From the course: Graphic Design Careers: First Steps

Types of design projects

From the course: Graphic Design Careers: First Steps

Types of design projects

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- Graphic design is all around us. From logos, magazines, and posters, to signs, product packaging, and marketing pieces. Not to mention social media. Each type of design has a specific job. Understanding what that job is will help you create a successful design. Regardless of the type of project, the job of design is to attract attention, while visually communicating the essence of what or who it represents in the most immediate way. There's a kind of misconception that good design is beautiful. But getting it right isn't just about making it pretty. It's about making sure it delivers your message in a way that resonates. So let's talk about a few different types of design projects. Logos are highly condensed graphics packed with meaning. Because of that every design decision is that much more critical when it comes to crafting the message it communicates, and who it communicates to. The most important first step is understanding the clients, who they're trying to reach, and what they're trying to say. With that information in hand, you can then explore which colors, images, and type will best communicate the intended message to the intended audience. Magazine design is complex due to the volume of text and images a designer needs to organize and present logically. Its main job is to present the content to the reader in a way that's easy to navigate while also creating an immersive experience. Infographics are visual representations of information and their job is to tell stories in a fun and engaging and easy to digest way. Lastly, we have marketing materials and catalogs. These have a number of jobs that we've already mentioned, such as, capturing our attention, telling the story of the brand, and, in some cases, providing visual beauty and delights. These are just a few types of design projects you may work on. But no matter what job you have, it's essential that you truly understand the product or client you're promoting, the intended audience, and the purpose of the piece. If you don't, you'll fail to communicate your message and its beauty will only be skin deep.

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