What is a graphic designer?
A graphic designer plays a supporting role and can interpret a client’s ideas for them.
The more complex your project is, the more important it is to work with a fully qualified designer who is trained to solve problems in design.
Design is also imperative for successful communication because human beings habitually respond to line, form, texture, color and composition in often predictable ways. Good design will help increase your communication success because a good design has the power to grab attention and make people think differently about a product or service, or sometimes even world issues through thoughtful advertising and posters.
A graphic designer is someone who has studied the principles and elements of design, together with many other subjects and has gained a Diploma or Degree in Graphic Design. Many designers have also done some business and marketing studies as well.
Studies
Studies include: studio procedure, advertising layout, printing and graphic arts reproduction, typography, visual communication and marketing principles, design and colour theory, art & design history, drawing and life drawing, computer design and scanning, art direction, professional practice, design concepts, presentation, photography and image manipulation, web design etc.
Courses are available at various TAFE colleges within Australia,
TAFE NADC, private colleges and Universities and the online Graphic Design School.
Self-improvement and training
A graphic designer is always aiming to improve - they are constantly researching for various projects and must be creative problem solvers to come up with innovative ideas. Apart from local courses, www.lynda.com is great for subscribing so as to regularly update your existing skills.
Deadlines and constant pressure
A graphic designer must also have self-discipline and be organised in order to get the job done to deadlines.
Solutions must be found for projects that initially have no concept. It is always a challenge; and many times, a race against time.
If advertising is involved, then deadlines are constant and advertisements must be created under very great pressure. The job cannot be left to another day as the printing presses can't wait.
For many designers, it is now fortunate that they can transmit Acrobat files directly to the newspapers and magazines via the internet or by courier, which means the artwork can be placed directly in the newspaper or magazine's page layout program and go straight to print on time.
A designer has to discuss with the newspaper/magazine exactly which format they require, BEFORE they create the advertisement. Attention to detail is most important.
Web design
If the project is for web design, then the designer also has to evaluate how the graphics are going to be used and what format they are required to be.
Copyright
Copyright for original illustration, music and photography belongs to the creator. However, in some cases special written arrangements can be negotiated for copyright to be transferred to the customer.
See more on Copyright page.