The Difference Between Graphic Art and Graphic Design

Graphic Art – the fine and applied art of representation, decoration, and writing or printing on flat surfaces together with the techniques and crafts associated with them.

Essentially, a graphic artist may create art for the sake of art. They may want to convey a certain idea or story, or they may not. Graphic artists tend to develop a personal style, and might be hired for projects when someone desires some art in that style. Some examples of graphic art might be cartoons, graphic novels, illustrations, comic books, or movie illustrations.

Graphic Design – the art or profession of using design elements (such as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect.

A graphic designer basically uses graphic art for a definitive purpose. They want the viewer to interact with the content in a certain way, and convey a specific message to them. Things like the layout, symmetry, color schemes, and typography all have a particular significance. Some examples of graphic design are infographics, marketing materials, instructional design, logo design, presentation design, and web design.