The Daily Design Planet: Graphic Design is not EASY!

Many people have this misconception that Graphic Design is easy. I must admit I thought just because I love what I’m doing it would be easy for me to do it. The truth is I was wrong. Graphic Design is not easy.

The idea of Graphic Design being easy is actually a vice of the trade. Very few know the difficulties that we face as Designer. In the eyes of many all Graphic Designers do is sit in front of the computer all day. In part it’s true we do sit in front of a computer all day, but it is not as simple as it looks. There is a reason that so many designers go to school for years to study their craft and prefect it.

Graphic Design is an important part of all businesses. Without graphic design businesses would never grow. They could never be recognized. What would McDonalds be if the M were never designed? What would any of your favorite companies be without there famous logos that made them who they are? Design is a much-needed part to all businesses and that need continues to grow. The understanding of the work that goes on behind the scenes on the other hand continues to diminish. Graphic Design has become the norm in today’s world so it doesn’t get enough credit. Since design is everywhere people have this idea that it is easily accessible and in turn is easily done. The truth is since design is everywhere that’s what makes it harder.

There are so many designers out there that chances of getting good work are slimmer. We all have to fight to be the better designers. We have to fight to be different. For this reason so many Graphic Designers are expanding their knowledge and their skill sets. Now it is no longer just sitting in front of a computer all day, we have to research. We need to know our audience. We need to know the message that is being asked for us to portrait in our designs. There are many things that we must know to bigger and better than our competition. What happens is most of the time people don’t realize what we have to do to get them a great design, thus creating the misconception of Graphic Design being easy.

I remember a story of another Graphic Designer who charged a client $100 for a logo that she literally knocked out within ten minutes. The client thought that it was absurd that she could charge so much for something that took her only ten minutes to make. What the client didn’t realize was that it took her four years of undergraduate school and ten years of experience for her to create that logo in ten minutes. What I find interesting is that the client is now the most recognizable business in town and has probably cashed in on the logo ten fold what was charged of him.

Graphic Design is not easy! Before you begin to think it is just remember we go to school and work on our skill sets everyday to perfect our craft. I have decided to include a few things that you should never say to a Graphic Designer.