We use graphic design to help us solve problems and communicate ideas through the use of colour, form, imagery and typography.
However, there is not one way we can do this, and this is why we use several types of graphic design on our clients’ campaigns.
Understanding the six main types of graphic design will help you decide which ones you may want us to use to help you promote your business.
Type 1: Visual identity design
The brand identity encompasses the relationship between a business and its customers, and your brand identity will influence how you communicate your personality and tone, as well as evoking emotions and memories in your customers.
Visual identity design is a crucial part of brand identity. We create the visual elements of your brand identity to communicate what are otherwise intangible qualities through colour, images and shapes.
Our graphic design team can create assets such as colour palettes, image libraries, logos and typography to represent your brand. As well as designing your business cards and other corporate stationery, we can develop a set of visual brand guidelines, known as style guides, that provide your team with best practices and examples of how your visual branding should be applied across various media – ensuring brand consistency throughout future applications.
Type 2: Marketing design
When most people think of graphic design they think of marketing design.
All businesses rely on successful marketing campaigns to tap into their target audience’s decision-making process based on awareness, needs, satisfaction, and what they want from a brand, product or service.
Research has shown that people find visual content more engaging, and so graphic design is key to helping businesses promote themselves, and communicate with their customers more effectively.
Some examples of graphic design for marketing include:
- Brochures (both print and digital)
- Email marketing templates
- Flyers
- Images for websites and blogs
- Infographics
- Magazine and newspaper adverts
- Posters and banners
- PowerPoint presentations
- Signage and trade show displays
- Social media adverts, banners and graphics
Type 3: User interface (UI) design
The user interface (UI) is how a person interacts with an application or device. Therefore, UI design is concerned with making them easy to use and providing a user-friendly experience.
User interface graphic design focuses on the visual experience of the user and the design of on-screen graphic elements such as buttons, menus, micro-interactions and so on. The graphic design team have to therefore balance aesthetic appeal with technical functionality.
Type 4: Packaging design.
Most products require some kind of packaging to prepare them for storage, distribution, and sale – and protect them as well. However, packaging design can also communicate directly to customers, which makes it a really valuable marketing tool. Every package associated with your business is a chance for you to tell the story of your brand.
Type 5: Motion design
Motion design is concerned with graphics that are in motion, such as animation and video that can be used on your website or social media. Motion design has rocketed in popularity in recent years, technology has improved, and video content has become king.
Type 6: Environmental design
This type of graphic design deals with the task of visually connecting people to places to help make the spaces easier to navigate, more interesting or memorable, and thereby improving the visitor’s overall experience.
Environmental design covers things such as:
- Office branding
- Signage
- Event and conference spaces
If you want to use any (or all) of these graphic design types to help promote your business, please feel free to get in touch.
The six main types of graphic design
Graphic Design Creative / Mar 30, 2022
We use graphic design to help us solve problems and communicate ideas through the use of colour, form, imagery and typography.
However, there is not one way we can do this, and this is why we use several types of graphic design on our clients’ campaigns.
Understanding the six main types of graphic design will help you decide which ones you may want us to use to help you promote your business.
Type 1: Visual identity design
The brand identity encompasses the relationship between a business and its customers, and your brand identity will influence how you communicate your personality and tone, as well as evoking emotions and memories in your customers.
Visual identity design is a crucial part of brand identity. We create the visual elements of your brand identity to communicate what are otherwise intangible qualities through colour, images and shapes.
Our graphic design team can create assets such as colour palettes, image libraries, logos and typography to represent your brand. As well as designing your business cards and other corporate stationery, we can develop a set of visual brand guidelines, known as style guides, that provide your team with best practices and examples of how your visual branding should be applied across various media – ensuring brand consistency throughout future applications.
Type 2: Marketing design
When most people think of graphic design they think of marketing design.
All businesses rely on successful marketing campaigns to tap into their target audience’s decision-making process based on awareness, needs, satisfaction, and what they want from a brand, product or service.
Research has shown that people find visual content more engaging, and so graphic design is key to helping businesses promote themselves, and communicate with their customers more effectively.
Some examples of graphic design for marketing include:
- Brochures (both print and digital)
- Email marketing templates
- Flyers
- Images for websites and blogs
- Infographics
- Magazine and newspaper adverts
- Posters and banners
- PowerPoint presentations
- Signage and trade show displays
- Social media adverts, banners and graphics
Type 3: User interface (UI) design
The user interface (UI) is how a person interacts with an application or device. Therefore, UI design is concerned with making them easy to use and providing a user-friendly experience.
User interface graphic design focuses on the visual experience of the user and the design of on-screen graphic elements such as buttons, menus, micro-interactions and so on. The graphic design team have to therefore balance aesthetic appeal with technical functionality.
Type 4: Packaging design.
Most products require some kind of packaging to prepare them for storage, distribution, and sale – and protect them as well. However, packaging design can also communicate directly to customers, which makes it a really valuable marketing tool. Every package associated with your business is a chance for you to tell the story of your brand.
Type 5: Motion design
Motion design is concerned with graphics that are in motion, such as animation and video that can be used on your website or social media. Motion design has rocketed in popularity in recent years, technology has improved, and video content has become king.
Type 6: Environmental design
This type of graphic design deals with the task of visually connecting people to places to help make the spaces easier to navigate, more interesting or memorable, and thereby improving the visitor’s overall experience.
Environmental design covers things such as:
- Office branding
- Signage
- Event and conference spaces
If you want to use any (or all) of these graphic design types to help promote your business, please feel free to get in touch.
