Graphic Design to me has always been about effective communication. Although I am new to the field of Graphic Design, when asked about the specific facets of the Graphic Design field that have interested me it has always been print – advertising, magazine editorials and layouts, product design and most recently info graphics. These facets of Graphic Design have utilized many different components such as opinion, visual representation, a call to action and the ability to appeal to multiple audiences.
I have always envied those in print and product design – with their abilities to translate communicative design components and use them on different surfaces, installations and environments. My definition of graphic design is a love affair of fine art principles used in a way that can communicate various messages and feelings through text, line, color, shape, layout, etc.
I currently am employed as an In-House Designer/Sales and Marketing Assitant/Whatever-title-they-want-to-give-me-that-day for a Builder/Developer. I have to always keep in mind the view of the company I am working for and at times feel limited in the Graphic Design work I do. I have learned with this position that the graphic design profession is one of compromise. I am taking my own design philosophies and applying it to the design work I do for my employer. I propose an idea and often times am asked by my boss, “Well, what if we changed this? How would this look?” I than have to defend my design reasoning, but end up many of the times showing my boss exactly why that idea didn’t work. This back and forth drives me crazy. I often get cut up ads that are taped together and asked “Can you make this pretty?” I’m sure everyone has been in this position and I am hoping you have the same response as me, *sigh* “Are you kidding me?!” I know, I know, probably not the best attitude. I very much have to keep a neutral and understanding tone when I am designing for the company and constantly trying to keep their ‘voice’ inside of my head when I design a print ad or billboard.
I view Graphic Design as a way of communicating. It’s a way of sharing a ‘voice’ amoung thousands. I hope as I continue to design and grow that my compromise will be well worth it and that I do not lose my own voice and my own reasoning behind the production of design. I want to better the design world, now I just have to figure out how to.