Understanding the Different Roles in Graphic Design: Who Do You Really Need?

Graphic design is not just a visual representation but it’s more like the backbone of effective communication in today’s visually driven world. Whether you are creating your brand identity, or designing an app, or producing marketing collateral, the right graphic designer can lead to either a positive or negative outcome. 

The demand for graphic design professionals is expected to grow by 3% by 2031. With over 250,000 designers employed in the US alone there is a broad spectrum of graphic design roles available in the market. Now how do you know who you need and who will serve as the right fit for your project? A web designer might not be the best fit if you are looking for packaging design, while a motion graphics designer may not have the skills for brand development. 

Each graphic designer is a specialist in different areas and to understand their roles, skills, and capabilities is essential for making a well-thought pick. Let’s delve into the types of graphic designers, explore their graphic design specializations, and determine the best fit for your project. 

Graphic Designer vs. Graphic Artist: What’s the Difference?

At first glance both these terms ‘graphic designer’ and ‘graphic artist’ sound the same and interchangeable. But, that’s not true!

Both of these designations are distinct, serving distinct roles and carrying distinct weightage. Let’s understand the difference between graphic designer vs graphic artist:

Graphic designer

A graphic designer’s primary focus is on problem-solving through visual communication. They create designs that serve specific purposes like enhancing a brand, engaging users, delivering a clear message, and likewise. Their work includes layouts, typography, and design elements for both print and digital mediums. 

Graphic artist

Graphic artists on the other hand are more inclined towards artistic expression. They often create original illustrations or artwork for distinct projects such as advertisements, posters, book cover, and album art. They differ from graphic designers in the sense that their focus isn’t functionality or strategic objectives. 

The key difference that you can pen down between these two roles is that graphic designers are goal oriented and focused on communication. On the other hand, graphic artists prioritize creativity and aesthetics. So when you are making a pick ask yourself: do you need a problem-solver or someone to create unique art pieces?

Now that it’s pretty much clear what does a graphic designer do, let’s move on to the types. 

Types of Graphic Designers 

Brand designer

Roles and responsibilities

In terms of a brand designer vs graphic designer, the former is someone who specializes in creating visual identities for your business. Their work includes designing logos, typography, color palettes, and other elements defining how a brand communicates visually. 

Key skills 

They must have expertise in branding strategy, Adobe Creative Suite, typography, and trend analysis. Strong communication skills are also vital as they often have to collaborate with marketing teams. 

When to hire 

If you are launching a new business or rebranding an existing one to hire a brand designer is essential. They help you carve your niche in a competitive market by creating a memorable and cohesive identity. 

Web designer

Roles and responsibilities

When you hire professionals under this graphic design role their focus is on creating visually appealing and functional websites. They design layouts, choose color schemes, and render a seamless user experience on desktop and mobile devices.  

Key skills 

They should be proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript along with tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch. A strong understanding of responsive design principles is also needed.

When to hire 

If you require a website or landing page that is visually engaging and easy to navigate, a web designer should be your go-to expert. 

UI/UX designer

Roles and responsibilities

UI/UX designers are specialists in rendering user-friendly digital experiences. While UI designers are focused on visual elements like buttons and menus, UX designers prioritize usability and user journey. 

Key skills 

A UI/UX designer should undoubtedly be skilled in wireframing, prototyping, user research, and have expertise in tools like Figma and InVision. Knowledge of human-computer interaction can also serve as an add on.

When to hire 

If you are developing an app, software, or website that prioritizes user interaction, a UI/UX designer can serve an indispensable role.

Print designer

Roles and responsibilities

Print designer specializes in designing materials like brochures, flyers, posters, and packaging. Their primary work emphasis is on physical media.

Key skills 

Need to have strong knowledge of print production, color theory, and layout design. They must also have proficiency in tools like Adobe InDesign and Illustrator.

When to hire 

For any of your project that involves print collaterals like trade show materials or retail signage, a print designer is the perfect choice. 

Motion graphic designer

Roles and responsibilities

Motion graphic designers develop animated visuals for videos, ads, and digital campaigns. Their work adds dynamic, moving elements to otherwise static designs.

Key skills 

Expertise in animation tools like After Effects and Cinema 4D is needed along with the knowledge of video production workflows. 

When to hire 

If you are working on video content or require animated graphics for social media or marketing campaigns, hire a motion graphic designer. 

Illustrator 

Roles and responsibilities

This niche of graphic designers focus on creating custom artwork for your projects. This can include book illustrations, product artwork, or custom graphics for websites and apps. 

