Graphic design and web design – creating the perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality
We often talk about web designs and graphic designs in the same breathe, because it is quite logical when referring to web design and development even though these are quite different things. Although web design and graphic design belong to the same category and work together when creating websites, these are quite different from one another. Unless you are aware of the differences, you could be at a loss to understand the process of web development. Looking from the design perspective, the objective of web design and graphic design are the same is that both provide solutions to problems in unique ways. However, there are some differences in the method of applying the two kinds of designs in websites.
What you want to achieve from the website and how you want to do it are the guiding parameters of designing websites. You want websites to be highly attractive in its looks so that it arouses the interest of viewers to discover what lies underneath. Having achieved the initial objective, you would now like the website to perform some functions that help to realize the business goals. At the same time, you would like to provide the most satisfying experience to users when navigating the website. In simple words, you want to create aesthetically beautiful sites that are also highly functional and help in attracting leads and SEO. To make it happen, you have to blend graphic design with web design by knowing the scope and limitation of each method of designing.
Graphic design- visualizing ideas
Converting ideas into reality would first require visualization of the idea. When you have conceptualized an idea for creating a website, you have to figure out how the idea would turn out in reality. So many visual elements add aesthetic value to sites and convey messages through it that initiates a communication with the audience. You have to choose and combine the right elements to draw a picture of what the website would look like, and this is where graphic design comes into play.
The importance of graphic design
Since the first looks of the website are critical in creating high impacting the first impression of viewers that go a long way in providing good SEO returns, graphic design plays a crucial role in achieving the goal. The graphic design appeals to the senses of viewers by addressing the psychological aspects of the mind that help to create a close connection and develop a liking for the website. The choice of color schemes, font size, and typography are important parameters that can make viewers sway towards or away from a site. The appearance generates interest and curiosity among viewers that paves the path for better viewer engagement, so it is necessary for supporting the SEO objectives.
The elements of graphic design
For creating impressive visuals and capable of communicating in the same remarkable manner, graphic designers make use of photography, typography, illustration, and colors to translate the ideas into reality. The ideas and messages take shape in the form of a combination of text, images, and symbols as designers can use the traditional sketchpads as well as computers and software for creating logos, brochures, posters, and newsletters. The digital graphics on websites helps graphic designers stick to the basic artistry without involving in any technicalities.
Web design – adding functionality to websites
Web design is a part of the web development process and includes various elements like content production, web page layout and graphic design that provides the desired functionality and looks to websites. Therefore, web design and graphic design have to work hand in hand for creating websites and together constitute the process of web development. Web design is completely a technical process that determines all the aspects of sites from looks to functionality. From colors, layout and text styles to images, structure, graphics, and use of interactive features that help to deliver web pages to viewers, everything comes under the scope of web design.
Website creation with HTML
Hypertext Markup Language or HTML is the computer language that web designers use for creating websites. By using HTML tags, web designers define the metadata and content of each page. Cascading Stylesheets or CSS helps to determine how the layout will be and how the elements would appear. Web designers are responsible for determining how each page would appear on web browsers by combining HTML with CSS. The look and feel of the websites emanate from HTML and CSS, but designers have to create and develop images separately.
Although web design is the major constituent in the process of website creation and responsible for its functional aspects mainly, it is the graphic design that creates the essential first engagement that can make or break websites. It provides the foundation for building the superstructure of web functionality that generates user satisfaction.
