WHAT IS GRAPHICS DESIGN? INTRODUCTION

When you think of graphic design, do you think of artistic advertisements? Eye-grabbing graphics on websites? Stunningly arranged spreads in magazines? While these examples certainly fit under the graphic design definition, the term encompasses a lot: posters, infographics, book covers, product labels, logos, business cards, signs, website layouts, mobile apps, software interfaces—the list goes on.

So what is graphic design, exactly? Listing these graphic design examples is a good start, but it doesn’t paint the full picture. While covering the details and intricacies of the entire graphic design field might not be possible in one article, this high-level overview will help you better understand this creative career field.

If you’re at all interested in becoming a professional graphic designer, keep reading to learn the basics of the field.

what is graphic design?

According to the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), graphic design is defined as “the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.” In other terms, graphic design communicates certain ideas or messages in a visual way. These visuals can be as simple as a business logo, or as complex as page layouts on a website.

“Graphic design takes graphical and textual elements and implements them into multiple types of media,” says designer Alexandros Clufetos, when asked to elaborate on the graphic design definition. “It helps the producer connect with the consumer. It conveys the message of the project, event, campaign or product.”

Graphic design can be used by companies to promote and sell products through advertising, by websites to convey complicated information in a digestible way through infographics, or by businesses to develop an identity through branding, among other things.

“Every day, we take many of the subtly artistic things around us for granted. But hidden in every magazine corner, exit sign or textbook lies a set of design ideas that influence our perceptions,” says Jacob Smith, founder of illustration studio ProductViz.

It’s also important to remember that although many graphic design projects have commercial purposes like advertisements and logos, it is also used in other contexts and graphic design work is often created purely as a means for artistic expression.

BASICS OF GRAPHICS DESIGN

Graphic design basics

To better understand the meaning of graphic design, it is important to be aware of the elements and principles that make up design. Elements are used in conjunction or opposition with each other to create visually striking and impactful designs.

These graphic design elements include:

• Color
• Form
• Line
• Shape
• Size
• Space
• Texture

Graphic designers also adhere to the principles of design, which are essentially a set of guidelines that help a design achieve effective composition. These basic principles aid in creating balance and stability for the piece of work.

These graphic design principles include:

• Balance
• Contrast
• Emphasis
• Movement
• Proportion
• Rhythm

You’ve heard the old saying that “rules are meant to be broken,” which can certainly ring true in this case. But a good graphic designer must first understand these principles before making the conscious decision to break them.

Types of graphic design

As mentioned earlier, there is no single graphic design meaning. Graphic design is composed of many fields and specializations, ranging from print and web design to animation and motion graphics. Graphic design offers opportunities and options for individuals of almost any interest.

If you’d asked someone 30 years ago to define graphic design, their answer would have likely been focused on print-related examples like magazines, movie posters and advertisements. Now we’re living in the digital age, which has given birth to several new types of graphic design.

Some of the most notable modern-day graphic design examples stem from advancements in technology. Here’s a glimpse of some of these types of graphic design:

• Website design involves creating engaging and intuitive web pages for users. This includes overall layout, color scheme and navigation.
• User experience (UX) design is focused on ensuring a website or application is easy and satisfying to use. These designers emphasize value, usability, adoptability and desirability.
• Motion graphics design—or animation—brings visual elements to life through special effects, TV shows, video games and movies.

WHAT IS MOTION GRAPHICS DESIGN?

What is motion graphics? (Motion Graphics Definition)

Motion graphics is animation, but with text as a major component. Essentially, it’s animated graphic design.

Ever since motion graphics first entered the scene, there’s been a debate about the line between them and full animation. The opening credits of Hitchcock’s Psycho is an early example of motion graphics, where the marriage of sound, motion, and graphic design come together exceptionally well.

Motion graphics design, also known as motion design, is a subset of graphic design in that it uses graphic design principles in a filmmaking or video production context through the use of animation or filmic techniques.

Motion graphics are a way to communicate with the viewer, and add depth to the story. Together with music and effective copy, they can give us a message. We use them to create ads, title sequences for movies, [explainer](Put simply, motion graphics are animation, with text as a major component.) videos and to share information.

