No, I’m Not A Graphic Designer
Being labeled a Graphic Designer feels a little like being called a draftsman, color artist, desktop layout artist or something else that does not come even close to describing what I do. I believe this is true. It irks me when people cite Wikipedia as a source of definitions, it is interesting to note the definition of Graphic Design.
Surprisingly, The longer I stay in this industry, the more I realize the difference between producing graphically appealing advertisements and creating designs that produce results.
OK, Enough messing around… I am a Graphic Designer.
OK, stop. Before I go on, let me make something clear. Of course I’m a Graphic Designer, this is what I like, this is what I’m studying. The title of this post was put to get your attention and provoke thoughts than anything else. (sorry folks!)
I love graphic design though these days I end up doing far more than actual design myself. I wish our craft (as designers) and creative skills were as respected as they once were. I’ll gladly admit I am wrong if a strong enough argument is presented to me. Prove to me that I am just suffering a little identity crisis about the state of my own design career and that I’ve missed the bigger picture. Show me!
The word “graphic” fails to describe the design solutions that we create accurately. Many feel that the word “graphic” refers to pictures and images as the main thing, forgetting the strategies, concepts, words, sound, animation… I even freaking copywrite! or any other experiences we may choose to include in the designs we produce. Another obstacle is trying to educate the public, which is too high to climb just like the everest, I think it is better to just focus on doing good work.
Easy to say and not easy to do as the marketplace gets increasingly competitive. Many get stuck arguing over the technologies designers use or the difference between an artist and designer, but computers are just tools and art will always be a huge part of what we do. If you are not creative then even if you use computers, you still can’t call yourself a designer.
Therefore, and to get relieved I decided not to call myself a “graphic designer” because I find the term limiting and too similar to “graphics designer” or “graphic artist”, both of which are often used by people who are completely unfamiliar with the field. “Graphic designer” implies that I create graphic images, illustrations, and layouts, but don’t get involved in their content. It implies surface decoration and shallow focus.
I prefer “communication designer” because it covers a much broader spectrum and more accurately reflects what I actually do: I advise my clients on concept and content, sometimes even create content, or at least organize the content before I even design anything. I create and organize ideas. I design communications, some of which may take on a graphic form. But I definitely don’t just design graphics.
I re-brand, create layout, write content, create concepts, copywrite, art direct my work, finalize my design… Therefore, I deserve a nicer title than a “graphic desiger”. Apparently, anyone with a PC capable of installing a pirated copy of Adobe products, open a new file, use the pen tool or writes text and figures how to save/print files calls himself a designer.
Imagine sending some printing press an RGB design that includes some cars images and making a huge fuss after getting the print outs saying: shit, those cars should’ve been black not green, goddamn pc! LOL, or some other guy who doesn’t know how to export files with cropping areas and blames it on the software, or some other guy who thinks it doesn’t matter if he uses a 500×320px image on a 50×70cm B2 poster and says its okay if the picture pixelates.
The 3 previous examples are students I know, and they call themselves designers, I think I deserve a better title. or a different title, everybody learns… but you shouldn’t call yourself something you aren’t.
Sphere: Related Content
I call you Advertising God and people should bow to your greatness!
Seriously, the graphics designer title has lost all meaning. It’s funny that I actually understood the paragraph b4 last about, unlike others, about RGB and image pixel sizes and resolution and what is printable or not. And I do have a legal Adobe version at work and that’s what I use. lool I self taught my self everything. I am a creative person by nature and these tools are to guide you and help you make great things, and not to be called a designer by just clicking save. It’s more than that. Really. It’s a natural talent.
We should be called Natural Creative Visualists.
I understood that paragraph too
(how the hell did I end up studying medicine???? :P) < not the point
Anyways, I have an original copy of Photoshop CS2, that I mess around on when I’m bored, make stuff for my use (that people like sometimes), as well as making designs to support my custom sticker/t-shirt/decal business… So can I be called a Graphics Designed too???
Well, most people would call me so!! Am I anything compared to a real graphics designer? Zilch! Ignorance is out there, and we have to deal with it.
But interesting question… I’m no graphics designer, what are people like me called? Graphics hobbyist maybe?
well today everyone is a designer ,
including me …
why not go freelance, as long as your doing all the work yourself ?
Rebellious Arab Girl; Natural Creative Visualists, or communication visualizers.
Moe Sam; Graphic Design skilled person, you work on yourself more and you will earn the title, seeing your work, you earn that title and more Moe.
dadan; well, I freelance as well man, in Jordan, work itself doesn’t feed.
search ur feeling moi
thx for the share
I generally tell people that I am a New Media Designer. It tends to throw them off a bit and make them think. When they come back with the question, “Oh yeah? What’s that?”, I can explain that I work in print, web, audio, video, photography and systems design. That’s New Media: a combination of mediums and techniques that communicate to viewers/users.
Yeah but don’t you think you sound kinda hypocritical since you call yourself a “Senior Graphic Designer at JWT” yet you just graduated and have under a year of real work experience? Don’t you think Senior Graphic Designers who’ve been in the field for 6 or 7 years are thinking the same thing like you? They are probably thinking how very little their title of Senior Graphic Designer means if people just graduating from university are getting it.
Come on dude at least preach what you write.
so you think I do not deserve the title?
I don’t even like that title
I know undergraduates in higher titles.
Well, i think “designer” alone should be a suitable word, and when asked what kind of designer you are, go into graphics, ideas, branding etc. :p
The whole post gives an image of Moey trying to understand Graphic Design.
However, in my opinion, Communications Designer is really a broad term to be used specifically in Advertising Media.
May be you can call yourself Art Director (from what you feel about yourself)
Moey is doing a great job.. and he needs to focus on his work rather than to crib about what he deserves and what he doesnt.
I side Mark in what he says. Quite sensible.
~ Soul
Hello,
I actually have my signiture as Visual Communication Designer but so often I end up changing it to the boring Web & Graphix Designer. Ask me Why…
I’m glad you asked! Because people recognize web & graphix designer and fail to comprehend “Visual Communication Designer” which puts me in a hard position; simply to choose between a well suited title for my self OR an understandble one for my clients & collegues!
Interesting post
[...] I don’t call myself a web design as Moey doesn’t call himself a graphics designer (He is). I’m not a web designer for the reason [...]
Dude, you’re a graphic guru, seriously! And like Rebellious Arab Girl said, Adv God! nuff said
Too funny. You know, just call yourself the Man. Have it printed on your business cards, add it to your e-mail siggy. That way, it’s true. Then, no one understands it, but they can’t argue it :). Oh, and I agree that everyone in the world seems to think they are a graphic designer. Me, I know my limitations. I can jerry up intermediate needs, serve short term goals, but for a true, comprehensive and quality design and campaign, I want a graphic designer (and where were you when I was asking everyone and his brother about freelance folks?!).
Good post.
At SYNTAX, we avoid the term ‘graphic designer’. We simply use ‘designer’. Design, as I understand it, is a multi-disciplinary creative problem solving process. Research, conceptualization, writing, visualizing, coding and production can all be seen as part of the process.
Having said that, I think that the term ‘graphic designer’ needn’t be necessarily frowned upon. There are people who just love the visual aspect of things and aren’t so interested in the overall communication or problem solving process. And that’s ok if this is the way they see themselves and stick to what they do.
Also, we need to consider that specialization is also needed. For example, someone could immerse him/herself into type design. That person does not have to be interested in branding and strategy at all. Nothing wrong with falling in love with the craft of type design.
Illustration is another type of specialization.
One thing we need to clarify urgently is the difference between designer and media production specialist. A lot of mixups happen here. Too many people call themselves designers because they think that makes them look important, while in reality they could make a great name and career for themselves by being excellent graphical ‘engineers’. I love people who decide that their thing is not design but production technology: people who can excellently prepare stuff for printing, do great CSS coding, assure printing quality, know the ins and outs of indesign or flash.
I guess it’s all about conscious self definition.
Waaaaaa3 7Mbit unlimited, and we’re stuck with 2Mbit and a 8GB limit in Amman