Why Graphic Design is Important

Many people struggle to come up with a company logo or a well designed web page header image and quickly realize why graphic design is important. Graphic design artists take a message or idea that you want to present and turn it into an image or artwork that represents your company or product.

Hunter Design

It isn't always obvious to many web developers why graphic design is important on the Internet. However, if you've ever attempted to come up with decent images or graphics for your own site, you know how hard doing so can be. When you attempt to search for and download free web art or free graphics, they are usually low quality and do not generate the professional image that you want to convey. LoveToKnow Web-Design recently sat down with Donna Hunter, a professional graphic design artist based out of Limington, ME. Donna graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and spent the next 24 years developing some of the highest quality designs and graphics for businesses and organizations.

LTK: How did you first get into the field of graphic design and how long have you been involved?

DH: I was lucky to have had early exposure as my father's Graphic Design Agency was in our home. I use to observe how his Art Directors and Designers developed award-winning concepts and campaigns and tried to learn from them. Once in a while they let me assist in a project, which I loved to do. After graduating with a degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, I went professional in 1985. I just did the math on that and it's been 24 years already?!

LTK: Do you feel that the field of graphic design has changed significantly since the Internet became popular?

DH: The tools have changed but basic design principals still hold true. Now, so many people are trained only digitally (versus traditionally/pre-computer), and they often tend to let their tools control them instead of honoring pure design basics that have been around since way before the inception of the pixel. The Internet as a communications vehicle has certainly changed message delivery, and the user interacts differently than with print material. But the overall creative process and methods should never take a second seat to whatever fancy web software is loaded on your hard drive. Design use to be such a tactile, almost craft-like experience. "Tap, tap, click, click" just doesn't have the same grace as hand sketching a concept. But I would be hard-pressed to give up my Mac and the Internet!

LTK: Are there certain software tools that you consider critical as part of developing your designs?

DH: Tools are tools and you adapt with changing times. I have a love-hate relationship with technology, but I would be foolish to ignore the fact that I do need to own the latest and highest quality professional graphics software to be productive and competitive. I rely on, and love, the Adobe Creative Suite...the industry standard.

LTK: How do you come up with unique ideas - is it difficult, or do you usually incorporate a lot of ideas from the customer?

DH: If you really do your research and analyze a client's industry, often times the ideas almost emerge all by themselves by way of pure logic. I often look at what their competitors are doing...and do the opposite. They can't just fade in with the masses, they have to look unique. I certainly always consider a client's ideas, but I can quickly discern between concepts that will or will not be effective, and try to lead them in a clearer direction. Some projects can be collaborative, but often concepts are fresher if they come to me with absolutely no idea of what they want.

LTK: When a client comes to you for a logo for their business but they're not sure what they want, how do you help them come up with an appropriate logo for their specific company?

DH: Similar to the above answer in a way...by studying their competition you get some pretty solid answers as to what works and what doesn't. I see so many designers pour through design books, magazines and the Internet looking for ideas...that's just all wrong. It needs to come from your own critical thinking....your own creative noggin.

LTK: What sort of projects do you like the most - web page designs, print advertisements or any other type of work?

DH: I'm mostly a Print Designer, and I must say I love logo design and corporate identity work the best. But it's all good! I'm just as content working on an ad for a small local business as I am on a high-end full-color Collateral piece. I have dabbled in some web design but need more education to actually be able to produce anything. Someone once tried to teach me html/css coding and I practically broke out in hives (kidding of course!)...I just don't have the head or heart of a Programmer. But with that said, if anyone reading this wants to tutor me in Adobe Dreamweaver, I will generously compensate! : )

LTK: What do you think trained graphic designers bring to a web design project that web page designers probably lack?

DH: There are some incredible Web Designers out there who obviously were well schooled in the foundations of Graphic Design...but there are just as many design hacks. Having all the web tools and programming knowledge does not a Designer make. Visual crime scenes are everywhere, and the Internet is just another layer. There is just no substitute for good training, solid creative thinking and taking on the responsibility of clear and effective communication.

LovetoKnow Web-Design would like to thank Donna for taking the time to discuss the importance of graphic design and the many different areas of the print and Internet creative process where graphic designers are critical. If you are a graphics enthusiast, or you're just curious about what graphics are available for your particular web projects, make sure to read about graphics creation software, web page graphics, holiday graphics and much more throughout LoveToKnow Web-Design.

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