HOW TO BECOME A MOTION GRAPHICS DESIGNER

The profession of motion graphics design is fairly new on the design front. Technology-enabled design professions are growing. And there are so many different types of designers out there, it’s tricky to keep them all straight! There are graphic designers, web designers, user experience designers, user interface designers—the list goes on.

“Motion graphics is a growing field, and it is not likely to ebb anytime soon,” says designer Paul Joseph. “Part of this is because the high-tech looks used in motion pictures get old very quickly and new fresh approaches are always in demand.”

As creative filmmakers and video producers expand both their imaginations and their budgets for impressive technology and design, skilled motion graphics designers are essential. Without these savvy, innovative artists, your favorite shows, movies, and even websites and apps would look very different.

But what exactly does this profession entail? And how can you get started in this creative career? We connected with a handful of experts currently working in the field to answer this question and more about the world of motion graphics design.

What does a motion graphics designer do?

Motion graphics designers, sometimes just called motion designers, create artwork for the web, television or film. This could include movie clips, trailers, commercials, title sequences, etc. They use visual effects, animation and other cinematic techniques to bring life to their creations. They design graphics that are in motion—just as their title suggests.

By animating graphics and creating vivid visual effects, motion graphics designers bring films, websites, commercials, and more to an entirely new level. With the increasing prevalence of video content online, a motion graphics designer could find themselves working on almost anything, on any digital platform.

Additionally, there may be opportunity outside of these more traditional applications of motion graphics. Jose Andres, creator community manager at Enklu Cloud, sees augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) as the next major expansion into the world of design technology. “I’ve ventured further into the world of interactive technology,” Andres says. “The tools I have access to now have changed my design process immensely. I can start laying out a concept and create assets with AR & VR tools way quicker than I ever could using traditional desktop software.”

Depending on the type of motion graphics you enjoy pursuing, you could end up working on a big-ticket film in Hollywood or freelancing the opening intro for a new iPhone app.

Where do motion graphics designers work?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), animators and multimedia designers typically work in motion picture offices, computer systems and software companies and advertising agencies.¹ This industry also had a very high percentage (59%) of self-employed workers in 2018, indicating that remote work arrangements are very possible in the field.¹

“Our studio specializes in branding and graphic design services for broadcasters on Twitch®, YouTube®, and Facebook Gaming®,” says Nick Avola of Visuals by Impulse. Avola explains that all of their motion designers work remotely. “We find it produces happier, more effective artists. Our team can manage their own time, at their own will. Distractions are minimized, and designers can get ‘in the zone.’”

That said, there can be drawbacks. Losing the convenience of collaboration is one downside to the remote-work arrangement. “Teamwork is often more effective when creators are working face-to-face,” Avola says. “Not to mention the challenge of time-zones.”

What skills do motion graphics designers need?

We asked motion graphics designers to weigh in on the most important technical and soft skills for their role these days.

3-D modeling

“Calligraphy and 2-D art still have their place,” Joseph says. “But most motion graphics are now based on 3-D modeling, and that is a huge part of the future of graphics.” Joseph explains that understanding points in 3-D space, lines connecting those points and polygons made up of those lines comes from working with modeling programs.

Animation perspective

“A good 3-D designer understands motion and timelines,” Joseph says. “Objects can move. So can light sources. The camera, which is the view of the audience, can also move. The designer can choreograph complex movements, one element at a time, and spin them off in multiple ways.”

Organization

According to Andres, organization is crucial for both freelancers and team members. “Keeping a tidy file with organized assets, dependencies, layers, etc., becomes more crucial the bigger your projects become,” Andres says.

“Organization and multi-tasking are critical attributes we look for in new motion designers,” Avola says. “You’ll be managing a lot of layers and elements simultaneously. Keep your files neat and tidy, or you’ll pay the price down the line.”

Procedural animation

One of the biggest challenges to creating motion graphics is the fact that it can be incredibly time-intensive. Procedural animation is one way to cut down on that.

“There’s been an awakening of the word ‘procedural’ in recent years, and this trend is set to explode over the next decade,” Avola says. “Through simple and complex algorithms, procedurally-generated, full animations can be created in a fraction of the time. Work can be tweaked, adapted and revised at ease thanks to automated processes.”

