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Graphic Design vs Web Design What is the Difference?

Many people confuse the two. We explain why a good graphic designer isn't necessarily a good web designer, and vice versa.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Graphic Design
  3. Web Design
  4. The Overlap
  5. Summary & Key Takeaways
  6. Common FAQs

"I have a cousin who knows Photoshop, he can build my website." This is the most dangerous sentence in digital business.

Design Tools

Graphic Design: Static

  • Medium: Print (Flyers, Billboards) or Digital Assets (Logos, Social Media Posts).
  • Focus: Visual impact, color theory, typography.
  • Tools: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign.
  • Constraint: The canvas size never changes.

Web Design: Dynamic

  • Medium: Browsers (Chrome, Safari).
  • Focus: Interactivity, Loading Speed, responsiveness.
  • Tools: Figma, VS Code (HTML/CSS), Webflow.
  • Constraint: The canvas changes size on every device (Mobile vs Desktop).

The Overlap

Both need to understand color and layout. But a web designer must also understand Code Limitations and User Experience (UX). A graphic designer might design a button that looks cool but is impossible to code efficiently.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Static vs Dynamic: Graphic design stands still; Web design moves and reacts.
  • Functionality: A beautiful website that doesn't load is useless. A beautiful flyer just needs to be printed.
  • Hire Experts: Don't ask a print designer to code your app.

Common FAQs

1. Can one person do both? Yes, "Unicorns" exist, but they are rare. Usually, professionals specialize in one.

2. Which is more expensive? Web design is typically more expensive because it involves coding and maintenance.

3. Do I need both? Yes. You need a graphic designer for your Logo/Brand and a web designer for your Website.

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