The Italian word disegno came to Castilian as design. The term is used with reference to the delineation of something or the elaboration or configuration of a project. Graphic, on the other hand, is that linked to a representation that is made through figures or signs.
Graphic design is the name given to the activity dedicated to the development of content that allows visual communication to be established. The designer creates a message with a specific objective, aimed at a specific audience. According to Abbreviationfinder, GD stands for Graphic Design.
Graphic designers are responsible for ensuring that the information reaches the receiver in a clear and attractive way through visual support. Graphic design appears in multiple fields: from the advertising sector to the Internet, passing through the publishing industry, packaging and signage.
The definition of graphic design as a trade or a profession is relatively recent. However, the human being has communicated through graphic signals since Prehistory. That is why, in a certain way, man has always dedicated himself to this type of design, although he currently has more tools and technical knowledge than decades ago.
Today graphic design is usually developed with digital instruments, making use of computers (computers) and computer programs (software). The designer, in this way, can generate and modify illustrations, page compositions, posters, etc.
Suppose a company wants to install new signage in its customer service offices. The person in charge of the company decides to turn to an expert in graphic design to make a logo, determine the most convenient colors and shapes, and choose the typography. This way you can optimize communication through graphic resources.
The importance of understated graphic design
Graphic design is one of those fields that is within everyone’s reach thanks to the characteristics of today’s computers, as is the case with writing and programming, among others. However, having the tools is not the same as having the vocation, talent and dedication.
The internet constantly tempts us to become graphic designers: from simply scaling our photos for use as avatars on a social media account to the daunting task of customizing the look of our blogs, it pushes us to rely on our good taste to combine colors and shapes. However, few achieve acceptable results, since most fall into a series of very common errors.
One of the best tips when creating a graphic design is to create a discreet color palette, with as few shades as possible. For this, it is essential to start from a solid idea, from a clear objective, and this is achieved after asking ourselves a series of questions such as «What do I want to create? Why? What audience am I targeting? Are there similar examples?
If we are going to make a blog about life in the jungle, for example, we could build a color palette with different shades of green and brown, for example, inspired by vegetation. Of course, these two colors would not be enough, since they do not contrast enough, and that is why black and white should never be missing as the basis of any design in which there is text.
The problem that most people incur when they take their first steps in the world of graphic design is that they overload their creations, both in terms of shapes and colors. The best decision is usually the one that leads us to economize on these two elements: the clean and clear design can be impressive and attractive, while the excessive one tends to stun the public.