What Is aGraphic Design Service?

You'll find graphic design in company logos and in printed materials such as brochures, posters, signs, greeting cards, postcards, business cards, billboards and ads. Advances in technology have also given us an entire digital environment, with websites, online ads, e-brochures, virtual presentations and much more.

Graphic designers can work with hand-drawn designs as well as computer-aided designs, thanks to a wide range of software with almost endless digital design tools. Programs like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop have become staples for any graphic designer.

A graphic designer does far more than put their creative skills to work. Although most graphic designers are intuitively creative, they've also spent time studying the many principles of design. It's essential to understand how to use design elements to convey the desired messages and values, and to evoke a particular feeling in the viewer. As visual communicators, they draw on these design elements and use concepts such as color, typography, space, balance, shape and line to create their visual message.

Some graphic designers also understand the more technical sides of design needed to create a company's digital assets. A web designer, for example, can often create wireframes, workflows and sitemaps, and understands how to build easy navigation for a better user experience.

Beyond turning a client's vision, brand image and value proposition into a visual presentation, a designer takes on many specialized tasks as part of a graphic design project. These include collaborating on the concept (usually with a team), attending project meetings, paying attention to what resonates with clients, giving presentations that explain different design options, revising designs, and preparing asset files for others on the team and for the client's use.

There are many ways to work with a graphic designer. Partnership options include working through an agency, using a platform such as 99designs, or hiring them directly. Either way, be ready to communicate clearly and often about what you want from your designer. The more specific you are in your brief, the more likely the final product will reflect your vision. Clear communication and fewer revisions will keep your costs down. Most graphic designers include one or two rounds of changes in their project price.

Although some designers have their own design process, there are a few proven approaches that make for a good working process with a graphic designer. Before contacting a designer, do your research on whether they're the right fit for your project. The best results come when you and your designer click, with great communication and great creative results. Ideally, this grows into a rewarding, ongoing working relationship with your freelance graphic designer on future projects and whatever you work on next.