Design can mean different things to different people, especially these days. With the same terms used to describe similar forms of design, it can be easy to get confused. So when you hear the phrases ‘digital design’ and ‘graphic design’, you might think they’re the same thing, but they’re not.
To clear up the confusion, we’re demystifying these two important types of design work so you know exactly what to ask for when you need design support.
What’s the difference between digital design and graphic design?
It’s pretty simple to define digital design: it’s any form of design work done digitally, not printed. Think websites, apps or even social media. Graphic design, on the other hand, covers everything else and has as its core the goal of communicating targeted messages in visual form.
While there are differences between these two forms of design, there is a lot of overlap. Digital, as an industry, is growing and evolving so fast so it’s no surprise that many creatives may possess both skill sets and have to switch between them regularly.
Deliverables
Digital design shares many of its principles with graphic design, but has a range of different deliverables, such as:
Digital ads
Email newsletters
Website design, and
Social media graphics.
On the other hand, a graphic designer predominantly delivers design in print form, such as:
Print ads
Brochures and magazine layouts
Book covers, and
Business cards and stationery.
You’ll likely need a combination of both digital and print assets in your business, which is what makes design such a rich and interesting field for us (it’s always changing!). What’s important to remember is that it always comes back to your goals and who you’re trying to reach, so having a strong understanding of your audience is key.
Interactivity
A primary difference between print and digital has to do with interactivity. Digital interfaces are often very interactive – think of how you navigated to this blog post, it largely involved a few actions on your behalf – whereas print is static. This adds a layer of complexity to digital design because not only does what you’re making need to be aesthetically pleasing, it also needs to be functional and usable.
Data and analytics
One of the biggest benefits of digital design is that it’s flexible enough to shift and change along with consumer behaviour. Data and analytics on how people act online can be used to help make design decisions and also test out theories (think A/B testing). While data is an important piece of the puzzle, it’s not the only one – great digital design uses data in imaginative and surprising ways to delight users, not confuse or overwhelm them.
Why is digital design important?
When people go online, they’re looking for information and answers. The power of digital design is that it can help people find what they’re looking for as quickly and efficiently as possible, if it’s done right. Along the way, good digital design can also deliver brand messaging and create a seamless user experience that leaves people feeling confident and in control.
Digital design at Courtney Kim Studio
Your digital presence is akin to a shop front because it represents your brand online. Our approach involves the perfect blend of real-time data insights and strategic branding to not only get your customers ‘through the door’, but keep them coming back, again and again.
Here are a few ways our team can help your business build brand awareness, attract and convert the right traffic and start crushing those big revenue goals.
Website and eCommerce design
We have such a strong focus on branding that the websites we design ooze your unique personality and messaging. Whether it’s your first website or an old one in need of a face lift, we can boost your web presence and give your brand the reverse it deserves.
Social media content design
You can create on-brand graphics yourself but it’s a time consuming task that might not yield the results you’re after. Let us be your creative partner and build out some amazing assets you can use again and again as your business grows and evolves.
Our team can create:
Monthly social media designs
Video graphic templates
Livestream backdrops
Social media Ads.
Digital marketing management
So you have a stellar website, strong social media presence and decent email list – now what? If you’re looking for digital marketing management, we can help. Our team can set you up with a digital marketing strategy to boost sales on your next product drop or generate website leads to your service.
Roll out a seamless brand experience with us
From your website to your print collateral to your email newsletters, each touch point for your brand should mirror the last to create a seamless experience for your customers. So if you’re ready to level up your digital presence, get in touch to get an instant quote.