Therefore,
you have to learn the basic rules and actual trends of typography. Typography skills also
connect closely with visual hierarchy.
The ability to make written language not only legible but also visually appealing is more
important today than ever. These days, pretty much anyone can access every kind of font
imaginable online, but someone who has been highly trained and understands how fonts are
made and utilized is going to be a more effective designer.

Graphic designers need to know how to develop (via creation or selection) legible, well-
designed type. They need to be familiar with certain fonts and have a knowledge of line-
height and tracking.

 Choosing Fonts
 Logo Creation
 Layout
 Modifying Designs
 Representing Figures in Space with a Balanced Perspective
 Spacing
 Storyboard Creation

2.4.3. Communication

Understanding what a client wants from a design is the key to creating a successful
product. But, in today’s digital age, where everyone is so individually focused on their phones
and electronic devices, a lot of people do not know how to talk to clients. Thus, being able
to listen well, process feedback, and explain design elements - without getting technical - will
give you a big advantage.3

Graphic designers communicate ideas through text and image. Therefore, communication

skills are critical to the job. However, communication is important in graphic design in other
ways too.

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Graphic designers have to articulate ideas to companies, clients, employers, etc. It requires
strong public speaking skills for presentations and writing skills for proposals. Designers also
have to be able to communicate with clients and employers by phone, email, and sometimes
through Skype. Graphic designers must listen to their clients’ needs and convey persuasive
solutions.

 Confidence
 Consultation
 Establishing rapport
 Interpreting Artwork for the General public
 Understanding Client's Artistic Preferences
 Interpersonal
 Active Listening
 Sales
 Written Coummunication4

2.4.4. Collaboration

In a lot of cases, design deals just with collaboration.

 You may have to collaborate with other designers, developers, researchers or product
owners.
 Learn how to work effectively together with them.
 Keep in mind that everyone on your team probably has different working methods,
speeds or approaches.
 Learn how to adapt or influence these people in order to work more effectively
together.5

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https://www.thebalancecareers.com/graphic-design-skills-list-2062400
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Working in collaboration helps designers understand how inter-team members work together
and their needs, pain points, and preferences. We can also then be in a better position to
empathize and understand different viewpoints to ensure a seamless transition of deliverables.

It can be nerve-wracking, vulnerable, and challenging at times, but getting out of our own
heads and incorporating collaboration into our design process can make us all better
designers. In this picture, you can see how designers in collaboration make success. They
have to support each other, without good communication and trust, they cannot make a good
project. Also they need some motives and inspiration for a better results, and that allows them
to understand each other's reference points. And since they are continuously learning from
new experiences, it is important to discuss what speaks to them in creative, professional or
personal ways.

Picture 3.: Collaboration in graphic design

Source: https://image.shutterstock.com/image-vector/banner-collaboration-teamwork-icons-260nw-
715797241.jpg
2.4.5. Creativity

Graphic designers need to be creative thinkers. They have to creatively convey ideas
through text and image. They have to generate solutions for their clients through creative
means; for example, they might have to promote a company’s mission through a website or
design an image that helps sell a product. All of this involves creativity, as well as creative
problem-solving skills.

 Aesthetics
 Attention to Detail
 Balancing Artistry with Audience Appeal
 Perceptivity
 Visually Representing Ideas
 Sketching
 Brainstorming

2.4.6. Technology

Graphic designers have to master various forms of technology in today’s world.

Firstly, they need to be comfortable with design software, such as Quark, InDesign, and
Adobe. This software is used by many companies to produce digital prints.
If the graphic design tasks pertain to website development, you also need to know about web
design. They should be fluent in multiple programming languages (including HTML and
CSS) as well as web design content management system platforms, such as WordPress.
 Ability to Learn Digital Design Software
 Adobe Acrobat, Flash, Creative Suite, Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
 CSS
 HTML
 Quark and QuarkXpress
 Photo Editing6

2.4.7. Time Management

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 Most graphic designers are constantly juggling multiple projects at once. Because this
is so common in the job, they have to have strong time management skills. Graphic designers
should be able to multitask, juggle multiple assignments over long periods, and meet all
established deadlines.

2.4.8. Strategy

Strategy is becoming more and more essential to effective graphic design. The main
distinction between graphic design and art is that graphic design solves a problem as well as
being aesthetically pleasing. This balance is where strategy comes in. It is important for a
graphic designer to understand their clients' needs, as well as the needs of the people who will
be interacting with the design. It is the designer's job to combine business and creative
objectives to elevate the design beyond purely aesthetic means.7

2.4.9. Printmaking

Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing on paper and other

materials or surfaces. The process is capable of producing multiples of the same work, each
called a print. Each print is an original, technically known as an impression. Prints are created
from a single original surface, technically a matrix.

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 Picture 4.: Printmaking design

Source: https://p1.hiclipart.com/preview/1021/630/496/flower-line-art-floral-design-text-printmaking-
painting-fine-arts-cut-flowers-petal-png-clipart.jpg

2.5. Graphic designer

A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic

arts industry who assembles together images, typography, or motion graphics to create a piece
of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily
for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures (sometimes) and advertising.
They are also sometimes responsible for typesetting, illustration, user interfaces, and web
design. A core responsibility of the designer's job is to present information in a way that is
both accessible and memorable.8

Graphic designer is:

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Jessica Helfand. "What is graphic design?". AIGA. Retrieved 2009-06-29. 
  A Creative Director - manages a creative team that creates visuals for product
branding and advertising campaigns.

 An Art Director - manages and coordinates between production artists and illustrators
to make sure projects are completed on time and to the client’s satisfaction.

 An Art Production Manager - manages the production aspect of art generation and
creation, with a focus on improving efficiency and lowering costs.
 A Brand Identity Developer - developes brand identities for various organizations.

 A Broadcast Designer - creates visual designs and electronic media to be used in

television productions.

 A Logo Designer - creates the visual expression of the organization’s key message or
value. This is also a key aspect of brand identity – though in identity design, carries
the logo and design identity forward for all branding materials.

 A Multimedia Developer - applies graphic design skills to sound and/or motion.9

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 Picture 5.: My first digital drawing
Source: my own

For this drawing I used an app called SketchBookPro. I used many brush shapes and sizes but
it was very hard for me because I was learning how to do digital drawing and I drew it on my
phone using only my fingers. In future I am going to procure ma better tools and equipment
for digital drawing. It took me more than seven hours.
I am looking forward learning graphic design as much as I can, because I am very interested
in that and I hope I will succeed one day.
3. CONCLUSION

From this report I have learned that graphic design is not as easy as I thought, because
there are many little things and details which make actually a big difference if we know how
to use them. I think I am very creative, full of ideas and fast learner. I actually am into graphic
design, but not that much because I am still learning how to be an excellent one, so this report
helps me to understand it better.
4. LITERATURE

1. Jessica Helfand. "What is graphic design?". AIGA. Retrieved 2009-06-29. 

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design (22.03.2020.)

3. https://uxstudioteam.com/ux-blog/graphic-design-skills/ (22.03.2020.)

4. https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/5-essential-skills-for-graphic-design
(26.03.2020)

5. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/graphic-design-skills-list-2062400 (01.04.2020.)

6. https://uxstudioteam.com/ux-blog/graphic-design-skills/ (03.04.2020.)

7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design (10.04.2020.)

8. https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/graphic-designer/ (12.04.2020.)

Note:
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