The Tribune

You are probably thinking: "Can there really be an entire article devoted to the differences between a graphic artist and graphic designer?" You may not realise, but there are considerable differences.

PERSPECTIVE

As someone who has worked as both a graphic artist and a graphic designer, the two professions admittedly do have the following things in common.

Both rely on visuals to execute their work, both work in digital and print formats and, of course, both start with the word "graphic". But the roles of graphic artist and graphic designer actually have different objectives. Using my experience and knowledge, I will break down the differences:

GRAPHIC ARTIST

The sole intent of a graphic artist is to create visuals that facilitate an idea or story. Sometimes there is no logic to the creation of the designs and, in other instances, the visuals are the platform for an entire story.

There is no limit to the kind or amount of mediums they use. Consequently, graphic artists tend to bend or break some of the design rules, but only if it fits the composition or story being told.

A graphic artist's portfolio might include cartoons, illustrations, graphic novels, comic books and movie illustrations.

WHAT MAKES A GRAPHIC ARTIST

The common denominator between all these portfolio pieces is that they are more artistically inclined. Each piece does not follow a uniform set of rules. If the graphic artist's intent is to tell a story, the visuals come first and the story second.

THE GRAPHIC ARTIST'S OBJECTIVE

The main objective of a graphic artist is to entertain the viewer. Graphic artists work in a print or digital format, depending on the purpose of the design. Their work is created by hand or on a computer, and the artwork they produce often works in both print and digital format.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

In contrast, the graphic designer's main intention is to get the viewer to interact with the content within the design. In the world of graphic design, content is king, and the purpose of the design is to help optimise concise information while providing a visual platform. To better understand what a graphic designer might do, you should be able to identify the kinds of work they produce. A graphic designer's portfolio might include info graphic, marketing collateral, print design, digital design, web design, instructional design, presentation design and logo design.

WHAT MAKES A GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The common denominator for all of these portfolio pieces is that they serve as platforms for content that can be used in various forms of media. A prime example of graphic design is marketing collateral for a company - brochures, flyers, business cards, advertisements and websites - across all mediums.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER OBJECTIVE

The main objective of a graphic designer is to deliver the content in an eye-catching manner. The composition, and how the design interacts, depends on the content being displayed. Graphic designers must follow strict guidelines due to the parameters of the content and medium, but graphic artists have more relaxed guidelines due to the unlimited possibilities for ideas and stories.

For graphic designers, content is of the utmost importance. The designer cannot create visuals without understanding the content it will facilitate. For graphic artists, the visual possibilities are endless. The design depends on an abstract thought, and it is impossible to set guidelines.

To this end, the main difference between a graphic designer and a graphic artist is the importance of the imagery within the work. A graphic designer's main intention is to facilitate content, and a graphic artist's main intention is to facilitate an idea or story. They both involve visuals, and can be in various forms of media. Both are essential because they facilitate different needs in the visual realm. Until we meet again, fill your life with memories rather than regrets. Enjoy life and stay on top of your game.

NB: Columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail.com

ABOUT COLUMNIST: Deidre M. Bastian is a professionally-trained graphic designer/marketing co-ordinator and certified life coach with qualifications of M.Sc., B.Sc., A.Sc. She has trained at institutions such as: Miami Lakes Technical Centre, Success Training College, College of The Bahamas, Nova Southeastern University, Learning Tree International, Langevine International and Synergy Bahamas.