Is Graphic Design Dead?
28.03.2023
Is Graphic Design Dead?
Graphic Design will NEVER die!
However, producing a 'decent' piece of 'Graphic Design' as an untrained designer might just be getting much more achievable.
As it stands, I use the words 'decent' and 'achievable' with a heavy heart.
Having studied Graphic Design (for Print, to be fair) over 20 years ago, I have seen the design industry change beyond description! Regardless of how I started in Design (Apple Macs had just appeared on the scene back then), using the Drawing Board and Fine Rotring Pens, I was trained to look at Design as a form of Communication. Through learning over an initial three-year period and a constant openness to learn EVERY day, I was taught the basic principles of (Graphic) Design.
As a young opinionated creative (I didn't realise it at the time) I was being given the foundations for good Communication and a High Standard of Delivery.
Job Swap Idea - TV in the 90s
In the late 1990s, there was a T.V. programme called 'Job Swap' ... or something very similar ... whereby someone swapped jobs for a short period and learned the others' trade as best as they could. I graduated as a Graphic Designer round about this time (debatable ; )
and maintained that I could train ANYONE in the basics of Graphic Design within a few months. To be fair, I had a 12-hour-day in mind ; )
I'll ask Ewan (our Web Designer) whether I achieved it. ; )
Anyway - here we are in the age of CANVA!
As someone who has always embraced new tech (I'll be writing some words on A.I. generated content soon), I wasn't scared (6 years ago) about my design business being affected when my 14-year-old came downstairs with a poster for a party - created on her mobile - I was TERRIFIED!
This was a Graphic Design Company 'Killer'!
But it wasn't!
Everyone LOVED the idea of 'saving some money' by creating their own social media posts, posters and flyers. However, the reality is that it's always more challenging than 'the advert/TikTok' looks.
That was in 2016!
Here we are in 2023, and Canva are over ten years old! They have created an excellent platform for today's new 'designers'. Even if you need to learn the basics of Design, the MANY options available mean that the amateur 'creative' can create some GREAT work!
If you are a new business and want to get your brand 'moving', get over to https://www.canva.com/. It's a great way to get started.
I say 'started' because I still believe that all good organisations should have a Graphic Designer and/or a Graphic Design Department. Please do not let yourself fall into the trap of throwing your 'marketing budget' at the 19-year-old junior to create some of the most important and never to be had again ... FIRST IMPRESSION!
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aalpaca digital marketing is an SEO and Digital Marketing Company. Scott McPhee has over 25 years of experience in the Sales, Design and Marketing industry.
