1. Margaret Wylie
Mrs. Maxwell - 1st period
10 November 2011
Graphic Design
Architecture can be defined as the process and production of planning, designing, and
constructing the final product ("Architecture"). Within the job of an architect, graphic designers
play a major role. One of the first steps to planning out how a piece of architecture will look and
where it will be placed is drawing out the details and taking many factors into consideration.
Graphic Designers are the first to decide the layout of the building, design what it will look like
one built, draw a sketch of even the minor details. For example, if an apartment complex is going
to be built, a graphic designer has to first design where pieces will be placed and the unique
shapes that the building itself will show after the design is brought to life. Graphic designers not
only have a job that requires them to complete many duties for a task, but they also have to be
well skilled in different areas such as communication abilities and knowing how to produce
interesting layouts
In order to complete the duties of a graphic designer, there are more qualities in addition
to skills that a person needs to obtain to have a successful career. Those qualities include things
such as being able to listen to your client’s wants and needs, be able to manage your time wisely,
be flexible with ideas and times to meet with your clients and be sure to pay attention to not only
major details, but also the minor ones. Listening to your clients can be important because you
must pay attention to their targeted audience and comprehend what kind of message the client is
looking to deliver. Organizing many projects for different people can become time consuming
and distracting so being organized can help you manage how long it will take to complete

2. individual tasks. Also, flexibility helps the graphic designer be able to work with different people
in search for unique projects. Each person is going to require a certain level of needs and skills to
complete a layout, logo, etc. Since each task includes distinctive touches, paying attention to
intricate details is certainly a huge part of the job (Qualities of a Good Graphic Designer).
Graphic designers are used for various projects and ideas; their job is rarely limited to
just one specific task. Many jobs can use anything from film media to print methods. These
contrasting types of design can be also be similar with the ways of evaluating popping colors,
illustrations, type, photography used in the finished products, animation, and finally printmaking
techniques ("Graphic Designer: Job Duties, Career Outlook, and Education Requirements").
Printmaking can be defined as the process it takes to make artwork by printing on paper or other
materials and surfaces. One reason that printmaking if often preferred but rarely used is because
each piece is unique because a drawing or sketch is used for each printing; yet, more than one
technique listed above may be used to complete the print ("Graphic Design"). Along with the
printing process, layouts and page setups are extremely important and may have to be completed
before you continue on with producing the finishing product.
When looking at the skills necessary to have when looking into earning a bigger career in
being a graphic designer and they mostly revolve around the visual arts themselves. Typography,
page layout, interface design, and printmaking are the main skills to focus on. Taking them all
into further explanation, first, typography is the art of creating type designs and arranging the
way type is positioned. Arrangement of type can be the size of the type, how long the text lines
are, how far spaced letters are, and the different fonts and typefaces the text can have.
Typography was used before digital art was produced but after digitization, typography was then
opened up to new generations of visual designers and also layout users. Typography is a key

3. item in creating an advertising design portfolio; often separates a good from great designer
("Graphic Design Skills"). Next, page layout deals with not only how the text will be arranged
but the style of elements and content that you acquire on the print. Like typography, page layout
is very common because it creates pieces as simple as a newspaper or magazine. Also, interface
design is much of the previous two skills combined. While typography and page layout is
focused on text for print materials, interface design takes text and layouts and creates web
designs ("Graphic Design", Wikipedia).
In order to complete the design requested by a client, you must have communications
skills because a graphic designer cannot finish a pleasing layout without knowing what his or her
clients find to be appealing and what will be able to connect with their target audience. In order
to catch the attention of the intended audience, graphic designers must think about cultural,
physical, and social factors when planning and, shortly there are, creating the designs for them.
Meeting with clients and art directors and then doing their own research gives them the relevant
information that is needed to form an idea. Throughout the years, one of the most crucial steps
for designers is to identify what their clients/consumers need and what they are looking for
(Occupational Outlook Handbook: Graphic Designers). Referring back to the duties and skills of
a graphic designer, you must be able to indicate what your consumer is looking for, but also give
a reasonable cost and be able to manage all of their large and minute details in a reasonable
amount of time ("Graphic Designer Job Duties"). This is because corporations are searching for
new ways to catch the eyes of new people on a daily basis by creating exciting designs and
layouts.
All in all, graphic design is one of the major steps in architecture and is needed to create
things, such as buildings, before they can actually be built. Graphic designers play such a huge

4. role because without planning and drawing layouts, architects wouldn't be able to finish each
task they are given. Like the previous example, before building an apartment complex, many
plans and thought have to be in ahead of time to make sure the people surrounding the designers
complete it the right way. Important details like plumbing and what materials used to build are
often figured up by the designers, then verified by the architects later. Lastly, graphic design is
not just about drawing figures and handing off papers; they have to be able to communicate well
with the people around them on a daily basis to keep their clients happy.