Technology in Graphic Design

Computers and related technologies have been making our lives easier for decades. The impact of computers on the way we do business and for that matter, live our lives, can not be underestimated. From the moment Deep Blue, IBM's RS/6000 computer beat former world chess champion Gary Kasparov, we began to see the possibilities. Computers now make everything easier, more accessible, and convenient. These high-tech gadgets have revolutionized many industries, helping skilled operators deliver goods and services faster than ever before, revolutionizing everything from stargazing to graphic arts.

It is clear that digital computing has changed the way we communicate through visuals. For the most part, the speed at which we work, the expectations of those who require the work and the tools with which we work, have all been changed through the use of computers.

Ask any graphic designer if computers have played a role in their success and the answer will undoubtedly be a firm, "yes."

But how? Simply put, computers are like any of the traditional tools graphics professionals have been using for decades. They allow the designer to bring ideas and concepts to life. The major difference is the speed with which this process now takes place thanks to the advent of computers.

Gone are the days of paste-up boards, glue and acetate. A single designer can create every aspect of a layout quickly and more efficiently in half the time. But computers do more than just speed the processes, they free the design professional from having to think about the process and concentrate on the execution.

The hits don't stop there. The advent of the Web as a research tool also gives graphic designers more power and control over their finished work. Prior to computers, researching art and stock photography was tedious and time consuming. With computers, database software and twenty minutes, you can easily find images that enhance or inspire whatever projects you might be working on. As a way to get quick and cheap source material, computers can't be beat.

Of course, as with any tool, it can be abused. "The process is so easy that it sometimes leads to a certain homogenization in design -- the same stock images pop up in every ad you see," says James Stephenson, a graphic designer based in San Francisco. "For really creative people, the computer makes it possible to do really unique new things, but on the other hand, it also takes away a bit from the creative process."

Kellie Bambach, a Senior Art Director with Regroup Design in Ann Arbor, Michigan, works with computers daily but believes they are far from perfect. "I'm young enough to have missed setting type by hand, but there are drawbacks to designing with computers." Like many experienced graphic design professionals, she quickly discovered that computers put higher expectations on the designer.

Despite these drawbacks, design professionals are finding new and interesting ways to utilize computers in their daily work. Aspiring designers are encouraged to become well versed in the use of computers and the relevant software necessary to succeed.