15 Common Graphic Design Myths Debunked

If it was not for William A. Dwiggins, the world wouldn’t really have cared enough to appreciate this highly emerging vocation called ‘graphic design’.

The famous illustrator, typographer, and book designer coined the term in the early years of the 20th century, precisely 1922. Back then, he used it in his body of work in printed communications, which included illustrations, typography, calligraphy, and book designs. Now a century later, graphic design has become an indispensable part of businesses. And there is a growing need to outsource graphic designers from India too.

Despite the overwhelming popularity of the profession, several graphic design myths still exist in the industry. Here’s what you should know too.

Meant only for print
Thankfully, most people now know that graphic design is the crux of digital mediums, even more than print! Think of social media graphics, website banners, and email newsletters and you would know how extensively graphic design is being used in the digital world. Another metric is most graphic designers have no dearth of work.

No excelling without talent
Of course, it’s icing on the cake when designers are blessed with a keen sense of detail, nice taste and visual flair. That is in fact, the very way how they can gravitate towards this highly creative field. But whoever said a born creator can only produce effective designs stands wrong! Graphic design, as a skill, can be mastered, and rather well. It’s an art, but science too- especially how the techniques of combining various elements come together.

The need for fancy tools
While professional graphic designers resort to complex design software to get freehand design elements, there are simple ways to begin too. Basically, the high-end tools offer designers the extra grip to make their designs better than others. But it takes years to master, and also the financial ability to invest in such pricey tools. An average person can create something prolific too, using free design tools.

Only following visual trends
Trends in graphic design are short-lived. When 2021 saw a huge boost in pastel colors, textures and handwritten fonts, there’s a fresh influx of visuals this year. The role of any designer is to stay conscious of what happens, implement the same, and also use his or her discretion to create something better. The idea isn’t to be a slave to the ever-changing trends.

Prettiness is the key
Another misconception is that only ‘aesthetics’ matter. Something visually pleasing is obviously an eye-catcher. But it doesn’t have to be that way. ‘Prettiness’ is a subjective term, and also, not the real target of graphic design. When creating designs, it’s better to think about the actions that the audience would want to take. This creates the necessary impact, besides looking traditionally beautiful.

Only 100% original designs
The best thing about uniqueness is that brands stand out from the crowd and outdo competitors. But dispensing graphic design services doesn’t imply creating designs from scratch always. Even professional designers who have mastered all such tricks make multiple templates so that they can optimize the processes as and when required.

No need to budget
A completely misleading idea- you need to understand how tight you should be with your expenses and then furnish designs. When talking of facts about graphic design, visuals play a large role in making a brand come to life, regardless of the medium being print or digital. So, the budget should only increase according to the gravity of the work.

Need to choose the right font
Arranging text and fitting them beautifully is no mean feat. But choosing a font isn’t enough. There are more things to consider- like which font type suits the brand message, values, and target demographics. Also, the interplay between the text and images, shapes, framing, and the white space, among others can’t be ignored.

Nothing to do with motions
Gone are the days when graphic design was limited to graphics or regular images. Videos have entered the scene long back and continue to emerge as one of the most robust advertising media. And now, graphic design toolboxes cease to exist, sans animation and video. So, you’ll find all such modern graphic elements for YouTube videos, animated infographics, GIFs, and social media ads having slideshows of images.

Legends know everything
Graphic designers are often said to be the prophets of brand vision or business goals. A client needs to be very clear about his or her vision and also the expectations that arise from collaborations. Based on the requirements, the designer needs to work. So there must be optimum clarity between a designer and the client. Hence, the unnecessary glorification of graphic designers is basically pointless!

Moneyed folks
Now, there are reasons to say so. And most ‘reel’ aspects are to be blamed for this! Some designers can actually mint money. They know how to get their popularity quotient flying! But others prefer staying low-key. However, business owners paying peanuts to a professional is unacceptable. Among the many facts about graphic design, this is one thing that designers should be wary of.

Internet has everything
Online resources often suffice the need for what is immediate. But designers will any day fetch you better ideas and works in posters, images, presentations and more. Internet also has very limited utility for the design process that needs greater personal interaction. So why rest upon it solely?

A degree is more than enough
Degrees are far less important when we speak of graphic designing. Of course, it is crucial, but a solid experience and a well-developed portfolio count more. Also, professional connections must be built through the process of networking. Good graphic designing schools lay stress on all these vital factors.

Freelancing is the best option
Not really! You might find a plethora of successful designers who have their labels or companies or have established themselves as dependable brands, providing top-notch graphic design services themselves. A large percentage of them had started with any agency or as in-house specialists before making a move on their own. And self-employment might look alluring- it isn’t without its share of challenges!

Work is everywhere
Sad as it may sound, the answer is NO! Of course, it’s an evolving field. But have you really thought about the number of professionals who produce good work? Work might not be readily available, despite the boom in demand. So the lookout should be about creating a unique mark amidst stifling competition.

Bottom-line
It might remain a question even now how people can believe these myths without really verifying the details. But the good thing is that clients and professionals both need to see the larger picture. Such myths exist even now. It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that these graphic design myths actually work like deterrents in the path to progress.

Summary
Have you been a victim of such misconceptions too? Then it’s worthwhile poring through this, as it debunks all such pre-existing thoughts. This way, you can classify reality from fiction and vice-versa. Accordingly, you can outsource graphic designers from India and get better projects with exceptional prowess and expertise, if you’re a client.