It might seem overwhelming and difficult to choose among two courses which belong to the same field. The same thing is happening in the design field where the aspiring candidates are confused and wondering which course is best for building a career in design, UX vs. Graphic Design. But worry not! In this article, we will equip you with the required information to get started in the best UI UX design course or any other designing field and to explore the key distinctive, overlaps and right path that align with your learning styles.
A Simple Guide to Design Roles
If you search for it, you will find many job roles just for the one single word “designer.” These titles might seem similar because different companies can use them in their way. Here we have given you four common design roles.
Graphic Designer: Graphic designers create graphics for both print and digital media with the best use of colour, shapes, images and fonts. Examples are logos, banner ads, signs and brochures.
Visual Designer: Visual designers’ work basically focuses on creating a company brand appearance and making it look more appealing across many social media channels, websites and apps.
UI Designer: UI designers produce engaging visual elements unlike average graphic designers, who make static images whereas UI designers emphasise the elements and main parts of apps, websites, or devices that users click, tap, or interact with.
UX Designer: UX designers focus mainly on the user’s experience when dealing with a company and product. They think about how the service or product of the company is making the consumer feel and is making the consumer feel easy to use.
Understanding the World of Graphic Design
What is Graphic Design? Graphic design is the design discipline that employs visuals such as images, text, and colours to communicate ideas, narrate stories, or work towards branding. Various forms of media such as print, electronic and advertisement require attentive branding and graphic design services which is the primary aim of graphic designers.
Key Differences Between UX and Graphic Design
While all fields involve design, the differences lie mostly in their purpose, approach, and outputs.
| Graphic Designer | UX Designer |
| Designs visual elements | Designs interactions |
| Focuses on brand and aesthetic appeal | Focuses on the user experience and ease of use |
| A specialized role in visual design | A multidisciplinary role involving research, design, and testing |
| creativity, typography, color theory, and computer-aided design | empathy, user research, wireframing, prototyping, and information architecture |
| Popular tools include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, and Pixlr | Popular tools include Balsamiq, Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch |
| Typically has a degree in graphic design | Typically has a degree in human-computer interaction, computer science, psychology, or design |
Overlapping Skills Between UX and Graphic Design
Despite the differences, there are several skills shared by both fields:
- Design Principles: Both UX and Graphic Designers should be familiar with design principles such as colour theory, typography, and layout.
- Visual Communication: Both are concerned with the flow of a message conveyed by visual means clear and well-structured user interface or a striking advertisement.
- Proficiency with Design Tools: All disciplines need professionals in design software, including Adobe Suite, Figma, and other creative programs.
- Attention to Detail: Regardless of whether it is to guarantee the user experience is smooth or to ensure that a logo is visually harmonious, focus on detail is important in both fields.
Which Path is Right for You?
Finally, your career goals and interest base will determine what will you choose and what is best for you according to your strengths and potential. Here consider the questions listed follows:
- Do you enjoy problem-solving and creating solutions for users? If you’re more inclined to understand how people interact with technology and want to optimize their experiences, UX Design might be the better fit.
- Love to make beautiful graphics and narrate the stories using design, eh? If your passion lies in visual aesthetics and branding, Graphic Design could be the path for you.
- Are you interested in working in an interdisciplinary, research-oriented setting? With a preference for teamwork and a passion for knowing user behaviour, UX Design may seem a good fit for your longings.
- A visual product in mind, like a brand identity, do you like to design? If you’re drawn to creating logos, posters, or other visual assets that communicate a message instantly, a graphic and video editing course might be your calling.
Conclusion
In the end, both UX and Graphic Design offer interesting career options along with exciting career opportunities. UX designs are more about concerning and enhancing usability and developing a seamless user experience, on the other hand, Graphic design focuses on visual communication and brand storytelling. Look both career paths are appealing and come with exciting and prospering career opportunities but beyond these all these things what career path is suitable for you is majorly depends on your preferences and learning goals, so take your every step wisely and make your career journey more fulfilling and brighter.