Graphic Design vs Web Design – What’s the Difference?
If you are just entering the field of design, you might be asking yourself questions like, ‘What sets graphic design apart from web design? Are their skill sets the same or do they differ? Which path offers better opportunities?’ Be assured that you will discover the answers right here.
When it comes to graphic design and web design, it may seem like the same job, they also work on the same lines but they stand alone. The skill sets required to excel in both graphic and web design are different from each other. The first step towards learning graphic or web design is understanding the key differences between them.
Visit Arena Institute, Shyambazar, the best animation institute in Kolkata to know more about the courses in graphic or web designing. But before that let us understand the difference between Graphic Design and Web Design.
What is Graphic Design?
Graphic design is the practice of producing visual content to convey specific messages, whether artistically expressing ideas or commercially communicating messages and concepts through graphical and textual elements. It involves the use of graphics, typography, graphs, and images to effectively communicate ideas, and graphic designers can engage in both print and digital projects. Unlike web design, graphic design focuses solely on creating graphics for use on websites or in print, excluding programming tasks. It plays a crucial role in communicating with the audience, ensuring the meaningful and impactful expression of a product, campaign, project, or event. If you are interested in delving into the world of graphic design, considering a graphic designing course in Kolkata or exploring our reputable graphic design institute in Kolkata could be a major step in your career.
What is Web Design?
Web design is the process of planning, conceptualising, and organising content for online accessibility and sharing. This involves addressing the overall operation of websites, including the design of user interfaces on both web and mobile apps. Web design not only focuses on the aesthetics of a website but also emphasises storytelling to improve the user experience. It plays a crucial role in ensuring websites function smoothly by undertaking tasks like testing, optimisation, and efficient operation. Similar to graphic design, web design involves graphics, typography, graphs, and images to effectively communicate ideas.
However, web design is specific to websites and does not extend to print materials. For those aspiring to master web design, considering web design training in Kolkata or exploring our reputable web design institute in Kolkata could provide great insights into the field. Web designers face unique challenges, such as considering file size and image resolution, to ensure quick loading times. Web designers are also involved in turning their designs into functional websites, requiring proficiency in programming languages like HTML, CSS, and potentially others such as JavaScript and PHP.
Key Differences between Graphic and Web Design
The main difference between web design and graphic design lies in their intended mediums. Web design focuses on creating designs specifically for online use, while graphic design is mainly for print. Graphic designers are not required to be familiar with programming and technical aspects related to web design. Although graphic designs can be applied to websites, their functionality and placement depend on the expertise of the web designer. Key differences between the two include their targeted mediums and the technical requirements.
The technical skills are not the same:
Web designers must be proficient in programming a variety of web development software. While graphic design does not require that level of understanding because graphic design is permanent. Designs can be customised without having to deal with many limitations like web design.
Web is dynamic, graphics are permanent:
Web design can adapt and evolve as necessary. For the most part, graphic design creates permanent imagery that does not change once printed or produced.
Graphic design is static, and web design is interactive:
Graphic design is not as interactive as web design. The graphic is visible and touchable, but it does not change unless animated. To enhance the practicality of a web design, the user must fully interact with it by clicking buttons and other navigation.
File size requirements:
Pixels and DPI might be important considerations when producing graphics for the web. Images online follow particular size and pixel rules, however, images off the web require more pixels to display properly. To keep the website running well, web designers must consider these technical constraints for smooth functionality.
Typography limitations:
Despite major developments in web design, typography remains limited. If a user’s browser does not recognise the typeface specified in CSS, the font will vary from the original design. While the website designer may have the font on their computer and apply it in the design, the user may not have it to view them. This can present issues if it is not a standard type font. In graphic design, if you have the font on your computer and use it to print the design, it retains originality.
An ongoing relationship is required with web design:
When a website is completed, it does not end there, it requires frequent updates and maintenance. Web design needs continual monitoring. Graphic design is not particularly demanding. If no adjustments are required to the original design, it is considered complete. Making immediate adjustments to a website is simple, but changing a graphic design after it has been printed can be expensive.
They use different software:
Web designers use programming and web development tools, whereas graphic designers use Adobe and other software to create their work.
Web designers work with web developers:
Web designers collaborate with developers to create code that represents their ideas. Developers assist designers in understanding any restrictions that may exist based on the design they are attempting to develop. Web designers collaborate with others to determine the website’s aims and objectives before delivering prototypes and wireframes to a web developer. Web development differs from graphic design and the graphic designers are the sole creators of their work. They are the inspiration behind the creative concept.
As you have understood the difference between graphic and web design now, choosing between them becomes easier. If you are looking to join a graphic design course or web design course in Kolkata, Arena Institute Shyambazar could be your right choice! Join them today for a promising career of your choice.
