Re: FN-FORUM: Web designers v's Graphic designers

date posted 6th February 2007 13:04


Hi Tim,

I think if you put 10 coders together you could come out with something
truly spectacular - something one designer could never do.

In my opinion graphic designers cover a much larger spectrum of design than
web designers, web design is purely that, web design, take away the www and
their options end. Graphic designers generally cover all forms of
print/paper based work for advertising as a whole (massive industry when you
consider corporate ID, magazines, packaging, exhibitions, films, games
etc.). Sure web designers also package these companies on the web but their
perspective is basically from a www point of view which has it's ball-park
limits. Fundamental design rules change for each sector with a graphic
designer. Graphic designers also do vehicle advertising, architectural
visualisation, product design, clothing design, CAD design, character design
and animation, also fine art! Where graphic designers start to mix with web
designers it's only really in web content and interface design. When I meet
someone who tells me they're a web designer I know exactly where they start
& end, when I meet a graphic designer I'm curious to know what area they
specialise in. It's like saying you're a doctor? ..ok, which area of
medicine do you specialise in? ..whereas a web designer would be saying 'I'm
a paediatrician (as an example a website is a living breathing thing that is
your clients baby:-) This area of medicine is huge and is breaking ground
every day - as is with web design so I'm not knocking web down, it's just an
example to say that 'graphic design' is like 'medicine' - massive field that
can't be compared to any particular specialisation as with 'web design'.
Graphic design fills every part of your life, web design is only found on a
computer screen/PDA/mobile.

I think your question should be between web designers (being the graphic
designer in your question) and the web developer (being the web designer in
your question).

You've probably guessed I'm a graphic designer, I specialise in 3D modelling
& animation but have pretty much done everything I've mentioned above at one
point or another. I am however a terrible web developer and have no coding
experience - I design using Flash and Dreamweaver only so I stick to bespoke
websites (sites that don't require search engines, user logins, contact
forms or calculations). I have pitched on a site before that the client
loved the look of - a recording studio, but when outsourcing the backend
development of the site it proved almost impossible, so the client ended up
reverting to something less visually appealing which made me feel like a
real idiot. I've now come to realise how important good communication is
between a web designer and web developer right from the offset, and that a
web designer should never present a design to a client unless it's been
validated by a developer (if it requires development). It must be hugely
frustrating for a developer to get dumped with a design that just won't
work - but the client insists that's what they want! ..I never thought I've
ever say this but I think the tables should turn and developers should be
the ones presenting web designers with an infrastructure tailored for the
clients for them to then make it look good, the web designer can then bounce
the design back to the developer with suggested tweaks for enhancing design
& layout before presentation to the client.

whoa, I didn't think I had this much to say on the topic, ..apologies for
the bla...

back to work


Dominic



----- Original Message -----
From: "tim.mcmillen" [EMAIL REMOVED]
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:40 AM
Subject: RE: FN-FORUM: Web designers v's Graphic designers



Well well well, it was never my intention to spark such a lengthy and
passionate debate (especially on a Monday) about who is better etc, but
merely to hear if anyone else had had similar experiences to me of late.

I am sure the specifics of my original posting have long been forgotten,
which is a bit of a shame, but it has been quite interesting to see how this
thread turned out - it is good to see so many freelancers still passionate
about their work!

If anyone else has had similar experiences to mine, then it would still be
great to hear them, otherwise I think this thread should probably RIP.

Tim



-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED] [EMAIL REMOVED] On Behalf Of
martin.wilk
Sent: 06 February 2007 00:25
To: tim.mcmillen
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM: Web designers v's Graphic designers


Tim you really woke the office up on this lovely monday morning with this
one!

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