Avola says motion design software is increasingly making use of scripts, expressions, and coding to save time in the creative process. For example, procedural animation allows designers to apply predetermined physics to 3D objects—if two objects collide in an animation at a set speed, the results are predictable and can be modeled appropriately.

Texturing and lighting effects

“The audience doesn’t see the model, they see the shapes and the images,” Joseph says. He emphasizes that surfacing is part of making 3D graphics look photo-realistic. “Surfaces can be reflective, shiny, transparent, translucent, rough or refractive. They can also simulate textures or display moving images. The potential is unlimited.”

Understanding big-picture context

“A good designer knows what their designs will be used for,” Joseph says. He emphasizes that video, multimedia, game design and virtual reality are all growing and a possible destination for motion graphics designers. But each different application warrants a different approach. “Understand all of these applications and how to plan for them.”

Adaptability

“Plans change, as do project scope and goals,” Avola says, explaining that skilled motion designers need to be ready to change their original vision to accommodate client feedback. “Stay humble and roll with the punches.”

Timing

Timing is one of the most difficult and most important skills for a motion graphics designer, according to Avola. “Motion design is a very story-driven tool—and the best stories contain a natural flow and rhythm.”

A fantastically detailed and otherwise good looking graphic isn’t effective if the pacing is strange or doesn’t fit in with other elements like sound. The best animators and motion designers learn to adapt their work and incorporate rhythm and pacing into their process. 

Motion graphics designer salary and job outlook

You’ll be excited to hear that motion graphics designers are fairly well-compensated for their technical expertise. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for multimedia artists and animators was $72,520 in 2018.¹ Professionals earning the most in these fields were employed by software companies and motion picture industries.¹

The BLS also projects a 4 percent rate of employment growth for multimedia artists and animators, attributing this steady grow to the increased consumption of film, video and digital media.¹

How do you become a motion graphics designer?

There is no single path into this career—but the BLS explains that employers for motion graphics designers and animators usually prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree and a strong portfolio of work.¹

A degree in the field and mastry of adobe illustrator,camtasia studio softwares can give you the broad understanding and technical skills that matter most in the industry, but there are additional ways to set yourself apart. There are countless online tutorials and resources to help you add skills to your repertoire. Following top animation blogs is another way to get exposure to new trends and techniques. Getting work experience on projects and adding to your portfolio is also a great way to start working towards your dream job.

Get your motion graphics career into motion

If you have dreams of becoming a motion graphics designer, it’s important to acquire the necessary skills and hands-on experience first. Becoming familiar with the techniques and fundamentals of the field will help equip you with the comprehensive knowledge needed to evolve with the industry.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MOTION GRAPGICS AND ORDINARY GRAPHICS

Differences Between Motion Graphics and Graphic Design

Though motion graphics and graphic designers have many similarities, there are some key differences that set them apart. Their use of animation and typical industry placement are the most notable, but there are others as well.

Animation

The biggest difference between these two fields is the use of animation. Motion graphics, as the name implies, feature a moving element, such as the familiar shooting star that soars across the top of the Walt Disney Studios logo or the three stars settling in over the Paramount mountain. For this reason, motion graphic work is often more time-intensive.

Graphic design does not involve animation. Graphic designers work with still images, either in a digital format or in print, such as posters, business cards, or stationery. Once there is movement, graphic design becomes motion graphics. Some graphic designers can finish a project in as little as an hour or two for a simple logo or flier.

Industry Placement

Many multimedia artists and animators work in the entertainment industry. The majority of them are self-employed, with nearly 60% identifying as freelancers. Another 12% work for motion picture companies, and it filters down from there. Due to the nature of their work, animators and motion graphic artists work on only a few projects at once, which can sometimes last months or years.

Only 22% of graphic designers are self-employed, with the rest working in-house in a variety of industries. For example, graphic designers may create clothing, design websites, or develop logos that will appear both in print and digital formats.

Motion Graphics vs. Graphic Design: Which Is Right for You?

Motion graphics and graphic design artists can benefit from an educational background that includes courses on typography, design theory, designing for meaning, and more. Through a program such as Maryville University’s online Bachelor of fine arts in digital media you can gain typography, design, and technology skills that can help you succeed in these fields. Learn more and see how you can become a creative, engaging digital visual artist.

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