Main Steps of Graphic Design Process For Sure to Know

Imagine you want to create a stunning flyer for your event or poster for your next album release, but you don’t know how to start! If so, then this article is for you! 

Graphic design is the process of planning, creating, and presenting a visual message. When it comes to the design of products, such as websites, logos, and catalogs, graphic designers must create a cohesive and visually appealing whole. They must also be able to work with a variety of mediums, including print and digital media. 

This article will familiarize you with the graphic design process steps, starting from sketching the design, developing the concept further, and finally making it digital.

graphic design process
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What is the graphic design process?

Graphic design is the process of designing images and typography for communication. Graphic designers create visuals that can be used on T-shirts, billboards, logos, or any other type of branded material. They use many different tools to achieve their goals, including computer programs, graphics tablets, and printmaking techniques.

Graphic design is not just about creating pretty visuals. It’s also about understanding how people interact with information and creating a design that is effective and engaging. 

Graphic designers create the visual appeal of a website, advertisement, or product. They also help conceive and develop a document’s overall concept and layouts, such as a brochure or magazine.

graphic design process
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They are responsible for everything from the initial concept to the final appearance of a piece of work. The designs created promote businesses, educate people, or entertain them. Graphic designers use a variety of graphic design principles and tools to make their sites look professional and engaging.

Main graphic Design Process Steps 

There is no definitive way to approach graphic design, but following the main steps can help you create a stunning piece of work that appeals to your audience. 

To get started on the graphic design workflow process, consider what type of design you want to achieve. 

What are the 7 steps in design process?

Here are the main graphic design process steps of the graphic design process for sure to know:

Definition phase

Before beginning design work, develop an idea or concept for your project. This might involve brainstorming or getting inspired by other works in the genre or field you’re interested in. Once you have a strong idea for your project, start planning the specific elements you’ll need to include. 

1. Creative Brief 

A creative brief is essential to any graphic design project, no matter how small. Following the guidelines outlined in a creative brief, professionals can create visually appealing and accurate products that effectively represent the client or project.

A creative brief is a document that outlines the specific needs of a client or project, including the desired look and feel, target audience, and message. This helps ensure that the finished product meets all the requirements.

2. Design ideation 

To generate ideas for graphic design, you first need to come up with a topic or concept you want to explore. Whether it’s creating a new logo for your business, designing a new marketing campaign, or coming up with a new way to present information, the key is to get inspired and start thinking outside the box.

Start by thinking about your audience. Who will be viewing your work? What are their needs and interests? Once you know this, selecting an appropriate design idea will be easier. 

Once you have an idea in mind, start brainstorming possible solutions. Draw inspiration from your surroundings, look at other examples of work you admire, and try out different ideas until you find one that speaks to you. Once you’ve settled on an idea, begin generating sketches and ideas for how to execute it.

3. Graphic Design Research

Next, research the latest trends in graphic design. Once you have some initial ideas, it’s time to research and figure out exactly what you need to know to execute your vision. This includes looking at different media types (including photography), studying different graphic design styles, and researching the specific topic or concept you’re working on.

graphic design research
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This step also includes gathering any relevant information you need to generate a design. This can include researching your topic, reading articles, and looking at images.

Be sure to keep up with new software and tools available so that you can create innovative designs. Experimenting is essential to creating successful graphics. 

4. Brainstorm Ideas

Once you have framed the problem, start brainstorming ideas for how you could go about solving it. This can be done by sketching, getting creative, and coming up with new ideas. Remember, this is just an initial brainstorming session; once you have a few ideas, it is time to narrow them down.

Creation Phase

1. Sketching

After researching options and developing ideas, it’s time to start turning those into sketches and compositions. Start by sketching out rough concepts and test different variations until you find something that feels right (or makes sense within the context of your project). Then work on refining those sketches until you have a final design that meets your goals.

graphic design sketching
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2. Design Building

Once you’ve gathered your inspiration and started sketching ideas, it’s time to create a framework for your design. This will help you organize the different elements and ensure everything looks cohesive. Try grids or guidelines when creating your layout.

3. Refining

Finally, take time to refine your ideas. Turn your ideas into a cohesive concept. Start by creating a rough layout in Photoshop or another graphic design software program.

You can refine the graphic design process with a few simple steps. First, establish the purpose of the project. Once you know the goal, you can create an effective layout. Next, select the right font and color for your project. Create a template or rough draft.

If your initial drafts are not perfect, don’t worry – frequent revisions will result in a better final product.

