A graphic designer’s work can be seen everywhere. From the signs and symbols we see in public places like railroad stations, airport terminals, bus stops etc. to various websites which we encounter in the internet and also various advertisements both in print and electronic form all have an element of graphic design embedded in them. A graphic designer thus serves as an interface for various public communication needs and the general public, who should be able to understand, appreciate and comprehend the designs which are basically intended for them.
Thus, a graphic designer should be very adept in communication skills, seeking to constantly interpret the economic, social and cultural aspects of design that one has in mind and able to convey the same to the client so that the communication between them gets effective and the client gets what he or she wants from the graphic designer. Thus, understanding the perspective of others is very important for a graphic designer since they work for the public at large, constantly interpreting their own ideas and how will the public perceive those ideas.
A graphic designer or for that matter any creative artist has to constantly live in the shadow of a conflict between creativity and public utility. An artist may create a masterpiece and when he or she views the work created by the ones own perspective and it may feel like the best work an artist has achieved. But it may not be the same way how other artists and public in general might feel for that particular work. Also general public wants to see something that is unique, appeals to their taste and is something they can relate with. All these are very tough conditions to fulfill and an artist may not always be able to meet all these expectations.
Same is the case with the graphic designers since they are also artists who have to convey their ideas to public and are constantly nervous about how public would receive their piece of work. Hence, it becomes imperative that the graphic designer understand the nerve of the public at large, their hopes and expectations, their fears and aspirations, what they love and what they hate. It is not always possible to make everyone happy, but the graphic designer has to create such kind of work which is always appealing both to the masses and critics and most important of all, serves a definite purpose and is of aesthetical value to everyone.
Besides being creative, graphic designers have also to be adept in the technical side of their work. Since the information technology revolution is sweeping the entire world and how we conduct our businesses and work, the profession of graphic design and not remained immune to this phenomenon. Thus, instead of ink and sheets of paper, graphic designers have now to turn to their computer screens and various software in order to create their work. This has offered variety in their work but also has increased the competition. This has opened a wide range of opportunity to them and this wave of new media has brought design sense more closer to the public.
Thus, the role of a graphic designer is multifaceted which should be both technical and creative, appealing to the masses and yet individualized in style and nature.
