Visual Design vs Graphic Design: What Are the Differences?
Apr 15, 2021
Although visual design and graphic design may appear similar, there are some significant distinctions between them. If considering a career in design, it is critical to grasp these distinctions to select the role that best fits your interest. Let us compare visual design vs. graphic design to decide which career path is best.
What Exactly is Visual Design
In contrast to graphic designs, visual designs are solely concerned with digital media. They are in control of the organization’s online presence’s look and sound.
Visual designers are often referred to as “problem solvers” in the design community, as they develop an organization’s design plan and decide what goes into the brand’s voice.
Although graphic designers strive to communicate a particular message through each project, visual designers strive to share a consistent brand voice through online platforms. Typical deliverables for graphic designers include icons, presentations, and logos.
What is Graphic Design
A graphic designs’ objective is to convey a concept to consumers by using text and pictures. This role has existed since before the advent of new digital technologies; graphic designers have historically concentrated on creating material for print media, for example, catalogs, magazines, and brochures. Additionally, they are used to create advertisements.
When graphic designers are at work, they are responsible for choosing the images, fonts, colors, and words that convey a message to readers.
Web design’s popularity as a communication mode shows that graphic designers have extended their service offerings to include web design.
Overlap Between Visual and Graphic Design
Since both of these occupations are concerned with appearance, they are often mistakenly for one another. Because of the prevalence of interacting through the internet, the two careers’ distinctions have become increasingly blurred in recent years.
As graphic designers transition to web design, much of their work overlaps with the functions performed by visual designers on digital platforms.
The first significant distinction is the aim that each of these occupations entails. Graphic designers aim to convey a particular message to customers.
On the other hand, visual designers are in charge of creating a consistent brand picture across all digital channels. As a result, the brand’s sound, look, and feel will need to be consistent.
The second significant distinction is the different modes of communication in which they engage. Graphic designers began their careers in print media, such as newspapers and magazines, and are only starting to branch out into web design.
Visual designers, on the other hand, have often prioritized multimedia platforms. They are not interested in conventional print media in their work.
Every project that graphic designers work on is supposed to have a unique message. On the other hand, visual designers are more concerned with developing a single voice through digital platforms, so this is not a standard they obey.
What Are The Qualifications for These Jobs?
Visual Designers
There are a variety of university degrees that one can pursue to become a graphic designer. If someone wants to be a visual designer, They can major in one of the following fields: graphic design, fine art, advertising, or communications. This degree program includes business communications and marketing courses to understand a visual designer’s role better.
Graphic designers
Proficiency in design applications such as Photoshop, InDesign Illustrator, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Artist and are among the skills needed to become a graphic designer.
A Graphic designer degree is a viable option. Although coding expertise is not required, it can be advantageous to become interested in web design aspects. HTML and CSS are two popular coding languages to learn.
Salary: Graphic Designer vs Visual designer
Graphics Designers
According to Glassdoor, a graphic designer’s average salary is $44,332 per year.
Entry-level graphic designers can expect to make around $35,000 per year, while top graphic designers can make up to $72,000 per year.
Visual Designers
Visual designers gain considerably more than graphic designers. According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for graphic designers is $74,106.
A starting salary for a graphic designer is about $44,000. Top graphic designers should expect to earn about $90,000 a year on average.
Conclusion – The Right Job
Whatever the interests, keeping in mind that conventional graphic design jobs are becoming less common in today’s digital world. The demand for online skills is increasing, while the demand for print media is decreasing. Enjoy coding? Becoming a UX/UI designer might be the right fit.
A career as a visual designer, graphic designer, or digital artist could be a better fit if more interested in design’s creative aspects. Furthermore, it would not be required to learn to code to perform any of these three jobs if not interested in coding.
Whatever course is taken, there are many design positions to choose from, all of which pay well and provide excellent benefits to those with a brilliant mind.
