what is graphic design?

before starting my course in leeds, i thought that graphic designwas more of a specific field of expertise - but at the same time just generally being almost unenecessarily decorative. i was awre of typography, packaging, advertising, book binding and so on, but the actual term "graphic design" brought up very specific visuals when i thought of it.

these visuals were generally photoshopped or produced on illustrator (for example, like the second image down in this post), and so needed knowledge of such programs in order to be successful pieces of graphic design. i always found such images quite appealling but never saw myself as a designer as my work was not in this style at all. i guess before starting my degree course, i thought of myself as more of an artist (for want of a better term) because i tended to hand render things or simply mess around with layering in photoshop to make "trippy" imagery.

since being at uni, i've realised that graphics are everywhere - roadsigns, logos, branding, newspaper article layouts and on and on.

Everybody uses graphics, whether they are aware of it or not. some people just use it more successfully and more appropriately. when you're writing a letter, where you choose to write the address on the envelope is graphics. when you write an angry note to flatmates and choose a red pen, thats graphics too.

roadsigns are one of the most interesting examples for me. this is because of the semiotics involved - there must not any frills because people are driving past at speed. this means that the imagery must be as basic as possible, but still obvious to what it is. generally, this means a restricted colour palette so as not to confuse the eye. however, colour is a very important part of graphics. i know that james laurie for example, isnt confident enough to use colour at all! the best exampleo colour in semiotic roadsigns are the examples where you arent allowed to do things. every single time this inludes a big red cross through a black symbol on white background. red is the first colour the eye sees and related is to warning and danger. this makes it a very appropriate colour choice.

layout and composition is another great interest of mine in the field of graphic design. its something most people (previously including myself) take for granted and do without thinking. all posters, articles, reference books, packaging designs, photography and so on, contain layout grids and are designed with composition in mind.

i think that i have found my calling with these grids. its a good way of combining my writing skills with my newly developed designing skills, and this brings both my fortes together, making them even stronger.

its really interesting to see how typography and image can work together to make really successful graphic design from a compositional point of view. it also means that different layouts can be developed, compared and analysed in order to decide which is the most successful layout.

its also interesting to see when the layout hasnt been considered but the piece is still out there in the wide world. this just makes me want to slap people until they let me rearrange things for them.

i think it'd be really succssful for me to draw up a bunch of layouts for a typographer and illustrator to mess around with. maybe more group work will come of this morbid facination.

in essence. graphic design is everything, because EVERYTHING has to be designed (but unfortunately, not always successfully).