Good Design Is the One That Has Both Form and Function - Georgie Jobi Joshua

1. When and how did you choose to be a graphic designer?

It’s been quite a while since I started exploring into the field of design. It started in school back in 10th grade where I ended up working as a graphic designer in a team for a competition known as F1 in Schools where I had to do an entire branding and graphic identity for the team just like an F1 team.

I started to initially read a lot about how design impacts our brain and became hooked to how influential it is among the things around us. I was always a visual person. I enjoyed toying with ideas and my imagination. So, when I came across the field of graphic design and all the various sides to design I became extremely curious to see how it was implemented and I’ve never looked back.

2. What is the role and scope of work for a graphic designer?

A role for a graphic designer is a term that’s quite generalized. A graphic designer is someone who brings life to a brand or a sense of visual identity to a project. He/she understand the basic principles of design and how to attract the human mind through visually impactful creative work. The creative scope of a graphic designer is endless.

A designer can go into various fields like product design, interface design or even visual design. These are the main niches a graphic designer can delve into and it spans into more specialized roles as we go down the line such as UX/UI designer, Product Designers, Creative Directors, Logo and Branding etc. The choices are endless, it’s all about experimenting and understanding what you enjoy doing.

3. Which are some of the tools & software that a graphic designer must be aware of?

A graphic designer before understanding the tools and software must learn the basic design principles such as visual hierarchy, contrast, colour theory, the law of proximity and other design principles. Understanding these principles first will give this designer an edge and professionalism among the rest, as for the tools the industry-leading software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe XD, Figma, and so much more.

4. How in your opinion has this profession changed over the years?

Earlier, graphic design was a term largely used as referring to making things ‘pretty’. Over the years, graphic design has become this umbrella term that is more than making things visually appealing. It’s got so many different levels such as motion design, user interface design, user experience design, product design, creative direction, social media design, sports design, web design, advertising design and the list keeps ongoing.

Graphic design has evolved into a multi-disciplinary term that involves real critical thinking skills to find solutions for companies, brands and products. The profession is evolving right now and it continues to evolve every day.

5. Do you often have to keep upskilling yourself?

Yes, with graphic design branching out into various types it becomes extremely important to have basic knowledge and rather be a generalist in design because that way you’re always bringing something to the table n matter what the objectives are.

The industry standards and the updates on the software keep constantly changing and the trends that go on in the design world are subjected to change as well. So it’s extremely important to be well versed at all times and always keep yourself ahead of the curve.

6. How can one develop a keen sense for design and aesthetics?

The best way would be to start observing the things around us and start observing designs all around us. Just observing good design will itself open your mind to better ideas and develop that sense of design. It’s a very good practice to start questioning your design and other designs because it helps envision reasoning behind every element you put on your design.

Good design is the one that has both form and function so it’s extremely critical to question yourself in order to be a good designer.

7. Which is your favourite book and why?

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman. It’s a book that opened my eyes into observing the design around us. How design exists everywhere in the most normal things and how each and every part of every product we interact within our daily lives has a specific form and function.

It’s a great book for every creature that allows you to tap into the mindset of simply just observing things around us and how they can influence our behaviour. 

Interview By - Sonam