What Impact Has The Internet Had on Graphic Design?

Some older graphics designers despise the internet; some newcomers are eternally grateful for it. Everyone has their opinion on the subject so we’ve summed up some of the benefits and drawbacks of the internet.

The internet is considered the greatest invention of the 20th century and one that has revolutionized the way we perform even basic everyday tasks. There are very few things the internet isn’t capable of; whether that is ordering your shopping, checking your email, learning something new, socializing with friends, or any number of other tasks. In this article we are going to explore how the internet has impacted graphic design in both a positive and negative way.

Training & Education

Traditionally aspiring graphics designers sat in a classroom with their peers and a teacher who explained common concepts, styles, techniques, practices, and generally would teach the idea of graphics design. Students would then be tested and graded on the areas they learnt about allowing them to compare themselves to others and ultimately they would be rewarded with a qualification (or multiple qualifications) to show their skill. This traditional method of teaching still exists today and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

The internet’s (the term ‘internet’ actually refers to the World Wide Web which isn’t the same thing but that isn’t important in this article) intended purpose was for sharing information between universities and allowing for collaboration on projects. The internet serves its purpose and aids graphics design training very well. The internet is used in thism area in two main ways; to help with work in school / college / university and to replace the traditional form of learning entirely.

Assisting

It’s possible to use the internet while learning through traditional methods. Whether it’s looking up terminology, finding help with homework, or even revising entire concepts.

Replacing

There are now online classes and tests to take part in allowing students to learn from home in their own time and at their own pace.

Advantages

• Ease of use
• Learn in your own time
• Find answers to almost any issue through Q&A sites, blogs, forums, etc.
• Many resources are free and even classes are cheap in comparison

Disadvantages

• Possibility of cheating – it’s incredibly easy to find the answers to tests
• Some resources could be biased / unreliable
• Depends on an internet connection which although popular isn’t everywhere

It’s clear to see how the internet has completely altered the way we learn graphics design for both the good and the bad.

Software Packages

Graphic Designers love their software packages. With the help of the internet they can receive updates to their applications, quick downloads of new packages and just as important, they can access reviews.

Reviews are perfect for preventing a graphic designer blowing a gaping hole in their wallet on a bug ridden program.

Birth of the CMS

Content management systems such as WordPress make website creation accessible to everyone. More importantly they provide work for graphic designers in the form of themes. Unlike static websites where the editing of a template can be very complicated, newer dynamic websites do all the work. This means designers create the theme and then the user can install in a couple of clicks. Older static websites would have taken hours of editing in a WYSIWYG editor whereas themes are interchangeable… You can change the theme and keep the content.

Graphics designers can create themes for multiple sales as described in this article or create custom themes specifically built for an assigned project.

Expansive Opportunities

The internet has brought so many new opportunities to the graphics design field. Graphics design can involve designing websites, templates for content management systems, banners, flash design, and much more.

This section ties in with the education section in a way. Graphics designers couldn’t simply jump on the internet and go, they need training to understand these new concepts.

Communication

Before the internet, finding clients as a graphics designer involved posting ads in your local paper and other forms of paid advertising. The internet has 101 ways to advertise for free and also meet clients. Communication with clients is another thing that has been greatly simplified. Graphics designers can send their work to their client immediately and receive a response just as fast rather than a much more time consuming meeting.

Advantages

• Quicker than a meeting
• No travel expenses, etc.

Disadvantages

• Clients may expect you to be available during your free-time

Plagiarism

Undoubtedly the biggest disadvantage of the internet is plagiarism. Plagiarists can download your work and sell it as their own. Those who don’t have an ounce of graphics design skill do resort to this to earn some cash. It goes without saying that nobody wants others profiting off of their work.

Stock Work Sales

Graphics designers have a choice. They can design for a client or they can create designs purely for multiple sale purposes. This can be in the form of a WordPress template / Joomla template / Drupal template / any number of other formats of templates. It could be a specific graphic style / image or any number of other graphical elements.

Advantages

• Little to no work once content has been created
• Sell multiple times
• High level of exposure

Disadvantages

• The stock site will likely take 60%-80% of the sale value
• A large portfolio will be required to earn a good income from it

Stock sales are a great way of earning a secondary income but due to their low sale price coupled with the low percentage payout, you would need a very large portfolio to live off of it.

Conclusion

The internet has overhauled graphics design by providing forms of training to those who beforehand would never have even considered it; it has introduced entirely new concepts of design including web design and stock sales, and improved designer client communication through email and instant messaging. It also offers graphic designers numerous free ways to advertise their services and find new clients.

On the other hand it allows aspiring designers to cheat on tests / exams they face. It creates fierce competition among designers and pays very little for stock sale.

There’s no denying that graphics design is in a much better place thanks to the internet.