The first time I had to explain to my parents what graphic design was, I got this exact response. Honestly, it was very difficult to explain at first, but over the years I’ve come to define graphic design as “communication arts.”
The purpose of graphic design is to communicate a message through visual stimulus. Although it may seem like we can snap our fingers and wiggle our nose to make a design appear, there is a method to our magical madness. Here is a small timeline designers follow while tackling a project.
1. Can I get a sticky note? I want to make sure we hit the nail on the head, but first, I have to find the right nail. I start by flipping through pages of magazines, design publications and websites, tagging new trends and designs that inspire me.
2. Lots of lead in this Zeppelin. Writing as fast as I can think, I jot down everything I think is relevant that comes to mind. After connecting a few dots, it’s time to sketch out some rough ideas. Some designers skip this step, but personally, I can sketch out a rough idea faster than I can create a rough design digitally.
3. Chris, is this … ugly? After picking a few of the best sketches, digital work is done and I go to my coworkers for feedback and support. We work together on refining them, tweaking and shifting the smallest details to reach perfection. Sometimes, we tweak and shift them straight to the trashcan—we only keep the best!
4. X-acto-mundo! Don’t make me laugh while I’m on the cutting board! A lot of cutting, pasting, and folding is done to create a mock-up or presentation. First impression is everything, and I like to deliver a product as close to the real thing as possible before getting client feedback or the final OK.
I can’t speak for all designers, but this process has lead me to do great things in my design career. I must admit, the last step does involve a bit of arts and crafts, but no, Mom, that’s not ALL I do.
-Randall Loui
Graphic Designer (and Arts and Crafter)