It’s fascinating how broad the science of graphic design is, but at the end of the day, the whole thing just comes down to communication.
A lot of the content of this page is going to be assets and materials I designed for my own business, but I hope that communicates the sense of determination I practice to keep a brand cohesive but unique.
Graphic Design Establishes Identity
The first thing most people think of when they hear “Graphic Design”, in my experience, is putting together a logo. It makes sense, a logo is the very first concept that most people have when it comes to brand identity.
It is, in a way, the pinnacle of graphic design because you have to get so many things just right when you design a logo because it’s the first exposure people have to your brand.
This tells you you’re looking at a media service provider that’s bold, but orderly, run by a guy named John.
This tells you you’re looking at a cartoon-centric artist named John who practices a calm, but creative vibe.
(The above are both my brands, but putting in the work still counts, yeah?)
This is a pro bono logo revision I provided to a local pop culture convention in my area.
More illustration than graphic, but a pro bono logo provided for an anime podcast.
Graphic Design Organizes Information
Awareness of graphic design tends to end with the logo, but its significance doesn’t. The next major discipline of graphic design is actually contextualizing a set of information.
Graphic designers commonly have the responsibility of taking assets and laying them out in a format that leads the reader through them.
As an example, if you stop by my illustration website, Toonstop, you’ll notice graphic design as a broad application to the site itself. The WordPress theme I used was premade, but I wanted a specific identity to the colors of the site, the size of the text area, the appearance of the quotes, and the graphics themselves.
There’s also the menu designed for Toonstop’s on-site vending booth, useful for constructing a merchandise order when the booth display itself is difficult to see.
Toonstop also hosted in-person classes for approximately 2 years, and over that time required 36 inch signage communicating any changes or new offerings in structure and programming.
Graphic Design Elevates and Empowers Ideas
As an illustrator, composition is critical to my helping guide the eye through a picture, enabling a viewer to be more engaged in the art and maintain visual interest. This enables me to apply design and illustration in a practical way on printed goods, and help expand the reach and influence of brands and businesses, and help maintain quality and consistency for work and team uniforms.
The skills I possess in graphic design were a massive boon in my work as a prepress specialist, and enabled me to maintain and print excellent art for dozens of businesses, individuals, and nonprofits – large and small – including the following:
Even in sketches I do for fun, like the selections from a set I made last year, require the discipline of graphic design to increase the effectiveness of the illustrations themselves.
Graphic Design Manifests Your Vision
I hone and broadcast my skills because I want to help you refine and deploy the creative vision that meets your business needs. I want to help you get your message across right the first time your ideal client sees your brand and site.
If what I’m offering looks like it can help you, let’s talk. I’d love to help you crystallize a brand that communicates the spirit and strength of your business.