Graphic design and web design are two branches of the same profession, with overlapping job descriptions and skills required. It would help if you were good at the other to be good at one. While there’s some overlap, they’re not the same thing either.
So which is better web design or graphic design? When designing your business cards or brochures, it doesn’t matter all that much what design tool you use; your customers will care more about your finished product than the tool you used to make it.
Web Design
It’s Not All About Looks. While it’s easy to see why people think that Graphic Design and Web Design are both about designing pretty graphics, these two skill sets have a lot more in common than you might think. Let’s look at what makes these careers so alike and compare their differences.
Some may say that web designers sit at computers all day long (no doubt from seeing them stare blankly at a screen for hours). But being a good web designer isn’t just about having a great eye for detail – after all, we don’t expect an amazing painter to be a master chess player, so if you are interested to get the services of web designing go to the constructive visual.
Graphic Design
The purpose of graphic design is to produce images and text that visually communicate an idea, usually for marketing purposes. Graphic designers are employed in both print and digital media. Graphic designers create visual solutions to branding and communication problems for businesses large and small.
To do so, they use design principles like contrast, repetition, balance, proximity, alignment, white space (the area of an image that does not contain actual image content), color theory (how colors mix) as well as various tools of graphic communications such as typography (fonts), photography (shooting photos or video), illustration (drawing images), etc.
Web Design: Web design aims to create a website’s interface. The user interface includes text, graphics icons, and images.
Ask Questions on Forums
If you’re looking for opinions, there are a lot of forums that can provide you with what you need. Most sites have sections dedicated to asking questions and finding answers.
Getting your question in front of a group is likely to be more productive than finding an individual who knows everything (like your professor) but might not be as approachable—some good places to start: Stack Overflow and Reddit’s/r/web_design subreddit.
While you’re at it, check out some podcasts too! They can also be useful if you want new perspectives on what’s going on in web design and development.
Know What Tools are Available to You
Whether you’re a designer, developer, project manager, client rep, or simply an individual looking to make your website look more visually appealing—if you want your project done right, don’t settle for less than what’s available to you.
A professional designer can create anything they can dream up using popular programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and industry-specific tools such as Sketch App by Bohemian Coding and Invision App by InVision.
A professional developer uses popular languages like HTML5 and CSS3 and best-in-class IDEs like Atom or JetBrains WebStorm.
While many of these items are free for non-commercial use, there are pro versions with advanced features that professionals take advantage of every day.
Go With Your Instincts
For example, if you’re looking for a website designer, search sites like Fiverr and Upwork. Here, you can post a project that outlines your exact needs, including any required skills and hours of work.
Once you’ve posted your job and received several quotes, hire one that fits your budget and matches your skills to their qualifications. After all, every penny counts when starting a business!
Budget vs Quality
Whether to invest in quality website design or budget website design is very important. Since every business owner’s situation is different, no one can tell you exactly what’s right.
That being said, it’s smart to do some thinking before committing to a particular plan of action. For example, if you want to generate leads and drive sales through your site, you may want to invest more in professional-looking design than a small mom-and-pop shop that only needs enough traffic to service its loyal clientele.
Need a Team? Hire Freelancers!
Freelancers are a great way to get projects done quickly and cheaply, plus they come in all different skill sets. The downside to freelancers is that most are not native English speakers and may struggle with writing. As an entrepreneur, it’s up to you to ensure a quality product.
If you decide to hire freelancers, here are some tips: Set clear expectations: Freelancers can provide work for your company, but that doesn’t mean you have time for their mistakes.
To avoid unproductive squabbles over deadlines and errors, ensure everyone knows exactly what needs to be done from the start, who will provide feedback on drafts, and when deliverables are due.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more web designer or graphic designer?
If you’re interested in graphic design, many people suggest that it has a larger salary potential. If you have a knack for coding and programming (or for working with computer hardware), then web design might pay more over time. It all depends on your strengths, how well those skills translate to what employers are looking for, and how much competition there is.
The only way to know which will pay off financially (and where your interests lie) is to learn as much as possible about both—and then actually try them out on an internship or two.
Design schools can be a great way to get started; they give students all their general education courses, and a few classes explicitly focused on practical experience.
Can a graphic designer create a website?
The short answer to that question is: absolutely. A good website should combine visual elements with functionality to engage visitors, and a graphic designer can play a role in making that happen if he follows the web design trends.
But does your site need to be visually stunning and aesthetically pleasing? Or will a simple template suffice for your needs and save you some cash? It’s essential to consider these questions before deciding how you want your site to look—and who you’ll hire to make it look that way.