Trend of Graphic Design

[philben]

Hi All!

I'm researching on the current trend of Graphic Design and will be grateful if anyone could help with any of the below questions. Thanx

What do you think is the current trend in the Graphic Design profession?
Has the definition of Graphic Design changed from just arrangement of text and images?
What do you think, aside creativity, a modern Graphic Designer should have or be?
What has been the UK's contribution to the development of Graphic Design?
Is UK second to USA in Graphic Design, do you agree?

[kerrysmagicshirt]

Welcome to GDF

1) I'm sure you'll get a ton of different answers to this one. I personally think there is a massive scope in graphic design and designers are tying not to stick in 'trends'. However there thinking of modern advertising it all seems to be about layers, and depth, creating complexed collages think re-bok.

2) It is certainly about more then text and layout. You have to think about the products use, function, market. If the budget alows it's about pushing things forward and experimenting with materials. Modern typography moved on some years ago (see Siobhan Keaney) and it bacame more about the finished look of the text and how it can be used to 'paint' rather then about whether or not you could read it easily. You need to be far more creative and artisitc these days then ever before i feel. You also need to be multi diciplined (speaking as a one man band) and be able to incorporate wed design also.

3) check the thread about classic client quotes. A Graphic Designer needs to be a mind reader with a magic wand. Seriously though i got into this via a journalism/editorial design route rather then a more artistic path, and i feel most days a need to have a little more knowledge about art rather than function.

4) The UK houses some of the most influential designers in the world inculding Brody and his ResearchStudios, for a start all your Macromedia software packaging was designed by him, Alan Fletcher is worth looking up, as is Peter Saville.

5) Being from the UK I am bound to be a tad patriotic. We Brits are know to be ballsey and to throw aside the rules, re definig how we look at design. Though saying that (and becasue this place is from the states) there is an equal amount of good design talent coming from both countries. Yet The states has a bigger pond from which to fish thier designers.

hope this helps (i guess you are wrighting an essay) you may want to look at; http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-art-architecture-design-design.htm

[philben]

Helpful comments, many thanx

[PrintDriver]

Maybe Morea will jump in later with links to discussions on the topic of 'what is a GD'.

2. you are confusing Graphic Design with Desktop Publishing or Production Work (3 different things). Graphic Design is far more than arranging text and pictures. You have to choose the font and the images and they have to relate to your topic of the moment.

3. a license to drive the software.

4. There are designers in the UK? ;)

5. See answer 4.

[kerrysmagicshirt]

PD stop being racialist, or countryist or something like that. :p

[PrintDriver]

;) Just being a jerk really. :)

[cjoe]

1. The trend is to be a trend setter. It always will be.
2. It never was
3. Business skills, communication skills, diplomacy skills, psycic ability, be a magician, software skills
4. Contribution? you've been holding us back! :D kidding! I really don't know. I guess historically Britain, Europe were very early Industrial revolutionary. This was the catalyst for the Vis.Com profession.
5. Again i dont really know. Are you talking from an education perspective or professional perspective? More famous designers and studios have originated from the US, but its a very subjective Q and A. Who is better at sport US or UK? I pretty sure that US could beat UK at Baseball, but im sure that UK could beat US at Rugby. Whats that? No padding? :D

[kerrysmagicshirt]

We'll kick your ass at football too - sorry soccer - hehe and Cricket.

PS i hate all soprts

[Emmanize]

Hmmm the UK tends to be better at footie :p

I think it has more to do with the fact that the US contains a lot more people. You will always find more talented people in America in anything because there are simply more people to begin with. Saying that though the UK doesn’t do to bad for a tiny island. :D

[philben]

Hi all! It's been interesting really, I've enjoyed all your comments and found them helpful. Thanx colleagues

[ekosix]

the UK gave us iMogen Heap. Who cares about sports. :D

Oh, and the trend, as I see it, seems to be re-inventing the wheel. Everywhere you look, there are big companies going through a mid-life identity crisis. New logos are springing up everywhere, from AT&T to Sprint to TLC.

[cjoe]

the UK gave us iMogen Heap. Who cares about sports. :D

Oh, and the trend, as I see it, seems to be re-inventing the wheel. Everywhere you look, there are big companies going through a mid-life identity crisis. New logos are springing up everywhere, from AT&T to Sprint to TLC.

AT&T one was a crappy reworking of their existing logo. They should ave kept it the way it was.

Hmmm the UK tends to be better at footie

I think it has more to do with the fact that the US contains a lot more people. You will always find more talented people in America in anything because there are simply more people to begin with. Saying that though the UK doesn’t do to bad for a tiny island.

Well we're a large Island with even less people, meaning we have more to spend on infrastructure etc. but with even less people. I think we do pretty well in the sports department. Cmon there are more people in London than an entire subcontinent here.

[Emmanize]

I agree the UK is way to over populated. But there are still more people in one American state then in England alone. Even though it feels like that’s not the case sometimes in London. :D

[cjoe]

I agree the UK is way to over populated. But there are still more people in one American state then in England alone. Even though it feels like that’s not the case sometimes in London. :D

You sure? There are about 180 million in the US (correct me if im wrong) so if you divide that evenly between 50 odd states then thats approx 3 and a half million per state. Then lets assume that at least 30 states are comparatively unpopulated, so thats only 20 states. so then thats an average of 9 million per state. I would guess that the UK currently has around 60 million people. 16 million of which are in London or the greater London area.

[typographics]

all that math hurt my brain...

[cjoe]

well i was wrong when i said 30 sates unpopulated, what i meant was there are probably 30 states outside the standard deviation for average population. i.e. states with huge populations: New York State and states with low population: Alaska.