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Understanding the Role of Graphics in Web Design

Posted on by in Graphics

Web design is the planning and creation of websites. For actualization of this process, there are several components that have to be satisfied namely the site’s structure, user interface, navigation, layouts, colors, imagery, fonts and even structure of information. All these factors have to be in consideration and they must blend with the goals of the person to own the site.

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You might not know it but graphic design is also a part of web design. In fact, it brings in other elements such as shapes, lines, color, direction and texture. The principles are contrast, balance, unity, rhythm, contrast and emphasis.

The Role of Graphic Design

As a business person, you know too well how having a website has been emphasized but you just didn’t know how much graphics matter and thus the need for you to know the integral role that they play in web design.

There is need for several skills to be included like page layout techniques, typography and visual arts. The designer pulls together the shapes, colors, art work organization texts and logos and make them communicate your purpose. For you to be able to appreciate the role played by these designs then you should first of all be aware of the history of graphic design.

The History

The godfather of this discipline is non-other than William Addison Dwiggins. Actually, he is the one who came up with the term. It is said that the state of economy after World War Two created a need for such designs to be present. As the decades went by, the consumer trends expanded thus graphic design was swallowed into the world of advertising as a mode of reaching and attracting the masses. The result is more sales for companies and brands.

Where It is Applied

Graphic design is not only limited to adverts but they are a way of enhancing knowledge transfer in a visual manner in order to pass messages to the targeted audiences. People interact with these designs daily in different ways for instance in a restaurant’s menu, road signs, and even magazine covers.

A designer should organize and improve the legibility of the typography in the text’s layout to ensure that people get to read what they see. The aim is to sell a product or an idea by having a visual representation of the same that communicates effectively.

Statistics show that companies have found that use of these aids grows their consumer base rather than the use of ordinary and plain advertisements and packaging. The truth of the matter is that people buy names that are brands and not the product.

You can simply look at the fashion and entertainment industries and you will see how graphics can be used to create a whole new scenario that tells its own story.

Go to educational facilities and see how learning becomes fun through use of graphics.

The Skills Needed

Since web design and graphic design are two sides of the same coin, a good website designer must also be equipped with skills that will enable him create good graphics. If they do not possess such skills then they will need to hire an experienced graphics person. The person should have the following:

1. Creativity
There is more to graphic designing than having stock images for playmates. The main thing that is involved here is creating. You will need someone who can sketch drawings as you tell them your ideas and then finally present those ideas in a final form that is very incredible.

2. Typography

typography

This skill still lives on and cannot be degraded no matter how advanced we become. Fonts can be reacted to negatively or positively depending on how the complement the images and content on the site. This is how language speaks in graphics.

3. Software
Graphic design involves the use of several software so as to end up with a high-quality product. There is InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator just to name a few since more and more are undergoing development. Still it is required that a designer be proficient in the use of these software and know the pros and cons of each. They should also be aware of any new software in the market.

You might also want more than images and instead find that animation works better for you. For a designer to be able to manage this, they will have to know how to use multimedia design software for example acrobat.

4. Know the Colors
Knowing colors in the world of design is simply described as color theory. People react to color subconsciously therefore there is need to ensure that only the right colors are used or in a split second someone will go to another site.

5. Layout

website-layout

You should organize your site so well to the point where the elements of structure are clearly visible and they guide the visitors to the purpose of the site. There should be a balance between cluttering and waste of space.

6. Web design
The languages of programming are HTML and CSS. A graphic designer should know how to use them so that they can manipulate the site until its development is completed.

You might as well compare web building to house construction and graphics to the painting and interior works. There is no doubt that every business should have virtual space but since there are many competitors, there is need to woo traffic your way. The best thing of doing this is by quenching the appetite of your audience and giving them the best and not just a plain old site with blots of content.

Let your audience feast their eyes and let them find something exciting on your site. All you need to do is hire a qualified web and graphic designer. At times, you do not need to say much to be heard, image can be everything and when it is integrated by other elements then images can be the best thing.

Author: Lalit Sharma

Lalit Sharma is an SEO consultant who runs a SEO house called Ranking By SEO. He is specialized in link building and other SEO related activities.

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