Graphic design and web design share a few similarities, but when it comes to developing new marketing creative or doing some work on your website, for example, you’ll want to know which professional to go to.
Graphic and web designers offer different – but sometimes similar – skill sets and work toward different end results, so it’s important to understand your needs and what type of design will best meet those needs.
So, what is graphic and web design?
In the simplest terms, graphic design is the art of creating visual elements that communicate an idea or message. Web design is the process of developing and maintaining a website to deliver that message and enhance user experience.
In this post, we’ll help you understand more about what graphic and web design is and a few key differences between the two. We’ll also share how you can combine these two worlds of design for a powerful impact.
What is Graphic Design?
As we’ve said, graphic design is the art of visually communicating an idea. That means taking a piece of information and translating it to audiences via visual elements like illustrations, logos, typography, and color theory.
For example, Cocoa Cola used colors to make its brand recognizable even when it famously removed the script from its pop can. Paula Scher, an influential graphic designer, conveyed her brands’ unique identities through typeface that she treated as visuals.
Like Cocoa Cola and Scher, graphic designers have an expert understanding of design principles like color theory, typography, texture, space, and message delivery, and how they all work together to communicate an intended message to audiences.
Graphic designers are advanced in creating these visuals using digital platforms like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign. They typically design material like brochures or fliers, publications, email marketing templates, display advertisements, website elements, and more.
What is Web Design?
Web design is about creating a design experience that users can participate in.
If graphic designers are visual experts, web designers are architects. They build and maintain websites, apps, and other digital platforms. They focus on developing aspects of the platform like layout, navigation, content organization, image resolution, and page loading that all allow users to experience the site.
Web designers are experts in technical aspects of creating and maintaining digital platforms, including programming and writing code, search engine optimization strategies, building navigations, integrating any visual elements, monitoring and testing site performance, and more.
Key Differences Between Graphic & Web Design
While graphic and web design cannot be entirely separated, there are some key differences between the two:
Graphic design is static, and web design is interactive.
Graphic design is a static art, meaning each creative piece is designed once. From there, that piece serves its ultimate purpose of communicating a specific message.
Web design is a more interactive art. It’s intended for users to engage in a certain action as simple as navigating to a page of content or purchasing a product or service.
Graphic design is artful, and web design is technical.
Graphic design combines theories of art like colorways, texture, and space, for example, to communicate an idea. Web design involves technical skills like CSS or HTML and understanding file size and page load to make a site operable for users.
Graphic design and web design have different technical requirements.
When it comes to print, graphic designers often have more leisure in using visual elements like typography or image size and pixels, as the only restriction is making sure it fits on the page.
Web designers come up against their own limitations on what elements they can use. Image size affects file size, which can create technical issues like page load time. Typeface may also display differently depending on the computer and what fonts the designer has in their CSS.
How Graphic and Web Design Work Together
While we’ve listed key differences between graphic and web design, it’s important to note that graphic and web design can not always be fully separated.
Your website may be fully operational, but if it’s got a half-hearted design plastered on its pages, users won’t want to operate your site.
Similarly, if you’ve got a head-turning website page design that drives users to engage in an action that users click on only to see a 404 Error, they’re likely to head out.
Combining graphic and web design will enable you to communicate a key message visually and ensure that message reaches your audience in an impactful way.
We’d encourage you to take a step back and look at your business’ graphic design elements. What is it telling your audience? What might they feel when viewing the design? What thoughts and opinions do they come away with? Similarly, consider how your website is operating. Are users able to navigate it easily? Does it effectively deliver the information it needs to?
Once you’ve identified any needs, it’s time to choose between a graphic and web designer.
Choosing Between a Graphic & Web Designer
In today’s digital marketplace, it’s common for graphic and web designers to share some similar skill sets. For example, both must understand design fundamentals, creative problem-solving, use of technical design platforms, and keep up with the latest market trends.
But when choosing between a graphic design and web designer, consider your goals.
Are your design goals visual? Maybe you need new promotional fliers, logos, social media posts, newsletter templates, business cards, etc. If so, you’ll want a graphic designer who can visualize and execute a design that gets the message across.
Are your design goals more technical? Maybe you want to develop a new website, enhance the speed of your site’s page load, adapt it for mobile, etc.. In this case, you’ll want a web designer who has the technical skill set to make this happen.
Are you looking for some design skills or still unsure what you need? Head over here and say hello! We’re thinkers, designers, and developers who’d love to chat.
