ragingFX

Some may think that knowing how to use the best tools may give effective results and can achieve clarity on ones design. It’s not even the process on how you do certain things on your computer. Graphic Design is how you understand things, how design communicates to its viewers. It’s simply a medication to ugliness, just like a medication to visual disorder. But what is really Graphic Design? Is it just learning photoshop? or the way how we use typefaces? colors? positions? Anyone?

Wikipedia states:

The term graphic design can refer to a number of artistic and professional disciplines which focus on visual communication and presentation. Various methods are used to create and combine symbols, images and/or words to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. A graphic designer may utilize typography, visual arts and page layout techniques in varying degrees to produce the final result of the project. Graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created and the products (designs) which are generated.

As you can see, there’s no word relating to “photoshop”, right? As for my understanding, Graphic design is not about the tools. It’s totally not about photoshop! It is not even the step-by-step process or technique to achieve a certain effect. It is really evident nowadays, people tend to understand less on what design is. Actually, it has a basic idea! It is how we understand on what we’re designing for. This idea has a huge amount of principles. From typography, grid systems, color design, and many more. Lack of research is the only thing that keeps us out of this domain.

Hahai, so much for my confusion that I just continued my life reading and spend some time-of-thinking. Until I’ve came up of my three (3) things to remember.

Be creative

Every person has their own way of being creative. So every person has its own unique way of showing it. And uniqueness is what separates us all apart.

Know what your doing

Design has its own domains. Make a place for creativity, put it in a right place and the right project.

Control

Learn how to limit yourself. In my case designing is only best if you experiment with few colors. Another thing is structure, which must display clear solution to content blocks. In any way, achieving contrast and clarity by being simple, clear and effective.

Graphic Design is all about concept, and the idea it communicates to all. Tools only make our life easier, it can fasten how we work but can also slow us when used in an improper way. For me, it’s better to spend a day away from the computer for sketching, conceptualization and building of ideas. than spending an hour staring at the monitor.

For more on Graphic Design:

• Helvetica Film
• Smashing Magazine
• Just Creative Design
• You the Designer