Graphic Artist Vs. Graphic Designer

What Does A Graphic Artist Do?

The role of a graphic artist is to create the artwork needed for a graphic design project. The work scope can range from doing the artwork for a book cover to doing motion graphics for a video animation project.  Graphic artists are hired to create a specific artwork for a given project. The sole purpose of a graphic artist is to generate visuals that facilitate a story or idea.  On some occasions, the visuals that are created to be a platform for an entire story, while other times, there may be no logic to creating the design.  A graphic artist is very diverse in the kind of work that they can do. Additionally, their artwork tends to break or bend many of the conventional design principles, but only if it fits the story or composition that is being told. They may include the following graphic designs in their artwork portfolio:

• Illustrations
• Comic Books
• Cartoons
• Graphic Novels
• Movie Illustrations

The Objective Of A Graphic Artist

Not every graphic artist will use their work for commercial purposes. Their primary objective is to entertain the audience first. The appearance of the subject doesn’t always have to be correlated with the story. The main focus is on their unique styling that is represented in their artwork. The subject matter tends to be more artistic and natural. Sometimes there isn’t an underlying message that is being conveyed either, but rather for the audience to appreciate the brilliance of their art. The art work of a graphic artist may come in either digital or print format. It varies greatly depending on the objective of the design. Some artists, such as an art director, may be more proficient in creating art through creative work by hand, while others, such as animators, will be more adept at using graphics software to create fine art.

What Is The Difference Between A Graphic Designer And A Graphic Artist?

Although the term graphic designer and graphic artist are often used interchangeably, there is a crucial disparity. So what’s the difference between a graphic designer vs graphic artist? The purpose of a graphic designer is to get the audience to interact with their content or design. The interaction can be defined as purchasing, clicking, scrolling, reading, or experiencing a deep emotional connection with the design being displayed. Within the realm of graphic design, content is important. The use of use helps condense the information by using a visual platform. Just think of a Burger King design that says, “Gotta Have It Your Way.” It conveys a  message that you can customize your burger and have it exactly how you want it, all while displaying a juicy, mouthwatering burger to the audience. Burger King does an excellent job of designing their art to deliver a message and entice others to buy their food. When discussing the differences between a graphic designer vs graphic artist, the designer focuses on the interaction instead of just the interpretation.

Here is a list of common items that you’ll typically find in a graphic designer’s portfolio:

• Logo Design
• Digital Design
• Marketing Collateral
• Instructional Design
• Infographic
• Presentation Design
• Print Design
• Web Design

The main idea for a graphic designer is to create designs that serve as content for many forms of media. For example, a graphic designer who works for a company may design a consistent set of content used as marketing collateral for their firm. This will include advertisements, business cards, websites, brochures, flyers, and posters.

A graphic designer has the objective of delivering their piece of content in a way that draws the viewer’s attention. Unlike graphic artists, graphic designers focus on the graphic design principles and elements vital in laying out a particular composition. Graphic designers use the five basic principles to help their content convert. These principles are memorable, simple, versatile, appropriate, and timeless.  Think of the Apple or Nike logo, which checks all of those boxes.

When comparing the two graphic artists vs graphic designers, the graphic designers aim to fit within the mold of a company to achieve marketing growth such as sales targets, number of touchpoints like views, click-thru’s, traffic visits, and more.

Trends For Job Growth

Many creative and talented individuals are yearning for an opportunity to become a graphic designer or graphic artist. A budding artist will need to be skilled in both print and digital media. Print media is becoming more obsolete and there will be a decreasing demand for designers and artists for magazines, newspapers, and other print publications. Digital media will certainly increase over the coming years. In the future, graphic design and art will be needed for avenues such as online advertising, tv advertising, logo design, and mobile advertising. From 2016 to 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 4 percent increase in job growth. There isn’t specific evidence on the pay differences between a graphic designer vs graphic artist; however, a graphic designer ranges from $32k to $75k and averages about $48,091 in salary per year.

What Does It Take To Become A Graphic Artist?

Graphic artists do not need a bachelor’s degree or any formal education, but they can be self-taught. They can apply their creative talents to commercial projects.  However, some graphic artists might have a degree in advertising, fine art, graphic art, or some form of commercial art. Graphic artists tend to vary in salary and earnings since they are usually self-employed. However, depending on their experience, quality, and reputation within the design industry, their line of designer’s work can be quite lucrative.  As their reputation of a graphic artist grows, art directors and graphic designers will become conscious of their style, turning into a long-term partnership.  Many graphic artists usually spend their early career years in the marketing field to build up their portfolio. However, as they become more experienced, they tend to do less self-promotion and spend more time creating art. They will also begin charging higher prices. Since being self-employed may be difficult, graphic artists may venture into adjacent careers temporarily or long term, such as being an art director. However, art directors may hire a graphic artist to solidify their imagination from conceptual ideas to practice. For instance, they might describe a character development story to them, and the artists can take that imagery to create a visual masterpiece.

Their Industry

Typically graphic designers and graphic artists will work in a commercial environment. This includes corporate communications departments, graphic design firms, advertising agencies, magazines, newspapers, and other publishers or publications.  Although graphic artists usually freelance for multiple clients, there can be a dedicated position for them. Graphic artists also can specialize in one type of niche, such as cartoons, animations, etc.  Many graphic artists work in studio environments with drafting tables and computers with a lot of desk space. This is so they can spread out their art and design across the table as needed.

Who Makes A Good Graphic Artist?

The designers work scope can be quite broad; however, all of them are more artistically inclined than graphic designers. Their work can cover various subject matters, from human beings to inanimate objects and everything in between.  No one art piece needs to follow a particular set of rules. If they intend to tell a narrative, their visuals will be a priority, and their story becomes secondary. Depending on the story, visuals can be impacted by the stylizing, dialogue, or dynamic action within the art composition.