Key skills 

Creativity, drawing skills, and proficiency in illustration tools such as Adobe Illustrator or Procreate is a must. 

When to hire 

If your project needs original hand-drawn visuals such as children’s books or branding mascots, an illustrator is the right fit.

Graphic Design Specializations

Environmental designer

Roles and responsibilities

Environmental designers develop graphics for physical spaces, such as office interior, trade shows, and exhibitions. Their work is an integration of architecture and design to deliver immersive experiences. 

Key skills

Knowledge of spatial design, 3D modeling, and large-format printing is needed. Strong collaboration skill is needed as they need to commonly work with architects and interior designers. 

When to hire

If you are creating a branded physical space or designing an event environment, hire an environmental designer. 

Packaging designer

Roles and responsibilities

Packaging designers are specialists in designing the look and feel of your product packaging, combining aesthetics with functionality. 

Key skills

Expertise in 3D design, materials, and branding along with knowledge of packaging regulations is a must.

When to hire

If you are launching a product with the aim that it should stand out on the store shelves, you must prefer this category of graphic design roles. 

Infographic designer

Roles and responsibilities

The job of infographic designers is to transform complex data into visually engaging and easy-to-understand graphics. 

Key skills

Data visualization, storytelling, and proficiency in tools like Adobe Illustrator and Tableau.

When to hire

If you are looking to communicate complex information in a clear and visually appealing way, such as for reports or marketing campaigns, hire an infographic designer. 

Choosing the Right Graphic Designer for Your Needs

• Assessing Your Project Requirements

Begin by defining your project goals whether it’s building a website, a product launch, or creating marketing materials? Each project demands a distinct skill set, so understanding your objectives will help narrow down your search.

• Matching Skills to Project Needs

Look beyond job titles, qualifications, experience, and geographical location. Focus on the technical finesse and soft skills needed for your project. For instance, a packaging designer might be more suited for a product launch than a general graphic designer. So, conduct a graphic designer skills evaluation to match it with your specific project needs.  

• Budget Considerations

Graphic designer salary can vary widely which is why you need to factor in your budget when making a hiring decision. Salary can vary based on several factors such as location, experience level, skill set, the hiring model you choose, and many more. If you want to compare the salary for tech and digital roles based on experience between your location and India, Uplers salary analysis tool can be valuable. 

We aim to solve the greatest dilemma of hiring managers: deciding the salary. You can easily garner insights related to the existing salary trends for 100+ tech and digital roles using this tool. It’s free and we update it frequently to provide you relevant and realistic data and help you adjust your compensation to attract and retain top talent. 

OOPS! Haven’t introduced you to our hiring platform yet. 

Let’s meet UPLERS!

The Uplers 4-step Vetting Process

We are a hiring platform aiming to bridge the gap between global hiring managers and experienced Indian remote talent. At Uplers we take pride in our 1.5M+ talent network with tech and digital experts available to work across 5+ time zones. We are not unlike any other recruitment agency because we provide you the top 3.5% pre-vetted Indian remote talent only. 

So how does this exactly work?

At Uplers we follow a 4-step vetting process to make matters easy for you. It goes something as under:

1. We gather a compelling job description from the hiring managers. 
2. At Uplers we conduct several checks such as language proficiency, skill evaluation, aptitude test, and cultural competency to vet the top 3.5% suitable experts.
3. Top profiles are emailed to you within 48-72 hours of receiving the hiring request. We then schedule a virtual interview slot between you and the shortlisted applicants to finalize a hire.
4. Finally Uplers takes over all the onboarding formalities of the newbie to eliminate the majority of the legwork for you. 

Why Remote Designers Are in High Demand

Remote work has become a global norm in the hiring industry across distinct verticals. The majority of the hiring managers and job seekers prefer remote work due to the flexibility and healthy work-life balance. Businesses also benefit with remote designers as it expands the access to a global talent pool and reduces the overhead costs.

Uplers stands out by offering you the top pre-vetted remote talent eliminating the majority of the hiring legwork on your side.  Irrespective of the graphic design role that you are looking to hire for, Uplers has a talent for every requirement. Additionally, at Uplers we offer a 2 week risk free trial, 30-day talent cancellation and a lifetime free talent replacement policy. 

Closing Thoughts

Understanding the distinct graphic design roles is the first step in your journey to hire the right talent. Knowing what each role entails can save you time, efforts, and hard earned pennies. Choose wisely, connect with hiring platforms like Uplers, and your investment will pay off in spades!