Feedback Phase

1. Presenting 

How you present, your work is important because it could either make or break your design, as well as the associated feedback. You should be able to tell a story about your design and influence or convince your client.

Creating a story around your design will help influence and convince your client.

graphic design presenting
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Make sure to involve your team in the story of your design. When they feel they are a part of the design process, they will be more likely to want to help you reach all your goals. Meetings allow parties to discuss any changes and set the context for these changes.

2. Revision

Revisions and feedback are frequently handled via email, leading to hundreds of emails. If you do not have a good method for structuring new feedback, you will waste time sorting through hundreds of comments. 

graphic design revision
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To keep up with your graphic design revisions, you need a good structure for organizing feedback from your client. This will help you process new feedback efficiently and get designs approved without unnecessary incoherence.

Delivery Phase

1. Approval and Production

Once you’ve completed the project and the client is satisfied, it’s time to move on to the final stage of the graphic design process, production. This involves creating the finished product and putting it online. Many tools and software can be used in this stage, such as Adobe Photoshop, Inkscape, and Illustrator.

Send out an invoice to get paid.

Once a design is finalized, it needs to be uploaded to a web server where potential customers can see it. There are various ways to do this, from simple FTP programs to more sophisticated platforms like WordPress. It’s important to choose a platform that fits the needs of your business and allows you to customize everything from the site’s appearance to the backend’s functionality.

Reasons Why Graphic Design Is Important For Your Business

Graphic design can help businesses communicate their message appealingly and engagingly. A business can increase traffic and generate leads by creating a well-designed website. Additionally, graphic design can help businesses create a cohesive brand identity, which can be essential for success in today’s competitive marketplace.

graphic design company
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Good graphic design can pay off by creating a cohesive brand identity to craft an optimal user experience. Here are five ways that businesses can benefit from good graphic design:

Create a clear brand identity

Graphic design can help you create a clear and unified brand identity for your business. This can help you stand out from the competition and build trust with your customers.

 Increased brand awareness and recognition

A well-designed logo, website, or other marketing material can help your business stand out. Not only will customers be more likely to recognize your name, but they’ll also be more likely to take notice of the clever graphics and catchy slogans you’ve put together.

Increased customer engagement

Good graphic design can help your customers feel like they’re in control of their experience. Making your content easy to read and navigate will encourage them to stay on your site longer and explore more of what you offer. This increased engagement can lead to higher conversion rates and increased profits for your business.

Improved user experience

A well-designed interface can make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for, understand how your system works, and get started quickly – all of which can boost customer loyalty and enthusiasm.

Create an image for your business

Graphic design can help you create an attractive image for your business. This can help attract new customers and boost sales.

Make your website look nicer

A well-designed website can help you attract more customers and increase sales. Graphics can add excitement and sophistication to your website, making it more appealing to potential customers.

Graphic Design Workflow Best Practices

Graphic design Workflow best practices can greatly impact how your design project looks and feels. Follow these tips to improve your visual design look and feel.

  • Use consistent font types and sizes throughout your project. This will help readers quickly identify sections and make navigation easier.
  • Use white space efficiently. This will help your design look cleaner and more organized. Use spaces between paragraphs, words, and lines of text to create a clear layout.
  • Use appropriate color schemes for your project’s theme or topic. For example, if you are designing for a health-focused business, use pale colors like green and blue to contrast with heavier colors like black and red. 
  • Create graphics that support your content instead of detracting from it. Images used sparingly and appropriately can enhance the overall appearance of your design while also helping to promote your content.
  • Use typography effectively to emphasize key points or to set a mood or tone for your blog posts. 

Key Takeaway 

What is the graphic design process? This is a process consisting of four phases:

Graphic Design PhaseGraphic Design Steps
Definition phase1. Creative Brief 
2. Design ideation
3. Graphic Design Research
4. Brainstorm Ideas
Creation Phase1. Sketching
2. Design Building
3. Refining
Feedback Phas1. Presenting 
2. Revision
Delivery PhaseApproval and Production

The graphic design process starts with an idea. A creative person may devise an idea for a piece of artwork, a logo, or a web page layout and then begins to imagine how it will look on screen. Next, they gather the necessary tools to make their vision a reality. 

They might gather images and sketches from different sources to help them prototype their design or create a preliminary version of their work. 

After the preliminary work is complete, the graphic designer continues developing the design by refining details and making changes to reflect their vision. Once the final version is ready, they can share it with others for feedback and consider ways to improve it for future projects.

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