Some people call Graphic Designers 'Graphic Artists'. And in a way, they are. But the word DESIGN implies a PROCESS. Let's define the difference between an Artist and a Designer.

• Artist: creates to express his/her feelings: Painters, Sculptors, Musicians, etc.

• Designer: creates to express and communicate using a client's brief: Illustrators, Interior Designers, Game Designers, Graphic Designers.

Some artists also create art for commercial purposes: Photographers, Jewellers, Musicians, –to name a few. We are narrowing our information here within the Graphic Design field.

What Graphic Designers do: Graphic Designers create in order to promote, sell, display and advertise for commercial purposes.

A Graphic Designer has the ability to follow or find new procedures to ensure successful communications for the target audience. For that reason besides being CREATIVE, a good Graphic Designer must be a RESEARCHER.

This is a normal process for a Graphic Designer working on a Design project:

1. Research.

2. Structured Collaboration with other professionals when needed.

3. Design Execution.

4. Application

All of the above are an integral part of a design process as well as establishing limits within time and budgets.

Branding

A Graphic Designer will help you in the development of the 'image' of your business or service. How the world will see you and perceive you. This is call: Branding. Graphic Designers use typography, colours, photos, symbols, illustrations and of course words to brand your business.

Graphic Designers have areas of expertise. Just as in any other profession, it is impossible to find a Graphic Designer expert in ALL areas!.

Most design projects are an integral part of other disciplines: photography, marketing, printing and web design to name a few.

You can also engage a Graphic Designer to work as an Art Director. For instance, if you are planning on doing a publication, an Art Director will brief and direct: illustrators, photographers and other graphic designers too.

Before the web revolution (early 90's in America, mid 90's in some other countries), professional Graphic Designers were mostly designing for printed material. And a very reduced number for animation and 3D graphics.

But whenever Visual Communication happens, a Graphic Designer is needed. And the Web is no exception!

Nowadays, Graphic Designers' field has extended to online media, and their network extends not only to Printers but Web Developers and Programmers. Due to the high demand, some designers are only working within the Web field. Some others remain within the Printing field. It is all a matter of personal choice or life circumstances.

Choosing a Graphic Designer (or not)

Creating graphics for websites is very different from creating graphics for printed media. If you need both Print and Web, make sure the Graphic Designer of your choice can provide you with both services, or at least, open to work closely with others. For instance, if you already have a web designer whom you are happy to work with, he or she should be open to communicate with other professionals doing your print jobs.

If you require ONLY production work (the part that happens AFTER a Design is created) your best option (budget wise) is working with a Typesetter or just a Web programmer or Developer.

Make sure the designer of your choice is accessible and willing to communicate with you, ask questions! who owns the designs? are there extra costs involved along the way? what is the extend of his or her work?

Communication is the key, not only in design, but also, for developing healthy relationships as we all know.