Picture Perfect

Background

It is famously said that “Design is the intersection between Science and Art”. With the burst of social media and new software, technology has taken center stage in the world of today. Digital mediums are the advertising and the marketing focus of every budding and established entrepreneur, ranging from all backgrounds. Displaying your work on a platform that is available to be viewed by all has advantages that were unknown to our predecessors. For the field of design, the new digital revolution is an excellent opportunity for all enthusiastic and passionate humans who are trying to carve out their niche in this highly competitive market. This surgency in the use of technology to aid design, be it product, graphic or structural, is introducing avenues that were inexistent till a few years ago. Editing and animating software have taken the world by storm, and new plug-ins and subsidiary tools being launched every few weeks are assisting designers in realizing their wildest and most dynamic ideas. The digital revolution is also advantageous to people who might not have a background in design but possess an appreciation and passion for the same.

Graphic Design

The field of graphic design has seen an extraordinary flux of people gravitating towards the subject since digital media presence gained importance. It is now common to have dedicated teams of social and digital media marketing and advertising in companies, and even start-ups and up-and-coming hustlers are aware of the fact that digital presence, and the knowledge thereof, is an important tool to get their ideas and philosophies noticed on a national as well as an international scale. This sudden gush has led students and professionals alike to gain knowledge of graphic design, and the nuances of the subject. Today, it is important to own an understanding of software like Adobe to look for employment opportunities in fields that are exclusive of design.

Elements of Graphic Design

But what exactly is graphic design, and what does it entail? Essentially, it is the design of graphics - pictorial and/or textual representations of an individual’s ideas and concepts, a company’s product or philosophies, or an infographic to be spread for awareness. Over the years, these representations have gradually transferred from print media to digital platforms, and have become more and more extraordinary due to the technological tools available in the market today. The field has gained validation as a respectful area of study and subsequent employment. With this validation, however, the respective market has evolved into a highly competitive, ever-changing trade that requires exposure to new software and an awareness of the latest trends in colours, styles, and themes. It is crucial to keep on top of these trends; much like fashion and interior/furniture design, graphic design has been subjected to be judged on what is in vogue, listing colours, styles, and themes that are appealing and preferable to the customer audience at large.

More research into organizations that keep track of trends yields the declarations of 2019, which speak about the amalgamation of older styles coupled with newer edits and finishes. Be it art deco or mid-century modern, a minimal end product is a key to producing an appealing graphic for our generation. That’s not to say that maximalist vibes are to be ignored, though- the trend list also re-introduces duo-tones, asymmetrical layouts, and double exposure, albeit warmly, finished with muted pastel tones. The aesthetics of today are bringing back vintage,’ moody’ vibes and the predicted styles in graphic design reflect that.

Latest Technologies

At the same time, it is important to develop your individuality through the exploration of the latest technologies available at our disposal. Many designers are experimenting with the tools on hand, leading to a very interesting conflux of graphics with other forms of digital design, like animation, including the manifestation of three-dimensional objects into a two-dimensional representation. This intriguing concept can be understood through the works of Vasjen Kato, better known as Baugasm on his website/Instagram page. His works have given rise to a very interesting portfolio, which includes animated graphics with sound, and collaborations with designers of different fields. Then other designers work traditionally but have developed their style through their interests, like Desiree Feldman, who is an artist/graphic designer and works with floral illustrations combined with vibrant and aesthetic Pantone-certified shades.

Different approaches to Graphic Art

Some designers are combining skill-sets of different fields to produce innovative graphics, like Noel Shiveley, who is merging his calligraphy and lettering skills with his penchant for photography to create graphics that respond to a general audience. With the global professional standard set so high in terms of innovation, many are jumping onto the wagon of graphic design solely to express themselves. Social media is privy to students, freelancers, and professionals posting their creations as an assertion of their skills and thought processes.

Though the approach of the aforementioned designers is completely different from each other, there is one thing common to all - they are pushing themselves each day, to develop their skills and open their minds to learning something new about themselves and the world every day. This constant evolution in skill is taking place because of their self-testing, by producing a graphic a day. Valjean, or Baugasm, who is now in his third year of developing a poster a day, proclaimed in front of an impressionable audience in a TEDx talk, that it is important to ‘get your hands dirty, and to develop as a designer, ‘consistency is key.

 

These two phrases stand out, especially because they explain his concept behind following a 365-day challenge, that has been instrumental in making him grow personally and professionally, and in amassing a large fan base. They are also important because the daily challenge proved successful, not only for him but for many others, who have tried and succeeded in creating something new within their resources and knowledge for days on end. The challenge is visualized not only to help in creation but to also aid a designer in pursuing new tools and technologies which will enable them to break through the monotony and genuinely produce something new, every single day. The 365-day challenge in graphic design has also been introduced by UNI, open to all who wish to develop their skills and push themselves to become better and better. The challenge limits the designers enrolled with a word of the day that gives a concept to the poster and allots freedom in terms of styles and themes to follow. The platform has given people, with or without a background in design, to showcase to the world their skills and evolve them simultaneously.

The posters being uploaded by registered participants are available for view here: https://uni.xyz/365/leaderboard/

The audience is invited to vote for their favourites, to propel them to the top of the leaderboard, and provide them with the appreciation they deserve.