What Does Graphic Designer Do?
What Is a Graphic Designer?
Graphic Designers create visual concepts with the goal of attracting the interest of clients through digital and physical designs that typically use graphics, images, art, and other visual elements. Although Graphic Designers may use a variety of tools to create their designs, all Graphic Designers must be able to use their hands at least occasionally to create designs, even if they prefer to rely on their digital skills and graphic design software.
Graphic Designers come with different educational and professional experiences, with some possessing a four-year bachelor’s degree in graphic design or communication design and others succeeding despite having no formal training in graphic design.
What Is the Role of a Graphic Designer?
Graphic Designers create visual concepts to communicate information. They create everything from posters and billboards to packaging, logos and marketing materials. Graphic Designers use elements such as shapes, colors, typography, images and more to convey ideas to an audience. Graphic Designers can work in-house, creating designs specifically for one brand, or at an agency or as a freelancer, where they work with a variety of clients.
The role of Graphic Designers varies depending on where they work. Some tasks that designers may work on include selecting photos and typefaces, developing layouts, and designing logos. Graphic Designers may specialize in a particular area, such as motion graphics or print media.
Graphic Designers often need to communicate with clients and consumers to develop designs that portray an intended message. They also collaborate with other graphic designers, marketers, business analysts, writers, and programmers to create successful products, campaigns, or websites.
Common Graphic Design Job Description
Graphic Designers have a range of responsibilities depending on their specialty and workplace. Typically, they will meet with clients or art directors to determine design needs. Using design software, they will combine images, illustrations, and text to bring an idea to life. They may also need to present their ideas and incorporate feedback from colleagues or clients into subsequent drafts.
A typical Graphic Designer job description may include some of these responsibilities:
Study design briefs and determine requirements
Advise clients on strategies to engage target audiences
Identify the best ways to illustrate and communicate clients’ vision while complying with design best practices
Create designs using illustration, photo editing and layout software
Select colors, images, typography and layout for communication materials, including websites, logos, signs, books, magazine covers, annual reports, advertisements, and social media posts
Illustrating concepts by designing rough drafts of art arrangement, font size, and style, and submitting for approval
Produce drafts for client review and make revisions based on feedback received
Collaborate with clients, Art Directors, and creative team members such as marketing, sales, and business operations, throughout the various phases of a project to determine project scope and deliverables
Use digital graphic design software to create graphic images and design layouts that communicate company messaging and achieve artistic or decorative effects, including a selection of colors, images, and fonts
Communicate designs and concepts to clients or Art Directors before incorporating their recommended changes into revised designs
Testing graphics across various media
Amending designs based on client and stakeholder feedback
Ensuring final graphics and layouts are visually appealing and on-brand
Review final graphic designs for errors before publishing
Keep up-to-date with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies
