You believe you know the fundamentals of what graphic designers do. They employ design concepts and sophisticated tools to develop logos, websites, and other digital materials like infographics. That’s all there is to it, right?
Not so fast. Digital graphic design work may receive most of the focus, but that doesn’t imply print design is useless. There are numerous sorts of print design that are still a crucial aspect of the design business, and prospective graphic designers need to have excellent print design abilities to be viable in the marketplace.
So what is print design? And why does it still matter? We consulted with design professionals to get the answers regarding this often-overlooked component of graphic design.
What is print design, and why is it still relevant?
Instead of digital areas like websites, print designs exist on printed media like business cards, billboards, or brochures. Print design, like digital design, aims to convey a certain message to viewers via the use of visual images.
At first look, print design may seem to be a rare breed. However, if you look closely, you’ll see that print patterns are everywhere around you. Print design is a crucial part of brand marketing and advertising campaigns since people see it all the time as they go about their daily routines.
According to Dana S. Howling, owner and creative director of B.ID LLC, there is still a lot of print material and media that are important today. “It is important to connect with people in both the digital and physical worlds.”
Communication is at the heart of all forms of graphic design. Think of print design as simply another way to get your message out there and connect with your target audience. “Print will still be required until everyone can digitally project everything,” Howling argues. For this reason, “you should know how to develop great, compelling print pieces that assist strengthen ties with your audience.”
It’s crucial to keep in mind that print design is advancing at the same time as digital. “Experiential print design bridges the gap between the on- and offline worlds,” says Coastal Creative CEO and designer Mark Krenn. When it comes to the future of print design, new technology has made it obvious that it won’t be obsolete anytime soon. Digital and print advertising will likely remain viable options for advertisers that want complete campaigns that target prospective buyers at all stages of the buyer’s journey.
Types of graphic design for printing
There is a lot of print design all around us, and it’s easy to overlook it. Marketing in the traditional sense still depends heavily on print media. A well-designed book cover may make a tremendous difference in sales in the publishing industry, where print design plays an important role.
The following are examples of print design types to be on the lookout for:
In-person interactions need the use
The use of a company’s logo on packaging, labels, and shopping bags
Brochures
Billboards
Interior design and book covers
Newspapers and magazines
Signage
Stationery
Invitations and cards for all occasions
Calendars
Posters
Menus
Banners
It’s all about printing vs designing digitally.
In many aspects, print and digital design are quite similar. Both print and digital media use the same fundamental design concepts to achieve the same end result: to reach a specific audience. There are a few important differences between designing for print and designing for the web, though.
According to Krenn, “print designers must be specialists at working within precise constraints and ensuring that the end output is absolutely pixel flawless.”‘ There are significant differences between this and digital design work since digital design faults and errors may be corrected at little cost and with little effort.
Another thing to keep in mind is that print design is more expensive than digital design. “A mistake on a printed piece? What’s wrong with that?” A complete rework might cost as much as hundreds of dollars in wasted material costs. According to Krenn, printing design has “hard fixed expenses that don’t come close with digital.”
To make matters more difficult, print designers must deal with a limited set of guidelines. A magazine layout can only contain so many words, no matter how big the banner or business card is. At all times, print designers need to be mindful of these limits.
Workforce worth of print design skills
As you may guess, print design has a unique set of obstacles for graphic designers to overcome. Print design fundamentals and experience with a broad variety of design applications are prerequisites for success in this field.
Howling urges print designers, for example, to constantly be aware of their design’s resolution in order to print at the maximum quality possible. For the task at hand, you need the necessary equipment and resources.” In the realm of print, “not everything is Photoshop®,” adds Howling. Using Adobe Illustrator® for large-format print pieces and Adobe InDesign® for text-heavy layouts like books or magazines is recommended by the speaker.
The print design may need some of these talents, but graphic design as a whole may benefit from them as well. When it comes to designing for digital, Krenn believes that working offline may help designers sharpen their concentration and boost their creativity. It’s a great way for a designer to get experience and build a diverse body of work for their portfolio.
Is print design something you’d be interested in pursuing in the future?
The print design could be an essential aspect of your profession if you’re thinking about a career in graphic design. Wondering whether there are any additional surprises in store for you in the world of graphic design? Discover these eight types of graphic design jobs that you may not have previously known about.
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